Silver and Black Report

Today in Oakland, benched quarterback JaMarcus Russell talked to local reporters at length since being demoted in favor of Bruce Gradkowski. And in typical Russell fashion, he did very little to embrace himself to fans or realizing that he needs to change greatly before this team can allow him back on the field and ultimately lead this team as the Raiders hoped he would when he was their number one overall selection.

“I wouldn’t say that. You know, any guy that’s competitive, which we want to be out there, and I’d say that about myself. But I guess coach wanted to go in a different direction,” said Russell after he was asked whether or not his benching was deserving.

Russell answered, “Yeah, that’s about it,” when asked if his football performance was an issue, and not the weight problems or work ethic questions which have been flaws in his career.

The 24-year old still doesn’t get it.

Yes, his lack of production, sloppy play and lousy results on the field led him to the sideline. But he has to realize that his incapacity to immerse himself completely into his craft and go the extra mile in improving physically and mentally as a teammate, passer and leader have been his downfall.

When asked what type of player will be on display when he gets back on the field, he answered, “A totally different JaMarcus. People going to have their opinion, and I really don’t pay too much attention to that. I worry about JaMarcus and JaMarcus only.”

But what type of JaMarcus is that?

He has poor awareness about his approach and what he has to do to succeed. Russell’s level of working hard is nowhere near the level of those successful starting quarterbacks in this league and that lack of understanding and insight will always keep him from tapping into his potential.

“So, the quarterback job, I say he looks for more help around from everybody because he can’t do it himself. It wasn’t so well but at times it was. When we look at film, it don’t be as bad as it seems on the field always,” Russell commented.

No, the quarterback cannot do it himself. But the good ones have a steady presence during hard times, get tougher when periods look bleak and can elevate the plays of others during demanding stretches. Russell cannot. And when you cannot, you get a labeled a bad quarterback, a worse leader and not a starting caliber passer in this league.

Russell could not do the above on top of his inability to absorb a simple playbook, improve upon his footwork, mechanics or other vital skills that he needed to perk up a dreadful 47.7 passer rating.

Russell said: “Work hard, that’s all the time. You got to do that on your own. That’s going to be part of the workout plan anyway,” after he was questioned regarding his off-season plans.

But is he ready to relinquish his job to Gradkowski? Is he ready for a battle for the starting spot if the team decides open the competition?

“Uh, I’m not sure. If that’s the road they want to take, then, hey, we have to go out and fight our butts off to be that guy.”

He said: “I don’t see the big deal about it.”

The big deal is, he was paid a lot of money and valuable time was invested in trying to develop him. And the man who signs the paychecks, who has expressed his commitment to Russell and belief that he will be a good quarterback will have a lot to say about his future in Silver & Black.

“I really was. I really was. At first, it was very embarrassing to get pulled out. I think that would be for anybody. I kind of took it, sat down and thought about it, just prayed about the situation, and God, he don’t make no mistakes. So, kind of look at it like that.”

Russell has made mistakes. And if he thinks this is embarrassing, then he better get his act together because what will be more humiliating will be the bust label that is staring him down — the way he stared the targets that he rarely completed passes to.