The comeback everyone has been waiting for

KPENN

KPENN

Well-known member
Staff member
Messages
13,017
Reaction score
11,343
NFL draft bust JaMarcus Russell is attempting a comeback | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports

One of the biggest draft busts in NFL history is trying to re-kindle his football career. Yahoo! Sports has learned that JaMarcus Russell is planning a comeback attempt that he hopes will see him play in the league again. The former No. 1 pick in the 2007 NFL draft has not played a single NFL snap since the 2009 season with the Oakland Raiders.
The reclamation of Russell will follow a tricky road for a quarterback who was always known more for his physical blessings than technique. Russell, 27, who has effectively been out of football since tryouts with the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins in 2010, might find overcoming himself his biggest challenge. Currently at 308 pounds, Russell is down from the 320 pounds he weighed this past fall and has been focusing on cardio conditioning the past six weeks to lose the weight.
“My first year out, I couldn’t watch football but after a while, I couldn’t keep the TV off. I got that itchy feeling but now I gotta watch it, gotta watch,” Russell said.
“The last few years, the things going through my life, football is my job and it is how it feeds my family. People would say [that] I didn’t love the game but that pisses me off. People don’t know the real you but I want people to know the real me and see what I can do. People are always saying that I’m a bust. I want show them I’m not. I’m committed to this now.”
Yahoo! Sports has learned that Russell’s mentor through this whole process is former NFL wide receiver Mike Clayton, who like Russell is a LSU product. Over the next couple months, Russell will be training with Brian Martin of TEST Football Academy and TEST West, whose draft products include Joe Flacco and Patrick Peterson among others. In addition, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia (quarterback technique training), Olympian Ato Boldon (speed training and analysis), Dr. Robert Price of Elite Minds (mental and psychological analysis), former NFL wide receiver Quinn Early (disciplinary work and focus), former New York Giants quarterback Scott Brunner (reading defenses and classroom sessions) and NFL Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk (reading defenses) will work as part of the team trying to reclaim the quarterback’s promise.
A former top pick, Russell never fulfilled his boundless athletic promise, including a 6-foot-6-inch 265 pound frame that looked more like that belonging to a tight end than someone under center. Complicating a comeback from a less than storied NFL career is the fact that Russell will need to overcome the negative perception stemming from his July 2010 arrest for codeine syrup without a prescription.
He has taken steps to make amends for his mistakes, including frequently speaking to youth groups about his poor choices and arrest.
“I’m not looking for a pat on the shoulder from people who haven’t been there for me,” Russell said. “It feels funny not to go through a training camp, that’s just what I’m used to. It’s going to feel good to go back out there again. I will make this happen.”
Click to expand...
 
BobD

BobD

Can't get no satisfaction
Messages
7,918
Reaction score
1,034
He's got a lot to overcome, but I wish him well. It's a great thing when someone gets their sh!t together.
 
G

Grahambo

Guest
I was mad when he was selected over Quinn.

Seriously, wish him the best. Always nice to see someone get it together and get it going. Hopefully, he can make it.
 
Ironman8

Ironman8

Jaqen H'ghar
Messages
11,652
Reaction score
902
After reading the title I thought you meant the Flyers, Penner. Guess we will still have to wait on that one :)
 
IrishinTN

IrishinTN

Well-known member
Messages
1,895
Reaction score
340
Ironman8 said:
After reading the title I thought you meant the Flyers, Penner. Guess we will still have to wait on that one :)
Click to expand...

Hey, you son of a....yeah, could be a long year...except that it is already so short. Ah, never mind.
 
PANDFAN

PANDFAN

Look Down
Messages
16,770
Reaction score
2,278
Irish Houstonian said:
For reals. He wasn't that ripped at 265 to begin with.

That's a lot of puurple draank.
Click to expand...

:smilewink


im all for someone making a life turn...but lets be real and wait to see...just like the honey badger had a mentor and was on the straight and narrow...oh that's right then he fell off on that marijuana bust...it's the culture they are assimilated with and choose to be "ballers"
 
C

ClausentoTate

New member
Messages
631
Reaction score
43
ND made him SO much money that year... I assume he invested it wisely so that he doesn't have to come back to the NFL and if he doesn't he can be a productive person in society with his LSU degree
 
irishpat183

irishpat183

Banned
Messages
5,625
Reaction score
504
Don't feel sorry for him at all. Lazy and blew an opportunity (and millions of dollars) that most would give their life for.

Good luck. But he'll NEVER play QB in the NFL with work ethic and problems that he has (weight).


OT or DL...
 
ACamp1900

ACamp1900

Counting my ‘bet against ND’ winnings
Messages
48,947
Reaction score
11,225
Can we get to 06 defense to work his trianing sessions... that'll get signed somewhere...
 
anarin

anarin

They call me Chuck.
Messages
3,284
Reaction score
809
If he gets out the kitchen then its canada here we come!
 
rikkitikki08

rikkitikki08

Well-known member
Messages
4,261
Reaction score
3,090
308 might hold a record for the largest QB in the history of forever.......seriously the guy is 3.0.8.!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top