[Zip Spin]

The Oakland Raiders benched former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell on Wednesday, handing the starting job to journeyman Bruce Gradkowski for the foreseeable future.
Coach Tom Cable made the announcement of the change following practice as the Raiders (2-7) prepare to play the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Cable said this was not a temporary move, that his plan is to stick with Gradkowski.
“I don’t want to be like that,” he said. “This is where we’re headed and what we’re going to do. He’ll take this team and go with it.”

Gradkowski takes over starting QB gig for Raiders - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

I'm surprised to see they finally benched the golden boy in Oakland. I'm even more surprised Davis let him. It should be interesting to see what Gradkowski can do out there, probably no better that Russel, but hey, with that record, what have you got to lose?

[Quack Attack]

Gradwoski is hurt and is questionable this weekend. Charlie Frye will probably start is what I am hearing right now.

I will be honest, was never a Russell fan and really never thought he would be a good NFL QB. Now, granted he is playing for the Raiders, who don't have a good offensive line usually. There is a lot of skill players around him though. Raiders will probably once again have to waste a first round draft pick on another QB. Kind of sounds like the Lions?

Nothing to lose by trying another QB for sure.

[Bette]

I didnt know about the injury to Gradowski.
Russell is one major disappointment., Every year he gets a chance, and every year he messes up.
The so called golden boy is never going to learn. He has lousy work ethics and it doesnt appear its ever going to change.
I thought the Raiders had enough talent around them this year to make a diff.

[Zip Spin]

Supposedly Russel can throw that farthest out of any NFL QB right now. That is 80 yards. It is also said that he can throw 60 yards on his knees, and 40 yards on his back. That is extremely impressive arm strength. For some reason or another, he isn't becoming a good QB. Maybe he is on the wrong team. Maybe he is just another example of why the transition from college to the NFL is a crapshoot.

As for Gradkowski, he hasn't had a ton of time to prove himself, so I wouldn't be surprised if he came out and looked a little better than Russel. I wouldn't expect a big improvement though. He started 11 games for the Bucs in 2006, 9 TDs and 9 INT. Since then he has started 1 game, that was for Cleveland in 2008. He is 26 years old so, once again, I wouldn't be too surprised if he came out looking alright.

[loco4pablo]

Russell is another example of a player who was somehow smart enough to get into "college" but for some reason wasn't smart enough to grasp the NFL.... Hence Vince Young

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Originally Posted by loco4pablo

Russell is another example of a player who was somehow smart enough to get into "college" but for some reason wasn't smart enough to grasp the NFL.... Hence Vince Young

I wouldn't put Young in that boat of college busts just yet.

[kkfan91]

Originally Posted by loco4pablo

Russell is another example of a player who was somehow smart enough to get into "college" but for some reason wasn't smart enough to grasp the NFL.... Hence Vince Young

If your good enough at a sport you don't need to be smart to go to college...its us smart people that have a hard time getting in

[loco4pablo]

Originally Posted by kkfan91

If your good enough at a sport you don't need to be smart to go to college...its us smart people that have a hard time getting in

I agree 100% KK... Thats why College football or college sport in general is nothing but BS!!

[Bette]

I didnt know that about Russel's arm strength. It must be why they keep giving him another chance when he comes into every training camp over weight and out of shape.
Too bad.
Right team might make a diff.

[Zip Spin]

Originally Posted by Bette

I didnt know that about Russel's arm strength. It must be why they keep giving him another chance when he comes into every training camp over weight and out of shape.
Too bad.
Right team might make a diff.

Or because Al Davis refuses to admit he made a bad draft pick.