Ex-Raider Russell attempting NFL comeback

At a slim 308 pounds, former Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell is attempting to stage an NFL comeback, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Kristian Dyer.

Arguably the biggest bust in NFL history, Russell was drafted first overall by the Raiders in the 2007 NFL Draft. After holding out through training camp as well as the first week of the 2007-08 regular season, the former LSU Tiger signed a lucrative $68-million contract, of which $31.5 million was guaranteed.

After struggling throughout his three-year career, Russell has not played an NFL snap since being replaced by Charlie Frye in a home loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 3 2010 and has effectively been out of football since attending tryouts with the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins later that year.

Having garnered a reputation of being immature and lazy — he allegedly showed up to training camp weighing over 300 pounds — the Raiders released Russell in May 2010. Two months later, he was arrested and charged with possession of codeine syrup without a prescription.

While Russell’s play left much to be desired, he only won seven of his 25 starts; his conduct off the field is what put the metaphorical nail in the coffin of his NFL career.

“My first year out, I couldn’t watch football but after a while, I couldn’t keep the TV off. I got that itchy feeling but now I gotta watch it, gotta watch,” Russell told Yahoo! Sports.”The last few years, the things going through my life, football is my job and it is how it feeds my family. People would say (that) I didn’t love the game but that pisses me off. People don’t know the real you but I want people to know the real me and see what I can do. People are always saying that I’m a bust. I want show them I’m not. I’m committed to this now.”

Upon hearing the news of his comeback attempt, many critics have sounded off on Twitter about it and while they believe that his toughest task will be to garner interest from NFL teams, it has not stopped them from cracking a few jokes at the former first overall pick’s expense.

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