Biggest bust ever? Oakland Raiders release JaMarcus Russell
by Dan Kadar on May 6, 2010 4:17 PM EDT
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PrintIn both the literal and figurative sense, the Raiders today made quarterback JaMarcus Russell the biggest bust in NFL Draft history.
The team today released the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.
In three seasons, the team paid Russell $39 million. He won seven games.
Russell's career stat line includes passing for 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. He was sacked 70 times on 680 pass attempts.
Stats weren't the only culprit that doomed Russell's career in Oakland. He held out a portion of his rookie season and had weight issues throughout his career.
Arguably Russell's best game came in a 27-16 win in 2008 against Houston. In it, he had 236 passing yards and two touchdowns, completing 72 percent of his passes.
The Raiders traded a fourth-round pick in the 2012 draft to Washington for quarterback Jason Campbell.
Russell's release was first reported by the Associated Press.
Update: He's a fun factoid from Adam Schefter of ESPN. "Al Davis publicly declared it himself: He wanted JaMarcus Russell. Lane Kiffin wanted Calvin Johnson. Someone was right; someone wasn't."
Update 2: Trey Wingo, also of ESPN, says no quarterback drafted No. 1 overall has been released by his team as fast as Russell.
Update 3: I bet Ryan Leaf is smirking somewhere. You know, even though he's on probation for drug abuse.
Also see: Richard Hill of Pats Pulpit (who is a great, great, great blogger) looks at the biggest draft busts of the New England Patriots since 2001.
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Eh
R.Jay Soward still takes the cake for me. It takes something special to be released just a year after being a first round pick
Big Cat Country, The #1 Jaguars blog on the net
by Jonathan Loesche on May 6, 2010 4:19 PM EDT reply actions
If Soward had played for the Giants or Eagles, he would top every ESPN list, even ahead of Leaf. Dude was suspended for four games before playing a down because of Substance abuse (alcohol) and ended up only playing in a handful of games before he got cut shortly after the 2000 season.
Big Cat Country, The #1 Jaguars blog on the net
by Jonathan Loesche on May 6, 2010 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I doubt it
He was the 29th overall pick. Leaf was the 1st overall. I dont think it matters what team he was drafted by a bust is a bust regardless of what team they played for.
I don't know man.
There’s a huge difference in being the 29th overall pick and being a $39 million No. 1 pick. I see what you’re saying, but I’m not sure I agree with it.
Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.
Who will take
a chance on him? There’s still a big arm there. He’d still make a good backup with upside for someone.
UFL? Maybe the Arena league. Lol
Writer at MockingTheDraft.com. Does this make me a "Draft Expert"? lol.
by JP 23 on May 6, 2010 4:32 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Could very well see JaMarcus in the UFL
Big Cat Country, The #1 Jaguars blog on the net
by Jonathan Loesche on May 6, 2010 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions
I kind of think so. He’s too lazy for an NFL team to bother and would give that second rate operation pub.
Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.
I kind of think he's too lazy for the UFL
I think it’s all about the paycheck for him and if he’s not getting a big NFL paycheck (which he wont be), I think he hangs it up.
Follow me on Twitter
I'm going to miss his ineptitude...
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.
I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.
Yep leaf is probably Celebrating as he just won the only super bowl he will ever know
This for him is his superbowl lol
Lead organizer of the annual 7 round live mock draft at MtD and Moderator
When you have the #1 pick in the draft
you always go for the best player in the draft. No matter what. Unless it is a QB and you have one; in that case you trade out if you can.
2009 BTB Fantasy Champ... Deal with it
You almost have to take the QB
If the number 1 pick didnt make so much money teams wouldnt feel obligated to take a quarterback, because if you give a non-QB that kind of money, you are overpaying no matter what, even if they become the best player at that position in the NFL.
Get well Greg! Rip City is still behind you!
Rather overpay for a real good player
than overpay for a bust
2009 BTB Fantasy Champ... Deal with it
I just can't wait for the ESPN speculation
On who might sign him.
They are who we thought they were!
who honestly would be that desperate in the NFL?
Maybe a Canadian team would, but who in the NFL? Not Buffalo?
Witty's 2010 Draft review is full of meaty goodness. What you mean, you're vegan?! Sigh. Just read it.
Someone will take a chance on him
he’s too gifted and the risk is too low
Get well Greg! Rip City is still behind you!
The Canadian Football League needs more mobile QBs.
For example, Jeff Garcia, Joe Theismann, Doug Flutie, and Warren Moon did well in both leagues. There are many others, usually guys who have worn out their welcome in the NFL, but I would be surprised to see any CFL team take Jamarcus.
LINK: http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~maxymuk/home/passing/qbcflnfl.html
Russell's a bust....
They could’ve had Calvin Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Joe Thomas, Patrick Willis, or Darrelle Revis….
Bigger bust than Leaf. At least the Chargers didn’t choose Leaf over Peyton.
