JaMarcus, Before you laugh.... Read

A few years after Notre Dame got whooped by Lousiana State in the Sugar bowl, there was so much hype over the LSU quarterback, JaMarcus Russell. After that game it was the Browns who wanted Russell at any cost. The Oakland Raiders had the top pick and it seemed that there was no way possible that they would trade that pick, unless it was for a new overhead projector for Al Davis. (right)

    Russell didn’t seem ready to come out of LSU. Considering prior to the season he was on nobodys board, and wasn't even a thought for the NFL draft. He just about seem to come into his own during his Junior year. In the past the SEC had owned him figuratively and physically. This was a man who needed that extra year of growth but after one of the best statistical Sugar Bowl’s of all time Russell wanted to cash in and how could you blame him.

Despite about a thousand different scenarios for what the Raiders should do they drafted young Jamarcus although numerous people (including myself) thought they should have drafted Wide Receiver Calvin Johnson to go along with WR Randy Moss and QB Kerry Collins. Davis and his pack of old man cronies had other ideas and the LSU product was selected first overall in the 2007 NFL draft. He wasn’t ready but we all knew that. He had tremendous upside, potential and talent… but Brian Bozworth had that too. He also had what everyone wants to see in their quarterback... A CANNON of an arm. Cannon might be an understatement.

(JaMarcus Russell #2)

Russell’s career didn’t start off on the right foot. How did that saying ever come about… the right foot? What if the person is a lefty? After a contract dispute that saw him miss the first 12 games of his rookie season. He would later sign a gigantic deal that would make Bernie Madoff jealous. Russell ended up as any rookie in that position would, not well. You can’t toss a rookie QB into the NFL toward the end of the year and expect peaches and cream. Last season marked his first full year in the league which included OTA’s, mini-camps and of course training camp. Russell had massive pressure on him to perform which to an extent he did, but at times he seemed lost just like a young child wearing a Redsox hat in the Bronx. This would lead to even bigger expectations for 2009 season.

But here’s a question… What has Oakland done for JaMarcus? Seems about nothin’. They haven’t sustained a Coach or Offensive Coordinator for an extended period of time. Their old grumpy owner is also medaling in team affairs especially in his, an area where most owners would not even come close to touching. They also haven’t given him a big time receiver. Drafting Darrius Heyward-Bey is another story. He like Russell is one of those “not developed but with loads of potential” guy. Although he was one of the top receivers in the 2009 draft he wasn’t the best by far. That tag belonged to our friend Michael Crabtree AKA “thugtree”. Heyward-Bey seems lost most of the time and the times that he isn’t lost are when he’s on the sideline. He’s still young too just like Russell and he’ll develop hopefully as well. A constant running back has also been lacking, although they did draft in 2008 Darren McFadden and Michael Bush. McFadden will one day will be considered one of the best running backs in the NFL. Any QB will tell you that their best friend is by far the 5 big, huge, massive, ugly freak of life linemen in front of them. I don’t feel the need to continue about that, lets just say I can find 5 freaks on the subway that may do a comparable job.         (Darrius Heyward-Bey #12)

         This Season has been bad, real bad, really bad, really really bad.( and i thought i had a steal when i drafted him in my fantasy draft late)... (ugh) I mean I cant continue how bad this season has been for JaMarcus and some how they are 1-3. Through four games they should be 0-5. He is almost last in every statistical category that mean anything. This year JaMarcus is lost, hes out of sync and soon enough he maybe out of a job, but whos going to get it ? No one, the job is his and he is going to have to work with what hes got.
          So it seems that the Raiders have hung our buddy JaMarcus out to dry. Like a starfish on the beach in the sun on a hot summer day. They basically gave him a map home written in the sand with the waves crashing in. They keep drafting the big potential but with current small returns. Their coaching staff year in and out is a complete mess leaving JaMarcus to learn new systems and schemes. The biggest issue of all is Al Davis inability to hire people who know what their doing. This is the biggest injustice to the paying fans of the bay area. He needs to sell the team or at least retire he is the reason why they are like this, he is the reason why they have averaged 4 wins out of 16 games since 2003. In the last 100 games the Oakland Raiders are 24-76. 24-76? 24-76!.... what???? How could this be? From 2000-2002 they won 3 straight AFC titles including 2 AFC title games and a trip to the Super Bowl. They’ve had 6 coaches since 2002. That’s mind Boggling. Oh and if you haven’t realized by now they are the laughing stock of the league in that time.
        Where am I going with this? You leave meatheads in charge of your football team your going to get shit, and that’s what they are getting. Give JaMarcus a chance and maybe he’ll make you say THAT’S WHY WE DRAFTED HIM! But if you don’t which they haven’t then you’ll have a lot of JaMarcus to the USFL talk. Give him a chance!