Sports

JaMarcus Russell Heads List of Draft Busts This Century

Published

10 years ago

April 30, 2015

Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell throws against the New York Jets during the first quarter in an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

ROB MAADDI, AP Pro Football Writer

No NFL team wants to draft another JaMarcus Russell.

His size, skill and natural talent made the former LSU quarterback an easy choice for the No. 1 overall pick by the Oakland Raiders in 2007.

But Russell flopped.

He lasted only three seasons in Oakland, started 25 games and collected $36.4 million of the six-year, $68 million contract he signed. Russell became the impetus for owners’ insistence on a rookie salary scale in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement.

Here’s a top five of draft busts by position this century.

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Quarterbacks

Russell.

Jake Locker, No. 8, 2011, Tennessee Titans. Retired after four seasons and nine wins as starter.

Matt Leinart, No. 10, 2006, Arizona Cardinals. Started 18 games in seven seasons.

Blaine Gabbert, No. 10, 2011, Jacksonville Jaguars. Lasted three seasons with Jags, starting 27 games.

Byron Leftwich, No. 7, 2003, Jacksonville Jaguars. Spent four seasons with the Jags, going 24-20 as starter.

___

Running backs

Trent Richardson, No. 3, 2012, Cleveland Browns. Three teams in four years, only 2,032 yards rushing.

Chris Perry, No. 26, 2004, Cincinnati Bengals. Played 36 games, ran for 606 yards.

Jahvid Best, No. 30, 2010, Detroit Lions. Ran for 945 yards in three seasons.

Darren McFadden, No. 4, 2008, Oakland Raiders. One 1,000-yard season.

William Green, No. 16, 2002, Cleveland Browns. Lasted four seasons, ran for 2,109 yards.

___

Wide receivers

Charles Rogers, No. 2, 2003, Detroit Lions. Only 36 career receptions.

David Terrell, No. 8, 2001, Chicago Bears. Averaged 26 catches in five seasons.

Troy Williamson, No. 7, 2005, Minnesota Vikings. Had 87 receptions in five seasons.

Justin Blackmon, No. 5, 2012, Jacksonville Jaguars. Suspended indefinitely for substance abuse violations after two seasons.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, No. 7, 2009, Oakland Raiders. Averaged 35 catches in four seasons in Oakland.

___

Tight ends

Bennie Joppru, second round (No. 41), 2003, Houston Texans. Never caught a pass in the NFL.

Richard Quinn, second round (No. 64), 2009, Denver Broncos. One career catch.

Joe Klopfenstein, second round (No. 46), 2006, St. Louis Rams. Had more starts (38) than receptions (34).

Teyo Johnson, second round (No. 63), 2003, Oakland Raiders. Caught 26 passes in three seasons.

Ben Troupe, second round (No. 40), 2004, Tennessee Titans. Averaged 21 receptions in five seasons.

___

Offensive linemen

Jason Smith, No. 2, 2009, St. Louis Rams. Started 26 games in four seasons.

Derrek Sherrod, No. 32, 2011, Green Bay Packers. Started one game for Packers, cut in 2014.

Danny Watkins, No. 23, 2011, Philadelphia Eagles. Age 26 when drafted, made 18 starts, went back to being firefighter.

Jeff Otah, No. 19, 2008, Carolina Panthers. Lasted four years, started 29 games.

Chris McIntonsh, No. 22, 2000, Seattle Seahawks. Made 13 starts in only two seasons.

___

Defensive linemen

Courtney Brown, No. 1, 2000, Cleveland Browns. Had 19 sacks in five seasons.

Vernon Gholston, No. 6, 2008, New York Jets. Zero sacks.

Aaron Maybin, No. 11, 2009, Buffalo Bills. Started one game in four seasons.

Johnathan Sullivan, No. 6, 2003, New Orleans Saints. Had 1 1/2 sacks.

Jamal Reynolds, No. 10, 2000, Green Bay Packers. No starts, three sacks.

___

Linebackers

David Pollack, No. 17, 2005, Cincinnati Bengals. Lasted only two seasons.

Cody Brown, second round (No. 63), 2009, Arizona Cardinals. Never played an NFL game.

Sergio Kindle, second round (No. 43), 2010, Baltimore Ravens. Played three games.

Jordan Dizon, second round (No. 45), 2008, Detroit Lions. Zero starts in two seasons.

Eddie Moore, second round (No. 49), 2003, Miami Dolphins. Three starts in two seasons.

___

Defensive backs

Tye Hill, No. 15, 2006, St. Louis Rams. Only 25 starts, five interceptions.

Rashard Anderson, No. 23, 2001, Carolina Panthers. Lasted just two seasons.

Andre Woolfolk, No. 28, 2003, Tennessee Titans. Started 11 games in four years.

Willie Middlebrooks, No. 24, 2001, Denver Broncos. Two starts, one sacks.

Mike Rumph, No. 27, 2002, San Francisco 49ers. Made 19 starts in five seasons.

___

Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

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The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.

