BallHype - Latest JaMarcus Russell News Articles

Strap On Yer 'Skis and Ride With The Oakland Raiders

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:43:22 +0000

Well, I've been known to say that Bruce Gradkowski isn't any better than JaMarcus Russell, and I don't see how it helps our future to play him. I've also been known to be wrong. Often. And this is another example. Whether or not Gradkowski has Russell's physical gifts is debatable, but one thing is not: The guy loves the game and pumps his teammates up. Even Russell. Credit to the big guy: He was the first player out there to congratulate Gradkowski after he'd thrown a beautiful 29-yard TD pass to Louis Murphy, who made an exceptional move and finally had a replay decision go his way on the game-tying catch. One thing that was interesting was that in celebrating with Gradkowski, we saw more raw emotion from Russell than we have at any other point in his Raider tenure. I fully retract my earlier sentiment that the Raiders had no better chance to win with Bruce than they did with JaMarcus. The team fed off his energy yesterday, and you could see in their eyes that they truly believed they ...

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Russell On Notice? Raiders Bruce Gradkowski Leads Win Over Bengals

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:21:32 +0000

With every win, I as a Raider fan, hope that it is a sign of better things to come. Since 2003, that has yet to materialize. Today, however, I actually believed that the Raiders could win when they appeared down and out. On the game tying drive in the last two minutes against the Cincinnati Bengals, I actually believed that the Raiders would win, even on 4th-and-10. After which, QB Bruce Gradkowski threw a 29 yard touchdown to receiver Louis Murphy who fought his way into the endzone for the touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff, Raiders Brandon Myers stripped Andre Caldwell of the ball and recovered the fumble. With less than a minute to go, Sebastian Janikowski kicked the winning field goal for the Raiders to upset the Bengals in Oakland. Greg Papa and Tom Flores were quick to equate the play by Myers to the Heidi Bowl game against the Jets in 1968, in which the Raiders scored twice in the final two minutes to win the game. Raider fans have been quick to berate rookie receiver Darrius ...

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With Russell benched, critics focus on receiver

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Raiders rookie Darrius Heyward-Bey goes by DHB. Bitter fans, many with Web access to public forums, have come up with their own nicknames based on his initials - try on Dropius Heyward-Bey or Drops Hecka Balls or Davis' Horrible Bust. There's only one way to...

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Knucklehead(s) of the Week: Tom Cable & Al Davis

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Cable should not have demoted JaMarcus Russell this week. Cable should have done that the first day of training camp, when Russell weighed in above his mandated reporting poundage. Months earlier Russell had been officially anointed the starting quarterback,...

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With Russell benched, critics focus on receiver

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

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Knucklehead(s) of the Week: Tom Cable & Al Davis

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

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Gradkowski's teammates laud QB's approach

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:42:11 +0000

No one on the Raiders says he's glad quarterback JaMarcus Russell is benched. But then, no one is exactly running to his defense. Either that means new starter Bruce Gradkowski is a really great guy, or they don't care who plays quarterback - just as long as...

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JaMarcus Russell: Can He Learn From This Experience?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:57:32 +0000

Congratulations JaMarcus. You played yourself out of the starting rotation. Your coach made it plain, in saying that this benching isn't a one game at a time deal. The team is turning its attention towards trying to work with Bruce Gradkowski as the starting quarterback in Oakland. I can imagine it's a bitter pill to swallow, considering that you were drafted to be the face of the franchise and return it to the glory days. Instead, your considered by many to be a bust, ranking in the rare air class, with Ryan Leaf. Right now, the only realistic way that JaMarcus Russell comes off the bench is if Bruce Gradkowski goes down hurt in the game, Al Davis suddenly realizes he has a very expensive bench, or Russell learns to be a quarterback? As hard to believe as it sounds, Russell needs to make use of this time—now that he has plenty of it to work with. He needs to find himself in better shape, having better communication with his teammates, and he needs to take a harder look at what he can do to ...

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Bengals-Raiders Preview: JaMarcus Russell Flushed in Oakland

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:31:14 +0000

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional. With the AFC North well in hand after last Sunday's 18-12 win in Pittsburgh, the Bengals can turn their attention to more trivial things, like the Raiders. "I think the Steelers are stunned that we've beaten them twice," says Carson Palmer. "I'm sure they didn't expect us to take them down at Heinz Field. But what's the best way to remove a 'line in the sand?' By 'sweeping' it away, of course. "Marvin Lewis now has the kind of team he's always wanted, one that is defined by an attacking defense and an efficient, mistake-free offense. It took him awhile, but Marvin's finally been able to put his best defenders on the field instead of in the courtroom." In Oakland's 16-10 loss to the Chiefs last week, JaMarcus Russell was a dismal 9-of-24 for 67 yards, an effort that got him benched , but not punched, by Tom Cable. Bruce Gradkowski took over at quarterback and was worse, throwing two interceptions. "No. 2 was stinking up the joint," says ...

