The former No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, who has been called “the greatest bust of all time,“ is trying to make a comeback.
JaMarcus Russell gears up for NFL comeback attempt
The former No. 1 pick wants to “show them I’m not” a bust.
Ezra Shaw
JaMarcus Russell, who was taken No. 1 overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 2007 draft, is working out in an attempt to return to the NFL, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com. Russell played in parts of three seasons with the Raiders before being cut in 2010.
At 308 pounds (down from 320, mind you), Russell is ready to land a job in the NFL:
“The last few years, the things going through my life, football is my job and it is how it feed my family,” he said. “People would say (that) I didn’t love the game but that pisses me off. People don’t know the real you but I want people to know the real me and see what I can do. People are always saying that I’m a bust. I want show them I’m not. I’m committed to this now.”
SB Nation’s Silver and Black Pride is a bit perplexed by Russell is trying to make a comeback, considering his first effort was flat-out terrible:
The only reason I can think for him attempting a comeback is his money is running out/has run out. I honestly cannot think of another reason this man would get off the couch outside of a trip to Chick-Fil-A.
I also can’t think of an NFL team who would come close to taking a risk on him. He has more red flags than the Beijing Olympics.
But hey, if this former Sugar Bowl eating...er... winning LSU quarterback wants to give it a shot; go get ‘em tiger.
As a rookie in 2007, Russell played in four games and started one. Despite his overall numbers from his rookie season (54 percent completion rate, 373 yards, two touchdowns, four interceptions), he actually had a decent first NFL start. Against the San Diego Chargers on Dec. 12, 2007, Russell was 23-of-31 for 224 yards, a touchdown and a pick.
In his second season, Russell started 15 games and threw for 2,423 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. But it all went downhill in his third season, when he started just nine games and completed 48 percent of his passes. He threw three touchdowns to 11 interceptions.
Russell likely has comparable arm strength to when he was drafted out of LSU, but is any team really going to want to take a flier on an overweight quarterback with a history of drug problems? It doesn’t look good.
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