The former No. 1 pick, and perhaps the No. 1 all-time bust, is trying to return to football. That's right, JaMarcus Russell is going to give his infamous career one last chance in the NFL (via ESPN).
This move shows good ambition for the former LSU star. He has had a very rough time since his release from the Oakland Raiders, which happened on May 6th, 2010, only three years since being the first player taken in the 2007 NFL Draft.
Russell was arrested on July 5th, 2010 for possession of codeine syrup, the same substance he tested positive for after the 2007 NFL Draft.
While the codeine arrest in 2010 may not kill off every possible chance of a return to the NFL, it is a huge off-field concern and provides more baggage that already comes with the headache that is Russell.
American sports are known for giving second chances, breathing life into careers that once looked dead and lost for good. Russell only lasted 25 starts for the Raiders and went 7-18 in those games. He has career passing numbers of 4,083 yards, 18 touchdowns, 23 interceptions and a 65.2 passer rating.
He was a No. 1 pick for a reason in 2007, having a 6'6'' and possessing a rocket arm, and to be fair, the Raiders gave up on Russell maybe a bit too soon.
But who could blame them?
The problem with Russell is that he cannot keep in shape. In 2009, Russell was fined by Oakland for being 15 pounds overweight, at 275 pounds. In March 2010, it was reported that Russell came into camp weighing 290 pounds.
Now that Russell wants to return to the NFL, he is 308 pounds. But give him credit, he was 320 in the fall.
Top it off with Russell's poor work ethic and three seasons out of football, and he'll have a heck of a time making an NFL return.
Though he does offer a nice set of skills, this is still the same JaMarcus Russell that drove Oakland f...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
