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Raiders end tussle with Russell, QB inks 6 yr deal
By Jeremy Harness September 11, 2007 |
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ALAMEDA--The long exasperating wait is finally over, but the quarterback controversy is just beginning at the Oakland Raiders as they finally signed their 2007 NFL overall number one draft pick, JaMarcus Russell on Tuesday. Russell who held out since May, and has worked out from his home in Alabama. Russell is looking forward to getting started with the club. Russell's deal is worth $68 million and $31 million in guaranteed money. Russell and the Raiders now need to wait for NFL approval and that would make things official, and that should be completed before Sunday's game against Denver. The $68 million contract is the richest contract for a rookie in league history since Calvin Johnson of the Lions who signed on for $27.2 million in guaranteed money last season. The Raiders will need to break Russell in and get him acclimated with the system. Head Coach Lane Kiffin has estimated that it might take five to six weeks to get him game ready. Russell came out of LSU throwing for 52 touchdowns the second highest and 61.9% in completed passes second highest there in school history as well. QB controversy continues: When the Raiders first signed Daunte Culpepper, it was everyone's impression around the team that he was good to go as the team starter. That all changed after pre season when Coach Kiffin said he would announce who the team starter would be less than 24 hours before kick off on opening day last Sunday. The announcement came on Saturday night that Kiffin would not start Culpepper and would go with Josh McCown. McCown also has been announced as the Raider starter for the season. Of course with the signing of Russell, that could change in a little more than a month if Russell can get ready. Also something no one saw coming was that once Russell gets to the Raiders, Culpepper could be released by the team to save on his $2 million salary and that Culpepper who is expendable might have to make room for Russell on the roster. Culpepper was originally brought on board in the event that Russell held out for a certain length of time. But seeing that Russell was close to signing with the team, the Raiders prepared McCown to start and Culpepper looks to be the odd man out. Culpepper was cut by the Miami Dolphins earlier this year and this would be Culpepper's second team to cut him this year. If so with McCown starting, Andrew Walter would end up backing up McCown until Russell is ready and at that time Russell would move into the number one position and McCown would serve as back up, and Walter would be number three again. Jeremy Harness covers Raiders football and co-hosts Sportstalk on 1690 KFSG Sacramento. |
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