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During the off-season, Don Banks of SI.com was among several people to pass along a rumor that Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell weighed in the 300-pound range.
Shortly after that, a league source told PFT that Russell was actually under 275. And now that’s what Russell says as well.
“Right now, I’m 269,” Russell said yesterday. “I was never, ever even close to 300 pounds.”
In fact, Raiders coach Lane Kiffin says Russell has been among the team’s hardest workers this off-season and that his teammates have noticed “his body being different.”
Still, 269 is on the heavy side for Russell, even though he’s 6-foot-6 and has a naturally thick frame. At last year’s scouting combine he weighed 265 and looked chubby. And he’s officially listed at 255.
Russell did acknowledge, “I still have some more weight to lose, probably five, six more pounds, but I’m OK.”
May 16th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Russell has been in Oakland for months now working in the weight room. “his teammates have noticed “his body being different”". Its called a change in body composition. If he weighs in at 265 by the start of the season and has added muscle to his already huge frame, he’s in a lot better shape than last year. Wait until he’s played a few games before casting judgement.
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May 16th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Raider haters are out in full effect today. Don’t get your ass hurt worrying about his weight deusche bags.
Here’s a pic of him yesterday:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/portlet/article/html/render_gallery.jsp?articleId=9278751&siteId=571&startImage=3
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May 16th, 2008 at 10:32 am
butchd,your post explains why your a waterboy.
This is gonna be an exciting year for the RAIDER NATION.
Get your STEEL RESERVE ready!
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May 16th, 2008 at 11:41 am
I hate the Raiders, I really do. I hope this guy is a fat version of Jeff George, but I get the sinking feeling that he will be a stud. Hope I’m wrong.
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May 16th, 2008 at 11:45 am
PFT jumped the shark when they started to allow comments.
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May 16th, 2008 at 11:56 am
pullpecker easily isnt as mobile (or “light”) as he used to be. russell has a short fuse…
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May 16th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Isn’t it great to have a linebacker to play quaterback. Against the Raiders do not do a cornerback blitz.
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May 16th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
“the only thing russell will be losing are games”
are we supposed to take comments like this seriously when people can’t even properly construct a sentence?
theres plenty of pictures of him from the OTAs if you cared enough to find them. He looks fine.
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May 16th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I was starting to get nervous. J-Lo almost lost the crown.
6′4″ 285. Of course the Hefty Lefty is not a starter though.
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May 16th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
We are not concerned w/ J Russ’ weight. If ol’ Rob can figure a way to STOP the run, and Cable can get the o-line to pass protect. Then lookout. The Raiders will be much improved, this season.
Sure Russell will make some mistakes, but the good plays will far surpass the negative.
All you haters, have had your fun kicking us while we’ve been down.
Now our turn to do some A__ kicking,which is becoming your worst nightmare.
The autumn wind is a Raider. and he is angry.
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May 16th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
It’s not like Russell being slightly tubby is going to take away an extra dimension from his game because as far as I can remember it’s always been about his rocket arm; not any ability to scramble like Culpepper used to possess in his prime.
I’d be far more interested in how far along Russell’s game has evolved with just one season where he barely player under his belt when the much more polished former SEC product Jay Cutler was only able to lead the Broncos to 7 wins in his sophomore year, and he played a lot more than Jamarcus in his rookie season.
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May 16th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
northeagle….they were 6th in rushing last year.
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May 16th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
“are we supposed to take comments like this seriously - blah, blah, blah…”
If you’re going to pull out the grammar Nazi card, you really should double-check your own post before throwing stones. Grammar also includes capitalization and puncuation.
Is Raider-fan this optimistic every year until their dreams get crushed? You should be more worried about why Al is mortgaging the future by signing marginal and injured players to huge contracts - contracts that no one else was even considering. Davis is like that episode of Sanford and Son where Fred and Lamont were bidding against each other at the auction. Good luck, Al, you big dummy.
