NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that JaMarcus Russell, who ran the 40-yard dash in 5.2 seconds three months ago, is now garnering “significant interest” from “more than one team” around the league after shedding “50 pounds” since starting his latest NFL comeback.

While his potential destination is “kind of a well-kept secret,” Russell wants to go to a team that has a quarterback who is a leader where he can “sit on the bench and learn a little bit,” according to Rapoport.

Rapoport also notes that the 6-6 QB is also “more than open to going to the CFL,” where he has also received a lot of interest. In 31 games (25 starts), Russell, 27, completed 354 of 680 passes (52.1 percent) for 4,083 yards with 18 touchdowns to 23 interceptions during three seasons (2007-09) in Oakland.

According to reports, JaMarcus Russell has been working with TEST Academy West, and former NFLers Jeff Garcia and Marshall Faulk to get his career back on track. Aaron Nagler of the Bleacher Report has the task of documenting the comeback through the video lens, and he released this trailer Monday. Watch it here.

New Jets general manager John Idzik said Monday that Mark Sanchez will be pushed for the starting quarterback job, vowing to add competition. According to the Newark Star-Ledger, the Jets have had “some very exploratory, informal discussions” regarding JaMarcus Russell. Discussions took place after previous GM Mike Tannenbaum was fired. Also, New York was linked to Russell in the past, so the idea isn’t totally foreign to the organization.

According to Yahoo! Sports’ Kristian Dyer, JaMarcus Russell is planning to attempt an NFL comeback. The former Oakland Raiders quarterback reportedly plans to work out with TEST Football Academy the next few months in hopes of getting another shot in the NFL. Russell is down to 308 from 320 pounds thanks to some cardiovascular training. He’s hoping to lose even more weight as he attempts a comeback (he was listed at 265 pounds when he played.) Russell told Yahoo! Sports...

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“My first year out, I couldn’t watch football but after a while, I couldn’t keep the TV off. I got that itchy feeling but now I gotta watch it, gotta watch,”

“The last few years, the things going through my life, football is my job and it is how it feeds my family. People would say [that] I didn’t love the game but that pisses me off. People don’t know the real you but I want people to know the real me and see what I can do. People are always saying that I’m a bust. I want to show them I’m not. I’m committed to this now.”

“I’m not looking for a pat on the shoulder from people who haven’t been there for me,” Russell said. “It feels funny not to go through a training camp, that’s just what I’m used to. It’s going to feel good to go back out there again. I will make this happen.”

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According to the Lake Charles (La.) American Press...

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“rumors are swirling” that the first pick in the 2007 draft could be joining the Louisiana Swashbucklers of the Professional Indoor Football League. Swashbucklers media relations director Duane Bergeron said the organization “would not confirm or deny contact with Russell or his agent.”

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So much talent wasted. You gotta think he's learned something through all this other than how to make purple drank.