re: JaMarcus

We had sooooo much more talent in 2006 and we still lost 2 games. Saying we would have gone undefeated is pretty ridiculous my man. We would have most likely still won the title, but JR wouldnt have made some of the mistake the MF did, and MF didnt make some of the mistakes JR did. Neither quarterback was all that great of a quarterback...thats the truth, there should be a whos better conversation, because neither was all that fantastic. Now our O-line, rb's, wr's, and defense, was fantastic

Seem to be a hell of a lot of similarities between Jamarcus and Leaf.

Here's a theory that I picked up that seems to make a lot of sense among the shite that's out there...


"This is just a wild theory, particularly because I don’t even know if Jim Fassel resides in Vegas right now, but …

Jim Fassel just won the UFL Championship with the Las Vegas franchise. He was also seen at the Raiders-Redskins game days before his UFL QB J.P. Losman was signed by the Raiders. Could Al already have Fassel lined up as the next HC of the Raiders? Could JaMarcus be meeting with Fassel right now to a) Set up an off-season workout plan, get a little mentoring and have a sit-down with his next HC or b) Give Fassel a chance to size up JaMarcus and see if he’s worth keeping around in 2010. Could the unnamed Raiders employee with JaMarcus be special teams coach and Jim Fassel’s son, John Fassel? Just some speculation, but I wouldn’t be shocked."

The Real Story

Let's go through the facts of this unhappy union

2002: Oakland falls to 4-12 after losing the Superbowl
2003: Oakland again goes 4-12 and fires Bill Callahan
2004: In his first year, Norv Turner finishes 5-11
2005: Oakland acquires Randy Moss, finishes 4-12 and Norv Turner is fired
2006: Oakland hires Art Shell who reaches a 2-14 record while setting the record for fewest points allowed in the franchise's history and giving up a league-high 72 sacks.
2007: Lane Kiffin is named head coach

So, with the groundwork set featuring a new coach and a historically bad offensive framework set, with the No.1 overall pick, the Oakland Raiders select....

Jamarcus Russell

JaMarcus was forced to sit out all of training camp and the first few weeks of the season due to contract negotiations. When these were completed in September, he took to learning a new system.

2008: After finishing 4-12 the year before, Lane Kiffin is fired as the Raiders' coach and Tom Cable is appointed. Russell's development is further hampered by the need to learn another new system. The team finishes 5-11.

2009: Rather than drafting the consensus best available pick in Michael Crabtree and giving the young QB a legitimate target (i.e. Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford) administration reaches for Heyward-Bey.

During the course of the year, the entire team is plagued with distractions amid the accusations that their coach may be arrested for aggravated assault. The first-round selection WR has no impact on the field and the team struggles to once again, finish 5-11.


This is not a manner of making excuses for Russell, but rather demonstrating that a young, raw, and immature QB who by all opinions was in need of grooming, received none and, actually, was presented into perhaps the worst possible environment for a rookie QB.

That said, the emergence of Chaz Schillens and Louis Murphy to complement Zach Miller gives Russell some promising targets and the administration's handling of Russell's stay in Vegas, it appears more likely than not that Tom Cable will not retain his position next year... though this is regrettable and yet another setback to Russell's career.. and it does seem as though whether due to the owner's belief in the quarterback or due to his buyout, Russell is in the plans for QB going into next year.

I pray he makes the most of the opportunity because it appears as though the ship is righting itself. Let's hope the Raiders draft OL.

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When Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye are outperforming you by a mile it's getting pretty sad.

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You really believe this? the Raiders did not get any better when these guys started playing. Cable completely hates JR and JR does not really do anything to help the situation.

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the Raiders did not get any better when these guys started playing. Cable completely hates JR and JR does not really do anything to help the situation.

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If you say so it must be true.
However, the record, and the stats tell a different story.

JaMarcus Russell needs the system to be tailored around him as a player. See Alex Smith in San Francisco. You can't force you a young player to adapt to a new system so quickly. I'd like to see him go one season in a shotgun-based formation. (With a decent O-Line)

I could care less how he does in pro's. I love him for his play at LSU.

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if that pic is for real, he needs to lose about seventy pounds to even be near competitive as a qb, at that size he should be taking reps as an o-lineman.

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Have some of you guys had major head traumas?

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+10000. It is pathetic the amount of excuses being said about a fat, overweight, unprofessional, quitter, loser, lazy, etc. player.

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Honestly...why wouldn't a young man want to come and play for LSU? I can't think of a single reason...