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Raiders Russell should play TE


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- Raiders Russell should play TE
Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 17, 2009
November 20, 2009 7:11 pm

I think the Raiders should ask their very expensive but low producing QB if he would be open to switching positions. For a man his size he has good athleticism. I admit to not knowing much about their current TE situation but from the few glimpses I've seen of Zach Miller he's decent. I'm not saying Russell could never play QB then again maybe I am because the beating he would take pass blocking,etc would probably render him useless as a QB. A call to switch positions for a black QB used to be attached with the stigma that he wasn't competent enough to play the position. However with the likes of Warren Moon, Doug Williams, Randall Cunningham,Daunte Culpepper,Michael Vick,Donovan McNabb and others that thinking has or should be thrown out the window.

My slant on Russell becoming a TE is based on him not being a very good NFL caliber QB. Sure some will say he needs more time, I say the proof is right here ,right now. Russell is never going to be a special player. Rivers,Manning,Roethlisberger he will not be. The price he cost the Raiders and his production thus far is awful. Sure other high first rounders have flopped, Ryan Leaf,Tim Couch,Andre Ware,Rick Mirer,Akili Smith,Alex Smith?? and we've all seen how long it took for those teams who originally drafted them to recover. The Raiders need a guy like Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen someone who has learned under the guidance of an NFL offensive guru such as Charlie Weis.

Russell if he is open minded about this possibility may find his true calling. He has the size to play tight end so why not explore this possibility. Too many teams this year let their seasons get out of hand because of shaky QB situation. The Titans would be in the playoff hunt if Jeff Fisher wasn't stubborn, the Browns may have another win if Brady Quinn was given more than 3 games to start off before being benched. The Raiders knowingly let their season implode because they left Russell in there too long. Now they are left with Bruce Gradkowski, if he were any good why did Tampa Bay let him go.

My team QB hasn't exactly been great either but at least Rex Ryan believes in Mark Sanchez. The Raiders have never believed in JaMarcus Russell since day 1.

A holdout will do that for you.
 
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- Raiders Russell should play TE
Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Apr 16, 2009
November 20, 2009 11:12 pm

If he had a work ethic and drive to want to  be an NFL player I would say sure.  The fact of the matter is that he has shown almost nothing indicating he has either of those qualities as a #1 overall pick and highly paid QB.  Do you think for a second he would suddenly develop those if the Raiders tried to move him and have him learn a new skill set entirely?  My money is on this guy being out of the league entirely within 2-3 years, I will be surprised if he even attempts to sign with another team unless he is already going broke. 

I would say he has possibly surpassed Ryan Leaf as the answer to a trivia question but he isn't a big enough trainwreck.  Leaf cracked under pressure and made a spectacle of himself, Russell just doesn't care since he already got paid.  The guy is a fat slob with nothing even remotely resembling pride and should be embarrassed everytime he cashs a check.  I am continously amazed at the lack of desire the guy has to be an NFL QB, it is truly astounding.  At least most busts try when they fail.

On a related note he greatly reminds me of Mike Williams the WR (though he may be built like the T in no time) whom my Lions had the misfortune of drafting.  At the time I said we should convert him to TE before we cut him.  I'm pretty sure it was the Titans that finally tried that route to no better results.  I just can't see his soulmate JaMarcus making the transition successfully from the QB position.   
 
 
- Raiders Russell should play TE
Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Apr 16, 2009
November 20, 2009 11:13 pm

If he had a work ethic and drive to want to  be an NFL player I would say sure.  The fact of the matter is that he has shown almost nothing indicating he has either of those qualities as a #1 overall pick and highly paid QB.  Do you think for a second he would suddenly develop those if the Raiders tried to move him and have him learn a new skill set entirely?  My money is on this guy being out of the league entirely within 2-3 years, I will be surprised if he even attempts to sign with another team unless he is already going broke. 

I would say he has possibly surpassed Ryan Leaf as the answer to a trivia question but he isn't a big enough trainwreck.  Leaf cracked under pressure and made a spectacle of himself, Russell just doesn't care since he already got paid.  The guy is a fat slob with nothing even remotely resembling pride and should be embarrassed everytime he cashs a check.  I am continously amazed at the lack of desire the guy has to be an NFL QB, it is truly astounding.  At least most busts try when they fail.

