Changing one’s life is never easy. JaMarcus Russell knows that fact all too well.
The former Oakland Raiders quarterback was recently dismissed by his life coach, John Lucas, according to Jason Cole at Yahoo! Sports.
Abe Brown tackled the bulk of the story earlier, but I wanted to add a few thoughts of my own.
Lucas, a former NBA coach, had been working with Russell in an attempt to turn the No. 1 draft pick’s life around. The relationship reportedly soured after Russell lost motivation and quit working hard to rebuild his NFL career and get his life on the right track.
Per Cole, Russell drove Lucas “to the point of frustration.”
Russell’s problems haven’t come solely from his battles with codeine abuse. In fact, the bigger knock on the former LSU Tiger is, and has been, his weight.
Last November two teams decided to kick the tires on the husky quarterback. When he worked out for the Washington Redskins during their bye week he tipped the scales at 286 pounds. Just two weeks later the Miami Dolphins brought him in for a visit where his weight increased to 292 pounds.
His workout habits reportedly continued to retrogress, which led to his split with Lucas.
At just 25-years of age it appears Russell’s career could truly be over.
Still, their are those who hold hope for the fledgling athlete. Those who understand jump-starting his NFL career needs to be secondary to conquering his personal demons.
Once you hit rock bottom there is no place to go but up. The only question is whether Russell has truly hit bottom.
Instead of continuing to bury him, I challenge Raider Nation and all fans of the NFL to send a prayer, good thought, positive vibration or well wish out for him. It is abundantly clear that Russell needs help — more help than just one man can provide.
If we as not just fans, but fellow human beings, pool our collective well wishes together for him it may just work. And what a turnaround it would be.
Think it can’t happen? Think Michael Vick.
Why all the sorrow for Russell ? I’ll save that for people starving in the world or going through bad problems such as the people in Japan or someone diagnosed with cancer. Not some young idiot in his 20′s who pocketed 30 mill and seems to be blowing away a career. What a waste and what a grade a jerk.
He doesnt deserve my ‘prayers’ at all
Philly fans would have no sympathy for a guy like Russel – I’m sure of that.
On a humanity level, I think he has serious mental problems he has never dealt with. Going to the NFL destroys many a great college athlete. I don’t know how much the screwy Raider’s regime effected his development….but it’s obvious he’s not capapble of finding the will and discipline to make it back…so it seems would have probably failed anywhere.
I only saw this debacle from afar, but I can’t imagine Philly sports fans having any saving grace for someone who behaved like Russel. From a humanity standpoint I think he has serious mental problems and don’t know if he ever tried any real strategy to deal with it. It’s too late for football, but if he continues it’s gonna be too late period…I heard his house was foreclosed, is he broke?
eks needs to shut his mouth
Chuck, oc and eks of you are freaken retarded everyone in the RaiderNation gave that fat lard a chance, a chance to turn his life around, to start a new did he take advanage? No, I don’t care what he’s got going on in his life if you are tag the next great qb for the oakland raiders you better take it I’m pissed at him only cause I’ve seen what he can do but it never shows on the field to say it was the O line they never gave him a chance but throw in Gradkowski and we start winning his work ethic sucks I mean how do you show up to camp almost 300 lbs. You guys talk about what he went though? What about what we as the Raider Nation went though? Lost after lost of over thrown under thrown or way off target. Every time he threw that ball my stomach turned I defended him all the way until his release then after that I was done with him there is a reason why nobody has picked him up plain and simple he is a bust
Give me a break, I should feel sorry for some lazy bum. He is Toast once word went out about how he showed up at those 2 work outs. The Ravens who he was calling and begging would not even return the Losers Phone Call.
My only joy is knowing that he will have to live the rest of his life being reminded each and every Draft Year that he is the Biggest Bust to ever come into the NFL.
if your looking for sympathy from Raider Nation, you wont find any from those pathetic, insensitive losers. theres no heart found in that nation so how can you expect any love and prayers from them? Russell doesn’t need anything from them. He will get it from those who actually care about life and not just football. Raider nation seems to lack any perspective on the trials of life.
I feel bad for dude. Its not like he’s Oakland’s problem anymore. Its hard to imagine how someone who was a top collegiate athlete is so slovenly and uninspired. Its definitely a mental issue. I really hope you find some sort of redemption in your life JaMarcus, because you are a joke son.
All I’m saying is it’s not necessary to turn Raider Nation into Hater Nation.
As for Russell’s potential . . . there’s no disputing his college career nor the fact he was at the very least a first-round caliber player coming out of LSU.
I got two tons of manure I’d like to dump over him.
The only prayer I will send, is that Al Davis will win the lawsuit he slapped on this clown.
Jamarcus was a bigger bust than Ryan Leaf for the SD chokers – I’m all for someone turning their life around but comparing him to Vick would insinuate that Jamarcass was a talented quarterback with tremendous potential prior to his mishaps.
@RaiderNationInVenturaCA — I think you’re kinda missing the point. The article really has very little to do with football and more to do with humanity. The guy, at least in my eyes, is really struggling and hurting. We all deserve a break and pat on the back from time to time regardless of how badly we may have messed up in the past.
Ask yourself this: Does poor quarterback really mean you deserve to be buried? Does a drug arrest, which he was acquitted of and didn’t hurt anybody but himself, really mean you’re scum?
Not in my book.
What do you think?
why the hell would raider nation say a prayer for this turd ?? he set the team back half a decade not to mention the money he stole.. yea yea yea I know Al is the one who had the brilliant idea to sign him but that doesn’t mean the raiders deserved this P.O.S. to lay an egg after we made him a very rich idiot..