RaiderBeat.com Staff Writer

Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports reports that the Oakland Raiders have filed a grievance against former quarterback JaMacus Russell.  The Raiders seek repayment of $9.55 million based on the fact that his contract was paid in part as advances for the 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons.

“We have filed a grievance against JaMarcus Russell and that’s all we’re going to say at this time,” said Raiders attorney Jeff Birren
So if the Raiders have their way, Russell may lose 30 pounds just out of his wallet before he ever gets into another teams camp.

RaiderBeat.com Staff Writer

10. Because face it they have to get better at some point and you have already put in the time.

9. Quarterback Jason Campbell is not the answer to, “Who is the biggest bust in NFL history?”

8.  All Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha on any given Sunday.

7.  Managing general partner Al Davis knows where you live.

6. First round draft pick middle linebacker Rolando McClain is going to bring fear to those that venture into the middle of the field.

5.  Everything you own is either black or silver.

4.  It’s less painful than getting the tattoo removed.

3.  Quarterback JaMarcus Russell has not joined another team so you just don’t know who else to cheer for yet.

2.  Tight end Zach Miller has a chance to go to the pro-bowl this season.

1.  No matter what, the Raiders are never boring….

RaiderBeat.com Staff Writer

School issues kept rookie defensive lineman Lamarr Houston and offensive lineman Bruce Campbell out of practice Wednesday.

Quarterback Bruce Gradkowski did not practice due to pectoral surgery.  Also on the bench were wide receiver Chaz Schilens (left foot)and defensive end Matt Shaughnessy (hamstring).

There is a new sheriff in town as offensive coordinator Hue Jackson is getting after the offense to play at a much faster speed than they are used to.  His voice is heard all practice long as he lights up his players, always pushing and motivating them to do more.

Kick returner Nick Miller is back at practice, maybe he feels the heat from fourth round pick Jacoby Ford.  Ford is expected to revive the Raiders kick return game that went dormant last season.  Miller looked like he had won the return job in last years camp before getting injured in the preseason.  He did not play in the first 15 games before going on injured reserve in week 16 of last season.

Defensive lineman Richard Seymour is still out.  He has not signed the one year franchise tender for $12.4 million and he has not yet come to terms on a long term agreement.    Coach Tom Cable said the two sides are still working on it.  It is not out of the question that Seymour is biding his time a la Brett Favre so he does not have to waste his body in camp.  Expect him to sign before the season begins.

RaiderBeat.com Staff Writer

In what is only a shock to people that don’t read RaiderBeat.com, JaMarcus Russell has not been picked up by another NFL team.  While most assume that some coach or general manger will take a chance that the “Raiders ruined him” and that they can rebuild Russell into an NFL quarterback, the reality that he is just a big arm that had one good game against a bad Notre  Dame team in the Sugar Bowl has become common knowledge.

There is no room for a lazy, untalented quarterback that has a massive sense of entitlement on any roster in the NFL, at any price.

To say Russell just does not get it is the biggest understatement ever.  He still has not had a press conference, or told anyone he is going to get in shape, work hard or prove himself.  He just does not care.  That is his right, he does not work for anyone, anymore.

RaiderBeat.com Staff Writer

The Raiders signed veteran offensive guard Daniel Loper, 28, to add depth to the offensive line.  Loper, 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds has played for the Tennessee Titans and most recently for the Detroit Lions.  He has played in 40 games starting in 4.

The Raiders are inexperienced at guard this season.  The players expected to play the position are all transplanted offensive tackles including fourth round draft pick Bruce Campbell, Khalif Barnes, Langston Walker and Erik Pears.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-player-interviews/09000d5d81818917/Coach-Spotlight-Tom-Cable

A track star with good hands, it must have been hard for the Raiders to wait as long as they did during the NFL draft for wide receiver Jacoby Ford.  The Raiders traded up in the fourth round to take Ford, the fastest player available in the 2010 NFL Draft.  Ford is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.  His burst and acceleration to full speed are unmatched by anyone entering the league this year.  Only his lack of size, 5-foot -9 and 186 pounds kept Ford from being drafted much higher.