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Activism

McClymonds High Names School Gym for Star Graduate, Basketball Legend Bill Russell

William “Bill” Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, and died on July 31, 2022. He achieved fame as a U.S. professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. He was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career.

Published

5 months ago

February 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Bill Russell and Brian McGhee in McClymonds High School Gym, 2011. Photo courtesy of Brian McGhee.

By Ken Epstein

West Oakland’s McClymonds High School, “the School of Champions,” this week named the school’s gymnasium in honor of one of its most famous graduates, basketball legend Bill Russell (class of ’52).

Russell is widely known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2011, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama for Russell’s contributions to basketball and the Civil Rights Movement.

The McClymonds’ naming ceremony was held on Wednesday, the same day as Russell’s birthday. Oakland leader Bill Patterson, a longtime friend of Russell’s, was scheduled to cut the ribbon at the reopening of the gym, which had been closed for several months for renovation. Russell’s daughter Karen was scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting.

Russell’s name and signature are now printed on the gymnasium floor.

Patterson was working at DeFremery Park when he met Russell. “I befriended him as a boy and during his years at University of San Francisco” said Patterson. “We stayed friends for the rest of his life.”

Said McClymonds Principal Darielle Davis, herself a McClymonds graduate, “We are excited to honor Bill Russell for his sports accolades and because he broke color barriers. He is part of our legacy, and legacy is really important at McClymonds.”

Brian McGhee, community schools manager at McClymonds and former football player at UC Berkeley, said that Russell meant a lot to him and others at the school. “He was a beacon of light and hope for West Oakland,” he said. “He did a lot for sports and for civil rights.”

Starting in 2018, Ben “Coach” Tapscott worked with Patterson and other McClymonds grads, community members, and former coaches to encourage the Oakland Board of Education to endorse the naming of the school gym, which finally happened recently.

“We worked hard to make this happen,” said Tapscott. “He’s an important part of McClymond’s history, along with a lot of other famous graduates,” he said.

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Activism

OPINION: Politics, Football and Identity in Trump’s America

If you haven’t noticed, all Americans are engaged in an even bigger game that means so much more than the Super Bowl. Our democracy is falling apart.

Published

5 months ago

February 17, 2025

Oakland Post

iStock.

By Emil Guillermo

Two Filipino American stories made headlines recently.

First, Nikko Remigio, the Filipino and African American kick returner for the Kansas City Chiefs, did not win Super Bowl LIX.

The other, Alameda’s Rob Bonta said no to running for governor. I don’t blame him. It’s not like a mass of people wanted him to run.

But I did.

Whenever there is a Filipino American in a place you don’t expect, I’m rooting for that person.

As California’s Attorney General, Bonta is probably the most active defender among Blue States pushing back against Trump’s Extreme-Right agenda.

I’d like to Bonta run for California’s top job, but he’s better off waiting in line. The Democrats need a spot for Kamala Harris, and Bonta not running obliges the hierarchy.

History can wait. Bonta’s just 52.

Harris has held off speculation of her next move, saying she just moved back to the state. But it seems governor is the path for her.

For now, Bonta needs to continue taking the fight to Trump in the courts.

Football and Identity Politics

My dad, whose birthday would have been Super Bowl weekend, came to the US in 1928 as a colonized Filipino, an “American National,” where he couldn’t be a citizen, vote, own property or even marry the person he wanted.

Not if they were White.

Still, he believed in America. He never gave up.

Sort of like Nikko Remigio.

My dad would have loved Nikko.

If you haven’t noticed, all Americans are engaged in an even bigger game that means so much more than the Super Bowl. Our democracy is falling apart.

You want to get passionate about Eagles and Chiefs?

Let’s be passionate about our Founding Fathers, too.

Nikko didn’t change the game. He touched it three times and provided more yards than all of KC’s running backs.

That’s all I needed to see.

He’s our Filipino guy.

Detractors may call it “identity politics.”

People don’t seem to understand the fight for visibility. To be recognized. To be seen. It’s all wrapped up in the big idea of Civil Rights.

I was nowhere near as good as Nikko when I played. But when you are blessed to play football, you play your hardest.

For me, that was when I was 12 and 13 playing Pop Warner football in San Francisco. I was MVP for my team as a running back.

But I was ashamed of my dad. He wasn’t like the other dads. And I remember going to the team banquet to retrieve my trophy alone.

I didn’t realize it probably meant more to him than I thought.

I wish I had shared my MVP moment with him like Nikko shared his joy with his dad, Mark, born in Seattle to two Filipino immigrants, and his mom, whose mixture of Black and White made Nikko the picture of diversity.

Filipino American and Black and White at the Super Bowl.

But don’t forget, there is one game bigger.

The Super Bowl for Democracy. We’re battling for it every day Trump pushes a cockamamie idea that shakes the foundation of our Democracy.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is an award-winning journalist and commentator. Watch his micro-talk show “Emil Amok’s Takeout/What Does an Asian American Think?” on www.YouTube.com/emilamok1 Or join him on http://www.patreon.com/emilamok