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18 Nov 2009

Raiders Bench Russell, Gradkowski to Start

I think that Mega-Maid just went from "suck" to "blow."

Posted by: Aaron Schatz on 18 Nov 2009

57 comments, Last at 21 Nov 2009, 10:32pm by Mr Shush

Comments

1
by Doug Farrar :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 7:18pm

Out of the frying pan, into the toaster oven.

2
by James-London :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 7:21pm

And countless Loser League owners cry softly to themselves...

Phil Simms is a Cretin.

4
by Anonymous (not verified) (not verified) :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 7:29pm

Too true, too true...

9
by Fontes of Wayne :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 8:02pm

I actually screamed "NOOOOOOOO!"
However, had my wife been home, I'd probably have settled for soft weeping.
If Quinn can somehow keep his job, I'll still take home that FOA!

22
by billsfan :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 10:06pm

Trent Edwards and Jamarcus Russell benched in the same week?

I'm done.

(I also like the Eagles)

31
by Independent George :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 1:18am

We'll always have QB-Cleveland.

36
by jebmak :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 9:47am

That was the first thing I thought. And I don't even play!

37
by Mr Shush :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 10:50am

I'm guessing that around 90% of Loser League teams (including mine) are now a Brett Ratliff appearance away from taking the penalty at quarterback every week for the rest of the season.

38
by Snowglare :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 11:24am

I had a great first week, but between this and Julius Jones getting hurt, I'm in bad shape. Have to rely on Sanchez the rest of the way.

I figured Russell was safe since, as bad as he is, the Raiders have no one good behind him. Better maybe, but not good. I guess this is it, though. Like the Browns, the Raiders have no good options at QB, so they might as well rule one out whether it's the worst or not.

53
by ChicagoRaider :: Sat, 11/21/2009 - 10:14am

What, are you guys new to fantasy football? For a key player, you always have to get the handcuff.

57
by Mr Shush :: Sat, 11/21/2009 - 10:32pm

I'm highly dubious of the value of handcuffs in Loser League. You're up against hundreds of other players, not nine or eleven or whatever. That means you should be trying to maximise your chance of getting a mega high score, not trying to maximise your expected score. Also, you get the best score at each position each week, rather than having to set a line up in advance. That means you're sacrificing that very real advantage by taking a handcuff. Optimal strategy for LL is much riskier than optimal strategy for a conventional fantasy league.

3
by ABW (not verified) :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 7:24pm

How did Quick Reads describe Gradkowski? The human equivalent of a draw on 3rd and 23? Would that make JaMarcus Russell the human equivalent of an incompletion followed by a holding penalty followed by a sack?

18
by loneweasel (not verified) :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 8:59pm

...and a fumble, recovered by the other team on Raider's 4-yard line.

5
by Concrete Jungle :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 7:29pm

And just as Russell was beginning to turn it around too.

6
by Raiderjoe :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 7:35pm

Russell goign to sit and learn hwo to be geter Qb now. Gradkowski know how to lead offnense. Good all aorund bakcup Qb who if start a few games going to gett job done. good leadresnhip skills, good thrower, good scrmabler. Russsell going to be gerta qb when put mental state in order. Raiders fine with Gradkowski underc enter. Going to beat Bengals 20-10 on sunday. Going to tetach Larry Johnson another lesson.

7
by AnonymousA (not verified) :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 7:43pm

"Russsell going to be gerta qb"

Truer words were never spoken. He will definitely be the next great gerta qb.

8
by Tim Gerheim :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 7:54pm

Let's all just sit back and enjoy that Raiderjoe, in an otherwise typical Raiderjoe post, spelled "Gradkowski" correctly. TWICE.

11
by Deelron :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 8:07pm

The glory of cut and paste.

20
by Will Allen (not verified) :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 9:40pm

Welcome back, Old Raiderjoe!!

10
by Theo :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 8:04pm

I don't think they're going to beat the Bengals. But boy, do I hope that RJ is right this time. And he very often is.

12
by Raiderjoe :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 8:10pm

also good is how Rsiders get to take loook at Gradkowski vs good anf trying team (bengals). lots of times team ight put in other qqb in week 17 gmae vs opponemt that 11-4 and clinch playooff spot and not treally trying and pull starters in 2nd quarter. Raiders ares mary to use Gradkowski vs nengals cuase it give T Cable fair shot to eval Gradkowski vs useful opponent.

14
by bomi3ster2 (not verified) :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 8:49pm

C'mon RaiderJoe, you NEVER go full retard.

17
by Raiderjoe :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 8:55pm

Cable going to find out if Gradkowski worth it to hvw on tema in 2010. if play bad vs Cinc then maybe start afterwards but get cut in offesason.
T Cable make deicison that Gradkowski give team better chanc to win on sunday than russell.

50
by rk (not verified) :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 6:32pm

Haven't the Bucs and Browns already done this? The answer is no.

