RaiderBeat.com Staff Report
Many people scoffed at a report more than a week ago about Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell weighing 271 pounds upon reporting to the team’s offseason workout program in Alameda, Calif.
As it turns out, those who scoffed might have had ample reason to do so. ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Russell weighed an astounding 290 pounds when he showed up.
And that was after he spent a month or so working out at an athletics training facility in Phoenix, Ariz.
To put that in perspective, consider that only 12 Raiders on the roster weigh more than 290 pounds (defensive end Desmond Byrant is right at 290): offensive linemen Khalif Barnes, Cooper Carlisle, Robert Gallery, Mario Henderson, Chris Morris, Brandon Rodd, Samson Satele, Erik Pears and Langston Walker; and defensive linemen William Joseph, Tommy Kelly, and Richard Seymour.
It might be five weeks or more before the public gets its first look at Russell. That gives Russell a little bit of time to get his weight down to a more-acceptable level.
Our guess is, that if Russell weighed less than the 271 or 290, that the Raiders would parade Russell in front of the media, invite newspaper photographers and TV cameras to snap and film away as an answer to the reports. Their silence is damning, though not full-proof admission that Russell is that far out of shape.
There isn’t any way to spin this one in a positive fashion. If Russell weighs that much, or anywhere in the vicinity, then he isn’t in the shape the team wants him to be in for that position. If he did, in fact, lose weight during his time in Arizona, then it begs the question, “Just how much did the Big Guy weigh last season?”
And if Russell does weigh that much, that might help explain any interest in Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. It won’t be long before we see Russell in person and get a better feel for his weight. Until then, the Raiders can expect reports to fly about Russell’s weight as long as they keep him away from cameras and the public.