JaMarcus Russell, the LSU quarterback who was picked No1 in the 2007 draft but hasn’t played since 2009 , said he will “play for free” if a team gives him another chance.
Russell was drafted by the Raiders – and signed a $61m contract with $32m guaranteed – after a successful college career, but struggled in the NFL, compiling a 7–18 record in three seasons hampered by some inconsistent play. He was released by the Raiders in May 2010, and hasn’t played since, but the 30-year-old insists his NFL dream isn’t over.
“God makes things happen for a reason,” Russell said in a video for Sports Illustrated. “Who’s to say? You might see me back. You never know, man – you never know. Whatever it is – I can be a water boy and work my way into a scout team. It doesn’t matter. I’ll go play for free.”
Russell’s final season in Oakland was a bad one: he finished 2009 with the lowest quarterback rating, the lowest completion percentage, the fewest passing touchdowns, and fewest passing yards among starting QBs.
Despite nearly five years out of the game, Russell reportedly sent letters to NFL teams last season asking for another chance. “I am willing to lead the scout team for free for one year just to get experience in your system,” Russell wrote in a letter to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, according to SI.
“I know that my name does not carry much weight in the NFL right now, but I am more than the image that others have bestowed on me,” Russell wrote. “I’ve been labeled as a bust, I have been labeled as lazy and I have been the targets of many insults by the media. The blame for any negative press that I’ve received rested squarely on my shoulders.
“My tribulations have humbled me. I am a better man because of my struggles, and I simply desire an opportunity [to] redeem myself. I do not want my legacy to be a trail of unfulfilled dreams and missed opportunities.”
In November 2010, Russell tried out for Washington and Miami for open backup quarterback positions, but was not signed by either team. He lost weight in 2013 and tried out for the Bears, but was not picked up.