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May 16th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
men worrying about other men’s measurements…that’s disturbing
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May 16th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
What’s that addage…bigger, stronger, faster? In 5 years, everyone will be saying, I want one of those big, tall, 270 pound quarterbacks with the strong arm as opposed to the old “prototype.” They probably thought Lebron James was big for his age and stuff, too. He’s just a top 5 NBA player, now.
This isn’t 1980, when your quarterback was supposed to be 6′ 3″ and 230 pounds. Defensive linemen run 4.4 now. And please somebody stop with the Jay Cutler garbage. He’s going to be the next JohnElway….the whole state of colorado can keep holding their breath. He’s a marginal NFL starter for 10 years like most that come into the league. I don’t know where all the hype came from. He was never that accurate in college or anything special. but I guess since he went to Vandy, he was destined to rise above the ashes like Elway coming out of Stanford…give me a break.
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May 16th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
If all else fails, they can slide Jamarcus down to Gallery’s spot, who could protect Darren McFadden at QB.
sounds like Jamarcus may be the next AFC west diabetic QB.
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May 16th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
My biggest fear about Russell is that the only bombs he’ll be dropping won’t be in the end zone, but rather by lifting his right leg while sitting on the chair in front of his locker.
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May 16th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
“Henry Plainview, a Rookie, says:
May 16th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
northeagle….they were 6th in rushing last year.”
You’re right Henry but they also ranked 31st in passing so a lot of those rushing yards are misleading.
It’s sort of like my Eagles, they ranked 6th in overall offence but couldn’t put the ball in the end zone…
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May 16th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
northeagle,
that’s why i hesitated to give you the same state about being 6th in rushing.
however, that trend on rushing and passing will continue to improve. improvements to the line including finally getting a blocking tight end in rookie zack miller. last year, no raider wr’s could stretch the field and opponents stack up, but STILL the raiders couldn’t be stopped in the running game
this year there are fast wr’s, improved line, bush & mcfadden in the same backfield, and zack miller set a record for rookie te’s. promising in my opinion
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May 17th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
It doesn’t matter what his weight is.
He has no brains.
Bust.
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May 17th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
sounds a lot like WISHFUL THINKING brokebackinthesaddle
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May 17th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
“trikee, a Passionate Fan, says:
May 16th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
northeagle,
that’s why i hesitated to give you the same state about being 6th in rushing.
however, that trend on rushing and passing will continue to improve. improvements to the line including finally getting a blocking tight end in rookie zack miller. last year, no raider wr’s could stretch the field and opponents stack up, but STILL the raiders couldn’t be stopped in the running game
this year there are fast wr’s, improved line, bush & mcfadden in the same backfield, and zack miller set a record for rookie te’s. promising in my opinion”
Some good points Trikee but stats can be misleading, though the Raiders were ranked 6th in rushing they were also 11th in sacks allowed and 23rd in scoring - now the O line can’t be blamed entirely but these stats are hardly indicative of a great O line (same complaint I have with my Eagles).
A new season always holds promise, only time will tell…
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May 17th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
WHERE’S S.I.’S DON BANKS AT NOW ? ? ! !
GONE INTO HIDING LIKE A SAN DIEGO CHARGER FAN BEFORE L.T. . . . . .
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May 20th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
What I find absolutely fricken hilarious is that everyone seems to be so preoccupied with his weight, as if that’s going to have an adverse effect on his passing game. I mean, it’s not like his arm gained that entire extra 25 lbs, right? A boy that big isn’t gonna have to worry about getting taken out of a game every other week to a linebacker blitz (ala Steve Young) or piss himself everytime he sees the pocket collapsing (like Kerry Collins did). So he may not possess the Cordell Stewartness to run in more touchdowns than he can throw, but who cares?! If he’s got the cannon he’s shown us all thru college and beyond, I think the only weight anyone needs to worry about is the big, shiny, heavy super bowl statue going to the silver & black attack again.
JUST WIN BABY!
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