51
by Bright Blue Shorts :: Fri, 11/20/2009 - 9:19am

No. The Bucs and Browns have decided that Gradkowski isn't good enough as a NFL QB. The Raiders are trying to decide if he's better than the Fatboy.

Meanwhile the offensive line are getting thinner as the Fatboy now gets to the cafeteria first and is comfort eating about getting benched and losing his starting job ...

54
by ChicagoRaider :: Sat, 11/21/2009 - 10:19am

Other teams had determined that Plunkett and Gannon were not starting QBs. You can suck, get benched, switch teams, etc. Then turn into a good quarterback in your late 20s or early 30s. It happens.

So it is always too early to give up. Really, you just never know. For all we know if Ryan Leaf had kept plugging, he'd be going to the pro bowl.

56
by Bright Blue Shorts :: Sat, 11/21/2009 - 2:28pm

I can't say for Plunkett as he played in a different era, but Rich Gannon was one of the hardest work and intelligent QBs you'll meet. He displayed leadership, expected the most of out his teammates and always knew where everybody was on the field. Armstrength was never his forte. In fact Gannon always kept working, he was a better QB at 34 than he was at 30; even when he'd made it to four straight Pro Bowls and won them back-to-back.

Drew Brees is another example of a QB who turned it around. I saw him playing in 2002/03 and he looked a reasonable QB. The Chargers felt they could do better and acquired Phillip Rivers. At that point the light went on it Brees' head and he started working to be what he is today.

But I don't believe Fatboy will ever get it. He's had:
- coaches telling him all offseason that he needs to step up and take leadership, to improve his work ethic.
- He's been told he needs to improve his accuracy and footwork.
- The media coverage points at all those things.
- The fans booing should be giving him the message.

But he's still there saying "I think I played ok today". It's like the people in a 12-step programme, awareness and taking responsibility is the first step. He just doesn't get it and never will. When he gets cut, in his mind he'll point the finger at the Raiders organisation as not having prepared him for the NFL (a valid criticism but not helpful to him taking responsibility).

That said, let's hope Gradkowski takes your advice. Apparently he works hard. Arrives before sun-up, leaves after sundown and has been doing that since his rookie year. Perhaps he'll turn out to be the next Rich Gannon ...

13
by Sifter :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 8:47pm

I wonder if there is any regret at all about cutting Jeff Garcia now? Obviously they never wanted to upset Russell by giving him some real competition in training camp. But what about now? Won't Russell be upset even more than they've turned to Gradkowski over him? That's enough to ruin his confidence for a long time.

And if they aren't gonna give Russell another shot, at least Garcia would make them a bit more competitive than Gradkowski. Maybe they just aim for a top 5 pick (or higher)...

23
by BucNasty :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 10:33pm

You're assuming that Russell realizes that he stinks, and isn't just blaming the team around him. The holdout and the weight issues strikes me as the actions of a guy who just doesn't care about the team he plays for. He probably won't realize that he's part of the problem unless the culture changes and the team starts winning, with or without him.

28
by Megamanic :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 12:18am

Seriously, why would the Raiders want a top 5 pick. The guy they'd have picked will still be available at #20. Picking him top 10 just means they overpay & there's no way Big Gay Al would do tha...

15
by MilkmanDanimal :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 8:52pm

As a Bucs fan who endured the Bruce Gradkowski era . . .

I can't even make a joke. It would force me to remember the Bruce Gradkowski era. With his combination of bad decision-making, inaccuracy, and general suckitude, he's a lot like . . . well, he's a like JaMarcus Russell. A less fat Jamarcus Russell.

49
by funbob (not verified) :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 6:21pm

True, but he makes those bad decisions much quicker than Russell and he tends not to trip over his own feet when dropping back from center.

16
by John (not verified) :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 8:52pm

I don't remember seeing RJ misspell quite this badly without a lot of alcohol involved. Russell's demotion must have been quite a blow.

35
by dbostedo :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 9:46am

What makes you think a lot of alcohol isn't involved this time?

19
by dianagram :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 9:24pm

THIS was the company whose ad I was subjected to amidst reading about Russell's demotion.

http://www.pull-upspottyproject.com/

Seems appropriate ...

21
by T. Diddy :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 9:44pm

Tom Cable finally gets the chairs on deck arranged juuuuuuuuuust right.

24
by BucNasty :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 10:36pm

From what I remember of Gradkowski, you can expect inaccurate passes and a lot of scrambling. He's not really a turnover machine, or at least he wasn't with the Bucs, it's just that the offense doesn't move. He struggled with the deep ball in particular, and it was just 3 and out after 3 and out. He seemed like a good guy, though, and he always played with heart. I hope he does well, just as I hope for Chris Simms to do well, but I don't expect them to.

32
by MilkmanDanimal :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 1:41am

He's very skilled at a two-yard dumpoff on 3rd and 8. Over and over and over and over.

He couldn't throw with much zip past it seemed 10-15 yards, meaning defenses crowded the line. Running plays didn't work because the safeties were up, deep passes couldn't stretch the defense because he couldn't throw them.

