By: Tyler Ward
Ex-Raiders Quarterback, JaMarcus Russell, was arrested today at his home for possession of a controlled substance (codeine syrup). Spokeswoman, Lori Myles, said that Russell was booked at Mobile County Jail at 4:22 PM. A few minutes later, Russell was bailed out on a $2,500 bond.
Russell has to go to court on July 20. A bond hearing will be set for July 7.
This hurts Russell's chances of landing with a new team after the Oakland Raiders released him in May. The New York Jets have reportedly expressed interest in Russell, and they would undoubtedly not sign Russell. He went 7-18 as a starting quarterback with the Raiders after being taken #1 overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. He is considered by many to be one of the biggest busts of all-time, having a QB rating of 65.2 with 18 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
I never had any confidence in Russell. I thought that he would be selected in one of the middle rounds. I was astounded to see him go #1 overall, and immediately thought he would be a bust and owner, Al Davis, would eventually regret his decision. The only reason he got selected #1 overall was because his LSU team defeated the next best QB, Brady Quinn, and Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, 41-14. He did not deserve to be the #1 overall pick, and he considerably ripped the Raiders off for approximately $36.4 million. He played horrible, only winning seven games in three years with the Raiders. This arrest makes Russell's stock plummet even worse and he may not even be in the NFL again. If I were a GM, I would never take a chance on Russell as my starter. Even though he played on a horrible Raiders team, his stats may not have been better if he played for a perennial contender like Indianapolis or New England. Even if he does sign with a team, he shouldn't be signed to a multi-year deal. He is not worth it and will only bring doom to whichever team he may go to.
