The Oakland Raiders released former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell on Thursday, ending a three-year tenure marked by his high salary and unproductive play on the field.

Senior executive John Herrera told The Associated Press about the move and said that “we wish him well.”

The decision came less than two weeks after Oakland acquired Jason Campbell from Washington to take over at quarterback and signifies that owner Al Davis finally lost patience with the immensely talented but unproductive player he drafted first overall in 2007 against the wishes of former coach Lane Kiffin.

Russell will now likely be considered one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history, joining Ryan Leaf, Ki-Jana Carter, Akili Smith and others on that list. He will have been paid more than $39 million by the Raiders, while producing only seven wins as a starter.

Click here to read the full article – By of ESPN.com

He entered the interview room with a cross between a painful limp and a sashaying swagger. So it was only natural for a reporter to ask JaMarcus Russell if he was hurt.

“Oh, no,” the nattily attired Raiders quarterback said, a sly smile crossing his face. “I’m just cool like that.”

And there it was, in one disarmingly revealing moment – Russell’s greatest strength and his biggest weakness.

Yes, you want your field general to be unflappable in the face of an announced 69,169 screaming maniacs, most of whom are screaming for your scalp, as he was in leading the Raiders on a game-winning 69-yard drive. The march culminated with Darren McFadden going in from five yards out with 67 seconds to play.

Click here to read the full article – By Paul Gutierrez of The Sacremento Bee

Oakland Raiders Sports Memorabilia
and other Oakland Raiders Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Jamarcus Russell.