On a related note he greatly reminds me of Mike Williams the WR (though he may be built like the T in no time) whom my Lions had the misfortune of drafting.  At the time I said we should convert him to TE before we cut him.  I'm pretty sure it was the Titans that finally tried that route to no better results.  I just can't see his soulmate JaMarcus making the transition successfully from the QB position.   
 
 
- Raiders Russell should play TE
Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Aug 3, 2008
November 21, 2009 12:33 am

Maybe he could get a job throwing t-shirts in the stands before games.
 
- Raiders Russell should play TE
Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 7, 2007
November 21, 2009 1:09 am

Lets see, he is slow, he can not throw and is lazy. What makes you think he can catch?
 
- Raiders Russell should play TE
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 4, 2008
November 21, 2009 2:42 am

He should play Jabba the Hut in the Brodway version of Star Wars.
 
- Raiders Russell should play TE
Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Oct 26, 2009
November 21, 2009 3:27 am

I have to agree with everybody else - he's going to be a bust no matter where he goes, and it has to do with his work ethic.

I remember an article Rich Gannon did on him when he watched Russell perform in an NFL game, and he kept pointing out how flatout bad Russell's mechanics were - poor footwork, improper body lean.  These are rudimentary skills, and if he hasn't mastered those in two years, let alone the offense and reading NFL defenses, he's hopelessly behind the curve.

So he has an arm.  Big deal - so do a lot of other quarterbacks . . .

Al Davis:  Wow, he threw that ball eighty yards!
Assistant Coach:  Uh, Mr. Davis, the receiver on that play only ran a quick slant . . .

The only truly elite aspect about Russell was his agent - the guy probably knew he'd never amount to anything and therefore worked on swindling the Raiders while Russell was still considered a legitimate NFL prospect.
 
- Raiders Russell should play TE
Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 8, 2008
November 21, 2009 5:02 am

For a man his size he has good athleticism.He's fat and out of shape. 
The Raiders have never believed in JaMarcus Russell since day 1.He's been given every opportunity to prove himself. He's failed. 

If I thought for one minute that Russell possessed the intelligence, drive or desire to make the switch I might like your idea. But he doesn't. 

I think he'll get one more opportunity at QB. He needs to be ready. Fingers crossed. 
 
- Raiders Russell should play TE
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 7, 2008
November 21, 2009 6:37 am

What I myself think the Raiders should do is run a wildcat like how Arkansas did when they had Darren McFadden. Darren McFadden is not producing, JaMarcus Russell is not producing, their receivers suck except they have speed. They should start running a wildcat.

What you said about Jimmy Clausen about him under "NFL Guru Charlie Weiss"...What happened to Brady Quinn? Also, Quinn was a lot better than Clausen when he was at Notre Dame. (I am a Browns fan and when they got Quinn I was siked) Now looking back on the 2007 Draft, Raiders, Lions, Bucaneers, Browns, Cardinals, and Redskins ALL passed up on Adrian Peterson. My thoughts (and this is the reason why the Browns didn't take him) is that they thought since Adrian Peterson was always hurt in college, how is he going to be able to handle the NFL?
 
- Raiders Russell should play TE
Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 7, 2006
November 21, 2009 9:20 am

Why not put him at defensive tackle? he's definitely fat enough for the part Wink
 
- Raiders Russell should play TE
Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Jan 3, 2007
November 21, 2009 10:05 am

This was to easy to call I said he would be a bust before they drafted him and people called me nuts. During his holdout I said he would be a flop on the R.Leaf level and was called a hater. I predicted this year he would be benched by game 5 and Garcia would take them to the playoffs, a prediction I still think would have happened if Garcia stayed around. But in all fairness to Garcia I wouldn't want to be on the bench behind Russell either and I'm not a pro bowl QB.
 
