Jamarcus' Judgement Day

  In a season that followed the progress Russell made last year in back to back upset wins against Houston and Tampa Bay, this year was going to be Russell's emergence as one of the new top QBs in pro football.  8 games into that season, Russell is the 32nd ranked QB out of 33, thank you Cleveland.  Russell did have some sparks like in leading the Raiders down the field in the last minute at Kansas City in a Kenny Stabler-like fashion that set the Raiders up for the winning TD by Darren McFadden.

  With injuries to 2 O-linemen (Gallery and Green), the teams top WR (Chaz Schilens) and the starter of the "three-headed" rushing attack (McFaddenn) I have given Russell some slack because he has had little, if any, help from his teammates.  He is harrassed by defensive linemen and his recievers are dropping catchable passes, which is why he throws to TE Zach Miller and screens more than any other team in football.  "Speed Kills" was once the slogan used in Raider Nation with guys like Cliff Branch running down the field making the catch and taking it the rest of the way. "Speed Kills Us" should be the new slogan because we draft based on 40-yard times instead of catches.

  Anyway, as I said earlier I have been patient with Russell because of injuries and drops but he is throwing picks and dropping fumbles too much but I remain neutral.  I don't think Bruce Gradkowski will mimmick Jim Plunkett's season of 1980 when he came off the bench and led the Raiders to a wild card berth and a Super Bowl victory.

  Today, Sunday the 15th, is Russell's last chance to save my hope.  He is off a bye week, he has a healthy offense and he has the Chiefs in Oakland and I will be there with a "Commitment to Excellence" skull and crossbones flag in the first row of the second deck.  If Russell beats the Chiefs as he did in Week 2 then I wil;l allow him more time but if Oakland loses to the Chiefs as they have in every game at Oakland since 2003, I will be looking for Tim Tebow in the draft or pray that either Tom Brady or Peyton Manning or both will not sign new contracts with their teams.