Circle your calendar, Oakland fans. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports that, according to sources, the Russell-era will begin December 2nd against the Denver Broncos. Evidently, that’s the perfect time.
The Raiders have circled Dec. 2 vs. the Broncos as the likely starting debut for the 2007 No. 1 overall pick, team sources told ESPN.
Russell’s “light came on” a couple of weeks ago, a source told ESPN.
Russell had a great week of practice, then weighed in at 259 on Friday after hovering in the 270s most of the season.
On a 6-game skid, the Raiders have decided that prioritizing the future may be in the best interests of the team, especially after locking up JaMarcus Russell with the largest rookie contract in NFL history — a 6 year, $68 million deal.
Russell’s hype before the season began was deflated considerably as preseason came and went without a deal being made until mid-September. It was a bit of a head-scratcher because of the money involved. If Oakland wasn’t concerned with forking over nearly $70 million, why did they wait so long to get Russell under contract? It meant that he had little time to prepare and it became increasingly clear he wouldn’t see any game-time until late in the regular season, if ever in 2007.
Well, the wait will soon be over, assuming Mortensen’s sources are indeed correct. Russell will get five games in before the end of the season, all of which will be tough on him as a rookie. After all, could the NFL have scheduled a more difficult stretch?
The team’s final five games are against (in order) Denver, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, and San Diego. At least three of those teams will be in the postseason, with the two others will be playing for a Wild Card Spot.
Talk about a baptism by fire.
Photo credit: (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
This post is tagged Controversy, JaMarcus Russell, Quarterbacks
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