Ex-LSU QB, NFL Draft Bust JaMarcus Russell Speaks to Sports Illustrated

NFL Bust JaMarcus Russell Speaks to S.I.

Arguably the biggest bust in NFL draft history, JaMarcus Russell has surfaced for a rare interview with Sports Illustrated.

It’s a fascinating read in which L. Jon Wertheim went to Russell’s hometown of Mobile, AL, to get his side of the story on how the No. 1 overall pick of the 2007 NFL draft could be out of the league completely just three years later.

It shows just how sensitive Russell is to all the criticism he has faced over the years and dispels a lot of rumors about Russell, such as getting fired by life coach John Lucas in April and the speculation that he’s now broke.

That being said, Russell does seem to have an excuse for almost everything that went wrong in his career and Wertheim will probably be labeled as a Russell apologist. But if nothing else, it’s nice to finally hear Russell explain what he thinks went wrong in a career that flamed out in spectacular fashion and only got more bizarre when Russell was busted with “Purple Drank” in July of 2010.

So what is Russell doing now? Hanging out in Mobile with plans to re-enroll at LSU in the spring and work out at the school in hopes of getting an NFL training camp invite next summer.

He’s still just 26 but the odds Russell will ever play another down of competitive football seem extremely small. But if this is the first step in turning his life around, that will be a huge victory in itself.

[Sports Illustrated]

3:10 PM on 10/25/2011

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Anonymous

“Wertheim will probably be labeled as a Russell apologist. ”

This is a Grade-A SI article, and the writer obviously felt obligated to repay Russell’s trust with an objective piece which doesn’t omit criticisms but isn’t laden with snark. Not so, this blogger. He has to insinuate that Werthheim will “probably” be labeled as a “Russell apologist.” My guess (as someone who has written for SI) is that this blogger will probably (see? Probably?–I didn’t say he will, just said “probably”) go through life a labeled as a minor league SI wannabe. #
- Queen Laqueefa
  
  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I’d bet the farm your only written contribution to SI is filling out your yearly subscription card. Get a life, douche.
Anonymous

What a joke he was and new he was a fraud and Al davis went for it. the big joke is because he is black no one will say much about him being 10X more a bust than Ryan Leaf the other huge bust. Plus to have been gareenteed over 25 million and to be broke is a joke. i guess he has his possie around him. wrong they have long gone a left this loser in the hood where he is just another hasbend. As for him getting his degree wish him the best of luck but all his kids have better chance of graduating before he does.
- This Guy
  
  Spell check, man, spell check
  - Anonymous
    
    proofreading blogs and taking the time to comment on it? Why am I here and why am I writing this. Blogging is like fly paper for morons and I am now dumber for having participated
    - Anonymous
      
      Don’t worry, you were a moron before you participated
- Anonymous
  
  Nobody cares if he is black. Who really cares who is the biggest bust! they both are bust! Stop your racist rants and speak on things for real without any racisim! No one really knows how broke he is. He might be broke but not like most folks being broke. No one really knows if he is broke. forclosure on a house in Oakland is not indication of being broke he may have just walked away. A practice that everyone from the Rich to the poor have done.
  I am out!
- Anonymous
  
  Dude you are ignorant!!!!
brotha larry

he did that to himself
Lin W.

SI should sue Wertheim for mismanagement of company funds. Whoever his publisher is should be canned as well for allowing such flagrant misuse of time and money.
Anonymous

this is just funny. People act like he just mismanaged a perfect situation. He was at Oakland with a rookie coach a horrible offensive line and two rookie wideouts . That in itself would have been a amazing to overcome. To all you Al Davis bashers get over it you tell me what quarterback in that first round draft is starter in the NFL now or lived up to there first round billing. Tim Couch is not a bigger bust the Ryan Leaf your kidding yourself he was giving time and low expectations and didnt produce. The truth about most so called bust are the majority of them were not as talented as people thought and more than anything put into bad situations. When Leaf left San diego did the next quarterback which was veteran excel with the same group of people. Did Gardoki really do that much better then Russell when he came in for relief no. The one thing i know people love to pile on when things get tough. The majority of people would not successed in judging talent and dont flourish at our own work place where what required to do so is the bare minimal. Please stop hating and work on yourselves.
- Anonymous
  
  Aaron Rodgers turned out to be pretty good…so did Eli and Philip Rivers…Michael Vick…Peyton…Sam Bradford, Matt Stafford…shall I continue???
Anonymous

lol Hes a big joke

NFL Bust JaMarcus Russell Speaks to S.I.

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