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RAIDERS / The future is no longer now - Russell's out

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

JaMarcus Russell is back to being the quarterback of the future. Bruce Gradkowski has replaced him as the quarterback of the now. Raiders coach Tom Cable made it official Wednesday, benching the No. 1 overall pick of 2007 and naming Gradkowski the starter for...

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Raiders bench JaMarcus Russell, promote Bruce Gradkowski

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:38:13 +0000

The Oakland Raiders benched former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell on Wednesday, handing the starting job to journeyman Bruce ...

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Oakland Raiders Get Good News Twice: Will it Help?

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:34:43 +0000

Today, two little pieces of news came out of Oakland. Both of them should bring a smile to the face of the fans both near and afar, but belong to the Raider Nation. For one, JaMarcus Russell is now on the sidelines. Yes, this is right, Russell's actions have planted him there. For anyone's guess, it is similar to the same reason why the Titans benched Vince Young early in his career....too much, to soon, with too many chances to fail. And for JaMarcus Russell, he did just about everything wrong, with a few exceptions. As for the Bruce Gradkowski experiment, does anything think JaMarcus will remain on the sidelines for any length of time? It will depend on if Bruce comes out and wins a game or two right away, or if he actually looks worse than JaMarcus. If he performs as he did last year, in a single start having a rating of one...we can only hope that with his mobility, he can use the speed this team has, and turn on the switches as needed. What does come as a bit of surprise, is that Al ...

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NFL Quick Hits (Nov. 18th): The Benching Of Jamarcus Russell, and More

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:07:15 +0000

Ronnie Brown Out For Season Brown has reportedly been ruled out for the remainder of the 2009 season with an apparent Lisfranc fracture. This is a huge blow to Miami's strong rushing attack, but should open the door for the 32-year old Ricky Williams to become, once again, one of the league's premiere backs. Williams may be up there in age, but he doesn't have a ton of tread on his tires and has been playing elite football all season long. Click your heels and hope that you already owned him if Ronnie Brown was on your roster. Brian Westbrook Expected to Make Full Recovery Doctors administered several tests and came to the conclusion that Westbrook was already making steady progress, and while he won't be returning to action any time soon, his career does not appear to be in jeopardy. His 2009, however, doesn't hold as much certainty. Westbrook is expected to be out until follow-up tests are administered in 2-3 weeks, so unless the Eagles are in the thick of the NFC playoff race by ...

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"JaMarcus Russell Is Extremely Good"

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:55:43 +0000

Yes that's right, I said it. JaMarcus Russell is extremely good. Don't believe me, want proof? Well I could show you an over-head slide-show presentation or you can just ask Chad Ochocinco . According to Ochocinco, Russell is the last person we should be blaming for the Raiders offensive struggles. "Man, JaMarcus is extremely good," Ochocinco said in a conference call Monday morning. "You have to remember a quarterback can only be as good as his supporting cast. Case closed. Always will be." "You put a Tom Brady or a Peyton Manning, you take them out of their supporting casts, you take them out of the elements they're in now, and you put them in JaMarcus' situation, do you think it would be that much better? I'm just asking. Realistically." But really what is a QB to do? His receivers suck, most of his o-line can't block, Tom Cable sucks at calling an offense and there isn't even an offensive coordinator on the coaching staff. His receivers can't catch, run the right routes, or get ...

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Gradkowski Takes Over Starting QB Gig for Raiders

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:40:30 +0000

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -- The Oakland Raiders benched former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell on Wednesday, handing the starting job to journeyman Bruce Gradkowski for the foreseeable future.

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Gradkowski takes over starting QB gig for Raiders

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:31:58 +0000

The Oakland Raiders benched former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell on Wednesday, handing the starting job to journeyman Bruce Gradkowski for the foreseeable future.

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Gradkowski takes over starting QB gig for Raiders

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:27:07 +0000

The Oakland Raiders benched former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell on Wednesday, handing the starting job to journeyman Bruce Gradkowski for the foreseeable future.

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Gradkowski takes over starting QB gig for Raiders

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:26:19 +0000

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders benched former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell on Wednesday, handing the starting job to journeyman Bruce Gradkowski for the foreseeable future.

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Russell out, Gradkowski to start at QB for Raiders

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:09:51 +0000

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -- The Oakland Raiders benched former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell on Wednesday, handing the starting job to journeyman Bruce Gradkowski for the foreseeable future.

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Oakland Raiders bench JaMarcus Russell, to start Bruce Gradkowski at QB

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:25:58 +0000

The Raiders will start Bruce Gradkowski over JaMarcus Russell this Sunday.

