$36 million dollar QB JaMarcus Russell likely to be cut by Raiders

[Auggie]

S.F. Chronicle, 4-24-10

The Raiders finally admitted to themselves that you can't win with, or rely on, a 290-pound quarterback and traded with Washington for quarterback Jason Campbell on Saturday.

The cost was cheap (a fourth-round draft pick in 2012) and the savings could be huge - $6.45 million if Oakland cuts JaMarcus Russell this week.

Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, has struggled with weight problems - the 6-foot-6 quarterback reportedly weighed 290 in March - and teammates openly have questioned his work ethic.* His 50.0 passer rating last season was the lowest in the NFL in 11 years and he lost his starting job midway through the season.

<SNIP>

Cable did make some comments that hinted Oakland is set to make a morale-boosting change and cut Russell loose. "Adding Jason to this football team was very important," Cable said.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/25/SPHA1D4I69.DTL

If (rather, when) they cut Russell he is owed another $3 million. Russell has already been paid $36 million dollars.

On edit: I meant to add at the asterisk -- teammates didn't just question the work ethic, they didn't want him to play. When you lose your teammates, you're toast.