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Raiders' Russell Busy In New Role
By CARL DUBOIS
Published: Jul 2, 2007
JaMarcus Russell spoke softly, almost as if each syllable might cost him the energy he’d later need to get up from the bench inside the LSU football indoor practice facility.
Half a year has passed since his last game, the 41-14 victory over Notre Dame that helped solidify him as the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, but Russell has been anything but idle since the Sugar Bowl.
“It’s been like 100 miles an hour every day,” Russell said Saturday at the inaugural Marcus Spears Football Camp. “Every day.”
“I haven’t had a day to really rest and not think about some things because everything is coming at me all at once.”
The Oakland Raiders made him the top draft pick April 28. Russell participated in his first minicamp May 4-6 at the team’s facility in Alameda, Calif., then completed a voluntary minicamp June 13.
He described the last six months as a whirlwind of people tugging on him for this reason or that, always wanting something — whether it be an autograph, his time, a photo, an endorsement or some other piece of him, or team obligations.
Russell said it’s all part of the deal when a pro team makes you the No. 1 draft pick.
“That says a lot,” Russell said of that designation, “and a lot comes with it.”
Russell has been in the spotlight for so long — since early in his high school career in Mobile, Ala. — it’s easy to forget he’s 21 years old. He sounded mature Saturday as he put into perspective the hectic pace of this new phase in his life.
“It’s to better myself as a person and as a player,” Russell said.
Contract negotiations with the Raiders continue. Russell declined to give reporters the amount of money his agents, Ethan Lock and Eric Metz, are asking the team to give Russell. Published reports from veteran NFL writers speculate Russell could seek up to $30 million in guaranteed money.
Mario Williams, the No. 1 pick of the Houston Texans in the 2006 NFL Draft, signed a six-year, $54 million deal as a defensive end. The contract guaranteed him $26.5 million.
The most recent quarterback who signed a contract after being drafted No. 1 was Alex Smith, whose 2005 deal with the San Francisco 49ers called for $24 million in guaranteed money and a total package worth $49.5 million over six years.
Russell didn’t look like a soon-to-be millionaire Saturday at the Spears camp. On his 6-foot-6, 255-pound body a long, untucked white T-shirt seemed almost like a curtain, yet not long enough to reach the hemline of baggy, oversized “shorts” well below his knees.
Even indoors, he wore jewel-encrusted sunglasses. They did not render him anonymous.
Young campers, and a few adults who came with them, asked for autographs or a chance to be photographed with Russell. He obliged all who asked.
Inside the LSU indoor facility where he wowed NFL personnel at a pre-draft workout, he recalled many hours of practice and the rest of his college experience.
“It brings a lot of memories back,” Russell said.
He said he has 23 semester hours left on his degree plan, and spring and summer semesters found him not in class but studying the Oakland Raiders playbook and preparing for the start of preseason training camp late this month at the team’s Napa Valley facility.
After his first minicamp, Russell told reporters he grasped the offense better than he’d expected.
“I thought it was going to be like my freshman year all over and knowing nothing,” he said, “so I picked it up pretty good.”
Russell said it was good to be where he feels at home and in control, on the football field, after all the activity associated with the draft.
“It felt good to know where you’re going to spend the next couple of years of your life,” he said after the first mini-camp. “I’m just happy to be out there and be a part of the Raider Nation.”
He’s not the only former LSU quarterback on the roster. The Raiders signed Josh Booty to a free-agent contract in March.
As for the next LSU quarterback, Russell said he had no doubt fifth-year senior Matt Flynn will be the kind of leader the Tigers need this season.
“I think Matt will be great,” Russell said. “Over the course of the years we’ve been here together, we’ve been through everything together.
“I can’t wait to actually see him get his chance. We talked about it for so long, and he’s finally getting his big break.”
Flynn’s only college start came in LSU’s 40-3 victory over Miami at the 2005 Peach Bowl, a game Russell missed because of a shoulder injury he suffered in the SEC Championship Game.
Flynn’s playing time at LSU before and after that game featured mix results.
“He never had many chances to play in a whole game all at once,” Russell said, “but once people realize what he can do for the team, I think they’ll be very pleased.”
