Former LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft wants to attempt another comeback to the pros and will take any chance he cant get... even it means playing for free.

Russell, now 30-years old, has not played since 2009 and was released by the Oakland Raiders in 2010. He attempted a comeback in 2013 but was not picked up by any teams.

He recently sat down for a video interview with Sports Illustrated and explained he is looking for any opportunity, even saying "I'll go play for free."

quote:
Whatever it is -- I can be a water boy and work my way into a scout team. It doesn't matter. I'll go play for free."

Russell even sent letters to NFL teams asking for another chance. Per ESPN:

quote:
"I am willing to lead the scout team for free for one year just to get experience in your system," Russell wrote in a letter to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, according to Sports Illustrated.

"I know that my name does not carry much weight in the NFL right now, but I am more than the image that others have bestowed on me," Russell wrote. "I've been labeled as a bust, I have been labeled as lazy and I have been the targets of many insults by the media. The blame for any negative press that I've received rested squarely on my shoulders. ... My tribulations have humbled me. I am a better man because of my struggles, and I simply desire an opportunity [to] redeem myself. I do not want my legacy to be a trail of unfulfilled dreams and missed opportunities."

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hill durham•96 months

pure desperation it is sad.

Gumbo1•96 months

Kind of like Cruz and Kasich lately!

Da #1 Stunna•96 months

All self inflicted. He took lazy to a whole new level. Embarrassed himself, LSU, the people that were pulling for him. Zero sympathy.

Rakim•96 months

Go play in Canada or Europe you lazy plug!

Mouche337•96 months

I don't understand how guys like Kevin Kolb, Brady Quinn, and Blaine Gabbert get multiple shots on rosters and Russel has a lousy year with a lousy team and doesn't get another opportunity. Bradford has made millions in the NFL and hasn't accomplished diddly squat. SMH...

Gumbo1•96 months

He is a Tiger so I support him. However unlike the others, Russel was lazy and in turn went overweight. He was like 280+ at one point. I wouldn't put them in the class of the other QB's you listed. It wasn't a matter of one lousy year. I guess $30 Million guaranteed breeds complacency.

cwil177•96 months

"I am more than the image that others have bestowed on me" You bestowed that on yourself, brah.

genuineLSUtiger•96 months

As you get older you realize that mistakes and bad decisions are made when you are young and sometimes not so young. The most important thing is learning from those mistakes so that you don't repeat the error in the future. It helps you grow as a person and as a spiritual being. I hope Jamarcus gets his chance and succeeds. It would be nice to see. I always loved watching him play at LSU. He was always very competitive and we were always in those games with him back there at QB.

RightHook•96 months

the only thing russell has cared about for the past decade is being a drug dealer and an overgrown 16 year old.

RightHook•96 months

*being an overgrown 16 year old.

TJGator1215•96 months

If he cared more about the game he supposedly loved he would of it instead of drugs and being lazy. He's past his prime playing days. The only thing a team should hire him for is a motivational life lesson to rookies.

km•96 months

Good luck with that request. It's a young man's game.

blueboy•96 months

Some of the labels were well-deserved. He was well-known in Mobile as an arrogant headcase. That said, I think he deserves a shot. If he's not drawing a paycheck, what does a team really have to lose?

EvrybodysAllAmerican•96 months

So why doesnt he do a year in the Canadian or even arena league, show everybody he's changed, will work hard, and can be a successful pro QB? Then the NFL will come calling. Sadly, hes still looking for the easy road.

Geralt of Rantia•96 months

Respect the hell out of him for this. He may never make it back, but admitting where went wrong and using past mistakes to improve as a man and a football player is just about the only thing you can do 9 years later. Really hope he can make it back; I know some resent him for his antics, but he's still one of ours.

KCT•96 months

Nice letter to the NFL. If only Jamarcus could've written that himself.

moon•96 months

Damn. Being someone who loved the game as much as he obviously does, I teared up a bit. That's love right there, I don't care how many times he screwed up. How many players in the NFL would display that much humility as to play for free!? Man.

Jackie Chan•96 months

If I were an NFL owner or coach I'd put him on the practice squad. He's got the natural talent. Worst thing that could happen is he doesn't work out aND you let him go. Best case would probably be him as a backup whow we know can at least throw the ball.

Jackie Chan•96 months

DVinBR•96 months

nfl doesn't forgive nfl will forget if you got keys to your dream car and then pushed it off a cliff, do you get it back?

ShlikStyck•96 months

so he has the "want"...but can he ball? 2 different things. Free or not, he ain't good, he ain't playin...

TheEnglishman•96 months

crickets......

WhoDatNC•96 months

You don't always get what you want nor do you always get a "2nd" chance.