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Raiders bench Russell, likely for rest of '09

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:11:39 +0000

The Oakland Raiders are benching former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell, handing the starting job to Bruce Gradkowski. Coach Tom Cable said after practice Wednesday that Gradkowski will get the nod Sunday against Cincinnati. Cable says the plan is for Gradkowski to start the rest of the season. Cable has pulled Russell for ineffectiveness in two of the past three games. This will be just the second start for Gradkowski since 2006.

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Raiders bench Russell, go to Gradkowski (AP)

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:02:05 +0000

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Russell's out, Gradkowski in at quarterback

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Franchise player JaMarcus Russell is back to being the quarterback of the future. Bruce Gradkowski has replaced him as the quarterback of the now. Raiders coach Tom Cable made it official Wednesday, benching the No. 1 overall pick of 2007 and naming...

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Oakland Raiders: Are Performance-Enhancing Mouthguards The Answer?

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:52:51 +0000

Did you say that the performance of the Oakland Raiders needs to be enhanced? Are other teams competing against the Raiders already using those high-tech mouthguards? An article in USA Today claims that performance can be enhanced by having a dentist design a mouthguard that improves an athlete's bite. The articles states: "A neuromuscular dentist tries to find the optimal bite based on where the muscles are most relaxed. If the bite is out of alignment, a neuromuscular dentist can run test and design a mouthguard to protect and correct the bite." Now just suppose our opponents already have made use of the scientific and technological development for optimizing bite alignment. With these developments, is it possible that the playing field is not level after all? Does the team with the best dentist win? One NFL lineman, Derrick Dockery, is on record as claiming that his performance was better with his mouthpiece. The Raiders should recommend that all of their guys get that ...

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JaMarcus Russell or Bruce Gradkowski? Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable silent

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:07:44 +0000

Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable is staying mum about his starting quarterback.

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Oakland Raiders Disappoint Again : Quick Hits From Week 10

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:22:30 +0000

The Raider Nation had one last bastion of optimism heading into yesterday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Coming off a bye in which they apparently practiced hard and rejuvenated themselves, the team was also getting back four starters on a beleaguered offense. Russell was coming in early, working harder. Chaz Schilens would be back and open up the passing game and give Russell a reliable wide receiver he so desperately needs. McFadden was rested, healthy, and ready to rip the Chiefs apart as he did last season. Players were ready to stomp the Chiefs, talking running the table, and enthused about their prospects in the second half. The Raider Nation, desperate for anything positive, bought into it hook, line & sinker. And here we sit, 2-7, blowing a great early start against a mediocre team and left wondering what positive there is left to say about this team. I haven't been writing much the last couple of weeks because I'm tired of having nothing good to say, and being given no ...

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Raiders hit bottom with loss to lowly Chiefs

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:33:28 +0000

The Raiders have a big problem on their hands, and not only the 270-pound quarterback named JaMarcus Russell. The passing game is so bad, the scoring offense is so putrid, they can't even beat the one-win Chiefs at home on two weeks rest. As far as losses go,...

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Ostler: Russell shows no improvement

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:33:28 +0000

JaMarcus Russell got the hook Sunday for the second time in three games, and for the second straight home game. Really, what's the big deal? Tim Lincecum doesn't finish every game he starts. At least coach Tom Cable is giving Raiders fans a reason to cheer....

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Russell regressing from 2008

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

As quarterback JaMarcus Russell goes, so goes the Oakland Raiders' season. That explains their 2-6 record with one half to go. His two touchdown throws are dwarfed by 14 turnovers. His completion rate and passer rating are second to one - Cleveland's Derek...

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Fantasy Football Week Ten: Quarterback Cellar-Dweller Helpers

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:37:41 +0000

We know Drew Brees has a nice match-up with the St. Louis Rams, Brett Favre should be able to own the Detroit Lions, and that Aaron Rodgers is a pretty safe call, regardless of who he is facing this season. But what about the bottom-feeders? You know, the cellar-dwellers. For the unlucky few that have to actually consider starting these guys, the real question is which of these pathetic passers is actually usable in Week Ten ? Suprisingly, there's a few of them. Believe it or not, in the land of Jamarcus Russells, there are a few of these guys that can step up and do a decent impression of an NFL quarterback. It usually only lasts a week, and they need a great match-up to pull it off, but the talent is there, people, oh, it's there . Take a look at five guys that you should never, ever, ever think about starting—except for this week: Chad Henne (Miami Dolphins) OK, so he's not horrific by any means, but if he's your regular QB1, it's safe to say you're not playing for the ...

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Raiders / Regressing from '08, QB 32nd in league

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:22:28 +0000

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Raiders receivers play catch-up during bye week

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:00:59 +0000

The Raiders' wide receivers have the fewest catches in the NFL because quarterback JaMarcus Russell doesn't throw to them enough. Russell doesn't throw to them enough because they don't catch it when he does. This catch-22 has left the Raiders in a catch-28 -...

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