Raiders, Russell could be near deal
A reporter, playing off Coach Lane Kiffin's refusal to divulge the starting quarterback for the season opener against the Detroit Lions, asked Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis if he knew who it would be.
"Who I think it should be?" Davis asked Thursday. "He may be in Mobile (Ala.)."
Davis was referring to Jamarcus Russell, who has not signed a contract and has spent most of the past six weeks in his hometown. However, Jamarcus Russell might be on the verge of signing a contract and joining the team that selected him No. 1 in the NFL draft in April.
Jamarcus Russell has fanned the flames of optimism by confiding in an associate that he intends to be in Oakland and under contract by Saturday night, according to a league source.
There is much work to do, but both parties have motivation.
Jamarcus Russell stands to lose one-seventeenth of whatever his salary would be for each week he misses once the season begins.
The Oakland Raiders are obligated to pay Daunte Culpepper $3.2 million if he is on the roster as of Saturday night. They owe Culpepper only $750,000 if he is released before then.
The $3.2 million isn't a lot to pay a starting quarterback, if that were Culpepper's role. However, it's a huge salary for someone who failed to beat out journeyman Josh McCown and now is a backup. Also, the $2.45 million net savings could be used to bridge the gap between what Jamarcus Russell is seeking in guaranteed money and what the Oakland Raiders are offering.
Talks have become more frequent in recent days, though there hasn't been a major breakthrough.
Jamarcus Russell's assertion that he intends to join his teammates signals that it's time for both sides to compromise on a contract that figures to land Jamarcus Russell as much as $30 million guaranteed and keep him with the Oakland Raiders for the next six years.
If Jamarcus Russell remains unsigned, the Oakland Raiders run the risk of his re-entering the NFL draft next year. At that point, the Oakland Raiders would be ineligible to draft him and would not receive any compensation.
Also, the Oakland Raiders cannot trade the rights to Jamarcus Russell until the season ends, per the guidelines set forth in the collective bargaining agreement.
Ray Russell, Jamarcus Russell' uncle, told USA Today in recent days that a "deal is almost done." Don't believe everything you hear, Kiffin responded.
"Well, I wouldn't, myself, really pay attention to what someone's uncle said about the negotiation process," Kiffin said. "I know our people are dealing with JaMarcus' agents. And, like I said before, there is some progress being made."
Regardless of what Davis said Thursday, Russell won't be in uniform Sunday. He missed all of training camp and all four of Oakland's exhibitions.
In such cases, the league grants the team a two-week roster exemption so the player has time to get up to speed with his teammates.
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