34
by BucNasty :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 6:35am

The Raiders should have signed Tim Rattay.

39
by MilkmanDanimal :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 12:26pm

Was Craig Erickson not available?

40
by Bright Blue Shorts :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 12:36pm

Actually that's a fairly similar comparison to 9 games under Fatboy. Defenses crowd the line because they know there's no threat from the passng game. Fatboy can't throw deep accurately, can't throw short accurately. For sure the receivers haven't helped him with lots of drops, but Fatboy hasn't done anything to encourage them or indicate that they should care. His body langauge just demoralises his teammates and they've given up.

On Sunday once the Fatboy was benched, Gradkowski aired it out 50 yds down the middle of the field. It hit Louis Murphy in the hands, he was in stride, but the defender made the play. That one play convinced me the Raiders are making the right move. Grad's two interceptions were both from juggled balls by WRs.

Grad's not going to be the second coming of Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, but he's better than the Fatboy. If Fatboy weren't a #1 pick with a $60 million contract he'd have been benched and cut months ago. Russell is a complete bust. He will never develop because he won't admit that he's rubbish. He won't put the effort in that is required to become a NFL QB.

25
by NF :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 11:06pm

The Oakland-Cleveland game in week 16 is going to be epic.

29
by Guido Merkens :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 12:34am

Epic like...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWk6RgQbPVc

30
by c_f (not verified) :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 1:03am

Or like the best game ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL-mNqDeJpM

26
by starzero :: Wed, 11/18/2009 - 11:37pm

raiderjoe has made my day. thanks tom cable.

gerta qb . . .

27
by Paul R (not verified) :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 12:09am

Nuts. I haven't seen a Raiders game all season and I was looking forward to some real entertainment from Russell on Thanksgiving day.
Maybe they'll put him in for a few plays just for the highlight reel.

42
by tomdrees :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 2:05pm

Chin up. There's no reason to assume that Gradkowski's performance will be any less comical than Russell's. The only thing that makes Russell funny is all the money he's making, but it's also sad that he's making that much money because he's not orphans or cancer research. Gradkowski has the comedy angle of fighting against all odds to get an opportunity to suck on the big stage. He's the underdog hero of sucking. I say it's a push.

48
by BucNasty :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 5:43pm

Plus you might get to see him puke before the game. He's like Jamie Foxx in Any Given Sunday, except it doesn't boost his performance.

On second thought, maybe that's not what you want to see in HD on Thanksgiving.

55
by ChicagoRaider :: Sat, 11/21/2009 - 10:23am

The real question is: how many times does Lechler want to bang punts off the screen? My assumption is that he could wear his leg out on it if he wanted.

33
by jimbohead :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 4:34am

Yeah.... I've heard some rumors that cable's been lobbying to bench russell since week 2. Apparently, he's been opining pretty widely about how the raiders would do with someone else under center....

41
by B-Rick (not verified) :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 1:26pm

They cut Garcia to reduce the pressure on JaMarcus. For whatever reason Al Davis felt that a Vince Young-Kerry Collins situation is a bad thing and wanted to avoid that by cutting Garcia. As a Bronco fan, I was relieved when the Raiders cut Jeff Garcia. Garcia reminded me a lot of Hostetler and Gannon who were very good for the Raiders.

When the Raider draft Jimmy Clausen with the #1 pick they should be able to move Russell to his more natural position, Guard.

43
by Kanbei (not verified) :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 3:31pm

Shame, I'd have preferred to see JaMarcus play, as a) I'm a Bengals fan and b) I hadn't seen a Raiders game yet this year, and wanted to see if he really had as little awareness as everyone says. Also, and perhaps it's that we all expect the worst as Cincinnati all too often plays down to weaker opponents' levels, but Gradkowski and a bad (though not quite Raideresque) Bucs team did beat Cincinnati in 2006. Ah well, at least Heywood-Bey will be on the field.

Oh, and I hope it isn't horribly noobish thing to be asking, but Raiderjoe's posts are satirical, right?

44
by Fan in Exile :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 3:52pm

We've been wondering about RJ for years now. I'm of the opinion that he's a raiders fan who's just that dumb and alcoholic. But as a Bronco's fan I just want to picture them all that way.

He is nothing else if not consistent.

47
by alexbond :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 5:38pm

Actually, when raiderjoe talks about any team that isn't in the AFC west or about to play the Raiders, he's great. Spelling aside, it is some of the best football analysis you get on this site, writers included. He knows his football down cold, he just really believes in the Raiders.

45
by Joe T. :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 4:18pm

Hey, how come we pronounce the K in Gradkowski but not the K in Gostkowski?

46
by Sifter :: Thu, 11/19/2009 - 5:32pm

Probably the same reason most Americans don't say that C in Antar*C*tica

52
by starzero :: Fri, 11/20/2009 - 12:00pm

try it sometime. the "k" is much easier to say following the "d" than the "t".

i'm sure if i were clever i'd be able to work a football reference in there some how, something about kickers, defenses, and tackles, but i can't quite get them lined up.

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