The Oakland Raiders are in rebuilding mode. They benefited from several good picks in the recent 2010 NFL Draft, and one position is subject to much contention. Quarterback JaMarcus Russell is believed to have been a bust, despite being a No. 1 draft pick. (So were Ryan Leaf and Brian Bosworth.) They’ve made a cash advance or two to some promising players as well as some crafty vets and may be a greater threat than 2009-2010′s disappointing 5-11 season.

The Raiders may turn the autumn wind cold for Russell

The Oakland Raiders drafted JaMarcus Ruseell in 2007. During his rookie season, he went 36 complete passes for 66 attempts, two touchdowns, four interceptions and a total of 373 yards. The next two seasons saw the Raiders go 5-11 twice, and Russell began to lose form. There was a success after his replacement with Bruce Gradkowski, who led the team to two upsets against the Bengals and the (then) Super Bowl champion Steelers, but then he was injured. Fans started calling for Gradkowski to become the starter and for Russell’s benching or release. According to Yahoo! Sports , the Raiders are supposedly planning to give Russell the boot soon, and he has also been struggling with fitness.

The 2010 NFL Draft and Raider trades

For the first round, the Oakland Raiders drafted Rolando McClain for linebacker. Most of their draft picks were for defensive positions, but they also traded draft picks for recently released Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell. Campbell had mixed results with the Redskins, but had been consistently improving. There is a far more entertaining prospect, though, with all the payroll loans being made to beef up the defense.

Tim Tebow should consider himself a marked man

The Denver Broncos just drafted squeaky clean sensation Tim Tebow. He is not John Elway by a long shot, but he is somewhat promising. That said, one of the biggest rivalries (aside from the Chiefs and the Steelers back in the ’70s) the Raiders maintain is with the Denver Broncos. A rookie golden boy and an unhinged Raider’s defense armed to the teeth? There will be blood.

What to do with quarterbacks?

Oakland hasn’t had a winning season since 2002. With the surplus quarterbacks the team has, one is embattled and not quite the fan favorite, to say the least.

Resources for the article

Yahoo! Sports

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=nfp-raiders_expected_to_cut_jamarcus_russell_soon_html-2010426

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