- Raiders Russell should play TE
Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 7, 2006
November 21, 2009 11:10 am

This was to easy to call I said he would be a bust before they drafted him and people called me nuts. During his holdout I said he would be a flop on the R.Leaf level and was called a hater. I predicted this year he would be benched by game 5 and Garcia would take them to the playoffs, a prediction I still think would have happened if Garcia stayed around. But in all fairness to Garcia I wouldn't want to be on the bench behind Russell either and I'm not a pro bowl QB. Yeah, but there are always people who say a quarterback is going to be a bust. Just because you happened to be right for once (and honestly it's not surprising that he is a bust, even if he was the hardest worker ever and had no accuracy flaws, the Raiders and al davis would've found a way to screw him up) doesn't make you an awesome eye for talent. And i don't know who called you a hater, but it was probably raider fans trying to defend him in hopes that he would become good so they would stop sucking. Which honestly you probably are a hater who happened to get one prediction right.
 
- Raiders Russell should play TE
Reputation:79
Level:Pro
Since:Jan 15, 2009
November 21, 2009 11:41 am

I was thinking a short-order cook at a gumbo festival
 
- Raiders Russell should play TE
Reputation:79
Level:Pro
Since:Oct 11, 2009
November 21, 2009 12:07 pm

Being a Steelers fan watching what has become of the Raiders is beautiful. With this jamarcus russel issue I can't stop thinking back to when    BIG AL said to lane kiffin "i know you didn't want russel but he's a good player get over it" gotta love taht quote. Raiders get prepared to get crushed when you come to pittsburgh in a couple of weeks. p.s. give my regards to BIG AL
 
- Raiders Russell should play TE
Reputation:49
Level:Rookie
Since:Mar 10, 2009
November 21, 2009 5:44 pm

he is the exact reason there should be a rookie salary cap. he just wanted to get paid, so he doesnt feel that he needs to work. he openly states his opinion that he doesnt think he is the problem. he has a horrible work ethic. eats nothing but garbage, doesnt try to learn a thing. if he put his mind to it, he could be a good QB. im not saying great, but he could at least compete. with his current attitude, he will be the next ryan leaf. the real joy i see with him is that while he is all happy with the money he has now, i know his ass will not plan ahead and he will burn through it and will not be able to make it back cause the whole league wont want his cancerous ass on their team
 
- Raiders Russell should play TE
Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 18, 2007
November 21, 2009 11:26 pm

He should be the coach of the Browns. He is fat, he doesn't know what he is doing, he has a bad attitude, and people are getting ticked at him. Him and Shaun Rogers would go well together.
 
- Raiders Russell should play TE
Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 3, 2007
November 22, 2009 2:41 pm

He can throw a better block than Cooper Carlise, they should put him at RG if he doesn't get his @ss in shape.

As for the TE remark, he should be considered elite. Zach Miller is an amazing TE and I'm not saying that because I'm a Raiders fan. He can block like a Tackle and catch like a WR. Hes the best offensive weapon the Raiders have, a big play threat and one of the most reliable pass catchers at any point in the game. It always amazes me when people say Greg Olsen is a better TE than him. Theres a reason why he has more catches and yards than any WR on the Raiders roster. Hes also averaging 14.9 YPC I beleive or somewhere close to that.
 
- Raiders Russell should play TE
Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 28, 2006
November 22, 2009 6:48 pm

Russell should be cut and instead of paying him the cash that he hasn't earned they should sue him for breach of contract for posing as a quarterback.  The only reason it probably wouldn;t work is the footage of al Davis saying "he's a great quarterback, get over it!!!!"  after firing Kiffen.
 
- Raiders Russell should play TE
Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 22, 2007
November 22, 2009 7:19 pm

I just saw a shot of the Raiders bench...and I swear to God JaMarcus Russell was sitting there listening to his iPod instead of listening to the coach that was going over game photos next to him.  I could be wrong, and he was at least looking at the photos, but it sure as hell looked like he had some form of earbuds on and was bobbing his head to music.  Unbelievable: he doesn't care, at all.  His name's well on track to be next to Ryan Leaf's in bust discussions: at least guys like Alex Smith tried.