Ford will immediately take over the kick return duties and will fight for time in the slot position with wide receiver  Johnnie Lee Higgins.  Ford is an above average blocker and is not afraid to go over the middle and make the tough catch.  Higgins fell out of favor with the coaching staff last season when the staff felt he became cautious after taking a couple huge hits during games.  Higgins fought hard to work his way back on the field and made 5 of his 19 total receptions in the last two games of the season.
Wide receiver has been a sore spot for the Raiders since the departure of Tim Brown and Jerry Rice.  The Raiders hope Ford combined with last year’s pleasant surprise Louis Murphy, a more seasoned Darius Heyward-Bey and a healthy Chaz Schilens will give new quarterback Jason Campbell plenty of open targets downfield.

JaMarcus Russell is gone.  And so to, is the Raiders biggest excuse for losing games.  Players lack of production is going to stand out where it once hid in the enormous shadow of Russell’s failure.

Middle linebacker Kirk Morrison was already sent packing.  Morrison led the team in tackles for the last five years, but coaches realized he was chasing the play and cleaning up versus making the play and changing the game.

The crosshairs now fall upon running back Darren McFadden and Darrius Heyward-Bey.   The last two first round picks that have been major disappointments early in their careers.  McFadden is the bigger surprise because he was a productive college player that has never found his stride in the NFL.   Heyward-Bey was simply drafted too high.  He is the same player he was in college.  He still can’t catch the ball, and he still hears footsteps.  He should have been drafted much later as a slot receiver by a team in need of a third or fourth receiver, not as a number one receiver facing the other team’s top corner.

The question is how long will managing general partner Al Davis keep Heyward-Bey after the Russell fiasco?  Will the Raiders go to all ends of the earth to make it look like he was a good pick or realize quickly he just is not comfortable catching the ball and move on?

McFadden and Heyward-Bey are not the only ones who need to show up and produce, defensive tackle Tommy Kelly has been getting away with doing very little while collecting a huge paycheck.  Kelly does not even have a viable back up, but with Russell gone he is the 300 pounder that has thrown no touchdowns and collected over $39 million.

The Raiders have begun to clean house.  With Russell gone the team has a chance to step in the right direction.

RaiderBeat.com Staff Writer

The Raiders have posted the signing of running back Michael Bennett on their web site.  Bennett will join running backs Darren McFadden and Michael Bush in the Raider backfield.

The Raiders have room on the roster for another back,  after releasing running back Justin Fargas in the off-season.

Bennett has played for the Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Diego Chargers.  He has 13 touchdowns rushing and 6 touchdowns receiving in his 10 year career.

The Raiders brought him in for a tryout during last weeks minicamp.

RaiderBeat.com Staff Writer

A week after allowing quarterback JaMarcus Russell to report for minicamp the Raiders have finally released first overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Let the discussion begin, who is the biggest bust of all time Russell or quarterback Ryan Leaf.

The move became inevitable when the Raiders traded for quarterback Jason Campbell during the 2010 NFL Draft.  Campbell is the anti-Russell, hardworking, always prepared, and responsible.   The Raiders all but announced Campbell as the starter when they extended his contract though 2011 right after trading for him.

By cutting Russell now the Raiders saved $6.45 million and only owe him $3 million for the remainder of his rookie contract.

The team can move forward without the disruption at quarterback Russell caused.  Due draft status and enormous contract, Russell was forced upon coaches and teammates.  Any other player with his production or attitude would never have made it through the second training camp.  By the end of last season, Russell had lost the coaches and the locker room now finally he has lost managing general partner Al Davis.

Senior executive John Herrera told the Associated Press, “we wish him well.”

The Raiders will have paid Russell more then $39 million when it is all said and done.  No other non-injured top pick has ever been released this quickly in NFL history.

Russell gave them a horrible return on their investment winning only seven of 25 starts, completing just 52.1 percent of his passes with 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.

Russell alienated the Raider faithful driving away fans by the droves.  The Raiders have some positive momentum from a solid draft and Russell’s release is sure to build upon that.

It remains to be seen if any other team will give Russell another chance or if he is even interested in continuing playing.

In a related story, it remains to be seen if the Raiders have released Eddie Anderson yet.