"Lord, beer me strength."
Yeah, what separates him from Leaf is that Russell was the number one overall pick
if leaf went number 1 ahead of Manning, he would be the biggest bust.
Get well Greg! Rip City is still behind you!
There's a sizable number of busts
But we all seem to focus on the QB busts while overlooking the hideous picks for WR, OT, DT, RB, EG, AF, ZZ and QT that took place in the Top 5 picks over the years.
Let’s make a game of it.
Biggest OT draft bust.
Biggest RB draft bust.
Biggest WR draft bust.
Biggest TE draft bust.
Biggest DE draft bust.
Biggest DT draft bust.
Biggest OLB draft bust.
Biggest MLB/ILB draft bust.
Biggest CB draft bust.
Biggest S draft bust.
Biggest K/P draft bust.
;-)
Witty's 2010 Draft review is full of meaty goodness. What you mean, you're vegan?! Sigh. Just read it.
My Rankings
Biggest OT draft bust. Alex Barron
Biggest RB draft bust. Darren McFadden
Biggest WR draft bust. Rae Carruth
Biggest TE draft bust. Ben Watson
Biggest DE draft bust. Andre Wadsworth
Biggest DT draft bust. Steve Emtman
Biggest OLB draft bust. Huey Richardson / Vernon Gholston
Biggest MLB/ILB draft bust. Brian Bosworth
Biggest CB draft bust. Rashard Anderson
Biggest S draft bust. Don Rogers
Biggest K/P draft bust. Russell Erxleben
The Driver of the Sweed Bus - All aboard, next stop 70 Catches 900 Yards 7TD's
^ Ooooops did I jinx it?
DaMon Cromartie Smith to make the 53 Man Roster!
by Josh Roberts (ESGB) on May 6, 2010 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions
S Michael Huff?
WR Carlos Rogers easily over Rae Rae
TE Kyle Brady? POS #9 overall
RB Ki-Jana Carter?
OT Robert Gallery?
Rae Carruth
was terrible as a receiver and he killed his pregnant girlfriend, need I say more? Makes BB look like a saint.
The Driver of the Sweed Bus - All aboard, next stop 70 Catches 900 Yards 7TD's
^ Ooooops did I jinx it?
DaMon Cromartie Smith to make the 53 Man Roster!
by Josh Roberts (ESGB) on May 6, 2010 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions
doesn't mean he was a draft bust...
in fact, when he played, he was pretty good.
Carlos Rogers was #2 overall and sucked.
I would hardly call him pretty good
3 seasons and 62 receptions for 804 yards?
The Driver of the Sweed Bus - All aboard, next stop 70 Catches 900 Yards 7TD's
^ Ooooops did I jinx it?
DaMon Cromartie Smith to make the 53 Man Roster!
by Josh Roberts (ESGB) on May 6, 2010 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions
**Charles Rogers
didn’t even have that.
He was #2 overall too.
Just cuz in life he’s a bust (Rogers is an idiot off the field too) doesn’t mean he’s as big a bust.
- overall is #2 overall.
I’d say R Jay Soward was a bigger bust then Carruth too.
by FreeBradshaw on May 6, 2010 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions
R Jay Soward I totally agree on
he was an idiot too, just wasn’t an NFL player
The Driver of the Sweed Bus - All aboard, next stop 70 Catches 900 Yards 7TD's
^ Ooooops did I jinx it?
DaMon Cromartie Smith to make the 53 Man Roster!
by Josh Roberts (ESGB) on May 6, 2010 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Carruth was not bad, but he was not that great. without that incident he may have played a bit longer. Rogers was worse on the field and still played for less time…
plus, you are comparing a guy drafted 27th overall to a guy drafted 1st. in general, that late in the first there aren’t the expectations on you. you are usually going to an established team. you also usually are not expected to be a superstar the way the guys in the top 10 are. Rogers had much higher expectations and still was worse.
I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
UPTON
Witty's 2010 Draft review is full of meaty goodness. What you mean, you're vegan?! Sigh. Just read it.
oops wrong chat. heading back to Rays thread now
Witty's 2010 Draft review is full of meaty goodness. What you mean, you're vegan?! Sigh. Just read it.
akili smith
akili smith has to rank up there among the top 2 or 3 QB busts of all time. Bengals wasted a pick there.
ehhh…at least he saw the playing field at least a bit. His “bustness”, IMO is overdone. he was on a terrible team. yes he still busted, but at the same time, for his situation he did not do terrible. those browns teams were dreadful…I just flat out don’t understand how they won games.
I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
I don't know why Art Schlichter doesn't get named more often
4th overall pick. Played 3 seasons, started 6 games and went 0-6. 3 touchdown and 11 interceptions. 42.6 career passer rating.
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yeah he is up there
2009 NY Phin PhansFantasy League Champion
2009 Best Regular Season Record in NYPPL.
2010 The Jim Mandich NewsFlash Award Winner.
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