By CARL DUBOIS
Published: Jul 2, 2007
JaMarcus Russell spoke softly, almost as if each syllable might cost him the energy he’d later need to get up from the bench inside the LSU football indoor practice facility.
Half a year has passed since his last game, the 41-14 victory over Notre Dame that helped solidify him as the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, but Russell has been anything but idle since the Sugar Bowl.
“It’s been like 100 miles an hour every day,” Russell said Saturday at the inaugural Marcus Spears Football Camp. “Every day.”
“I haven’t had a day to really rest and not think about some things because everything is coming at me all at once.”
The Oakland Raiders made him the top draft pick April 28. Russell participated in his first minicamp May 4-6 at the team’s facility in Alameda, Calif., then completed a voluntary minicamp June 13.
He described the last six months as a whirlwind of people tugging on him for this reason or that, always wanting something — whether it be an autograph, his time, a photo, an endorsement or some other piece of him, or team obligations.
Russell said it’s all part of the deal when a pro team makes you the No. 1 draft pick.
“That says a lot,” Russell said of that designation, “and a lot comes with it.”
Russell has been in the spotlight for so long — since early in his high school career in Mobile, Ala. — it’s easy to forget he’s 21 years old. He sounded mature Saturday as he put into perspective the hectic pace of this new phase in his life.
“It’s to better myself as a person and as a player,” Russell said.
Contract negotiations with the Raiders continue. Russell declined to give reporters the amount of money his agents, Ethan Lock and Eric Metz, are asking the team to give Russell. Published reports from veteran NFL writers speculate Russell could seek up to $30 million in guaranteed money.
Mario Williams, the No. 1 pick of the Houston Texans in the 2006 NFL Draft, signed a six-year, $54 million deal as a defensive end. The contract guaranteed him $26.5 million.
The most recent quarterback who signed a contract after being drafted No. 1 was Alex Smith, whose 2005 deal with the San Francisco 49ers called for $24 million in guaranteed money and a total package worth $49.5 million over six years.
Russell didn’t look like a soon-to-be millionaire Saturday at the Spears camp. On his 6-foot-6, 255-pound body a long, untucked white T-shirt seemed almost like a curtain, yet not long enough to reach the hemline of baggy, oversized “shorts” well below his knees.
Even indoors, he wore jewel-encrusted sunglasses. They did not render him anonymous.
Young campers, and a few adults who came with them, asked for autographs or a chance to be photographed with Russell. He obliged all who asked.
Inside the LSU indoor facility where he wowed NFL personnel at a pre-draft workout, he recalled many hours of practice and the rest of his college experience.
“It brings a lot of memories back,” Russell said.
He said he has 23 semester hours left on his degree plan, and spring and summer semesters found him not in class but studying the Oakland Raiders playbook and preparing for the start of preseason training camp late this month at the team’s Napa Valley facility.
After his first minicamp, Russell told reporters he grasped the offense better than he’d expected.
“I thought it was going to be like my freshman year all over and knowing nothing,” he said, “so I picked it up pretty good.”
Russell said it was good to be where he feels at home and in control, on the football field, after all the activity associated with the draft.
“It felt good to know where you’re going to spend the next couple of years of your life,” he said after the first mini-camp. “I’m just happy to be out there and be a part of the Raider Nation.”
He’s not the only former LSU quarterback on the roster. The Raiders signed Josh Booty to a free-agent contract in March.
As for the next LSU quarterback, Russell said he had no doubt fifth-year senior Matt Flynn will be the kind of leader the Tigers need this season.
“I think Matt will be great,” Russell said. “Over the course of the years we’ve been here together, we’ve been through everything together.
“I can’t wait to actually see him get his chance. We talked about it for so long, and he’s finally getting his big break.”
Flynn’s only college start came in LSU’s 40-3 victory over Miami at the 2005 Peach Bowl, a game Russell missed because of a shoulder injury he suffered in the SEC Championship Game.
Flynn’s playing time at LSU before and after that game featured mix results.
“He never had many chances to play in a whole game all at once,” Russell said, “but once people realize what he can do for the team, I think they’ll be very pleased.”
