After being cut by the Raiders, QB JaMarcus Russell has returned home to Mobile, Ala., a busted but not broken football star. JaMarcus hasn't spoken publicly since his release but hasn't been in hiding since returning home. Russell, who made $39 million in three years with the Raiders, is in good spirits even if his family and hometown friends are not. "I did not have to console him," Russell's grandmother, Bernice Russell, told The Times-Picayune of New Orleans. "He had to console me. But you will never know, and I will never know how he is doing, because JaMarcus keeps a smile on his face no matter how much he is hurting on the inside." Friends say he is often seen about town, at restaurants and civic events and such. They still see a big future for Russell in the NFL, and so does his former college coach. "I still think that JaMarcus Russell is a very talented young man," Nick Saban said. "The thing that JaMarcus needs is someone to give him a structure of things that will help him be successful. And I know he will follow the plan. He always did that. He's not a defiant guy in any way. He wants to please you, and if he gets in the right organization with the right group of people, they can affect him and he can be very successful in the National Football League." Source: SportingNews.com
I'm just sayin, the Raiders have made some good players look bad. They've needed help on the Offensive line for a long time, and they finaly drafted 2 OTs (Jared Veldheer and Bruce Campbell); and they got the fastest player in the NFL in Jacoby Ford as a slot receiver to throw the short bubble screens and let him do the rest. I'M NOT A JAMARCUS RUSELL FAN but, i'm just sayin.
They should follow him with cameras, make a show about him going from million dollar QB to unemployed diabetic in a wheelchair (I can only imagine). It could be motivation for other young players to not be lazy buttholes.
I have tried to find an article about a comment Russell made during his junior season at LSU. He was talking to his friend Bowe. Bowe was thinking about quiting football. Russell told him to stick it out one more season, work to be a first round pick and he will be set for life. That just goes to show he just wanted the money. Russell got paid and he don't care if he plays again.
