The JaMarcus Russell era may be coming to an end in Oakland.
According to the National Football Post, all signs point to the Raiders cutting ties with the former No. 1 overall pick in the near future.
The Raiders’ offseason moves suggest the team has lost faith in Russell as its long-term solution at quarterback.
Oakland signed quarterback Kyle Boller as a free agent and acquired Jason Campbell from the Redskins in a trade. Oakland now has five quarterbacks on its roster with starting experience: Boller, Campbell, Bruce Gradkowski, Charlie Frye and Russell. While each quarterback has various strengths and weaknesses, Russell’s salary is three times more than the next closest quarterback on the Raiders' roster.
Russell has earned $39.45 million in three seasons with the Raiders, but has won only seven games in 25 starts. The former LSU Tiger is due nearly $10 million next season, but the Raiders can take his salary off their books if they cut Russell before the start of the season.
There is no guarantee Russell will be cut, but coach Tom Cable indicated the franchise has difficult choices ahead.
"There will be some decisions to be made here in the next month or so, whatever that is," Cable told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "We'll just leave it at that until we get through some of those decisions."
The decision appears obvious, but when it comes to Al Davis and the Raiders, expect the unexpected.
