DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Raiders sign Russell

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3013493

Ending months of negotiations and a holdout that stretched to more than six weeks, the Oakland Raiders reached a contract agreement in principle with JaMarcus Russell, the former LSU quarterback who was the first overall selection in the 2007 draft, on Monday.

Barring any glitches, and contingent on formalities like him passing a physical exam, ESPN.com has confirmed that Russell will officially sign a six-year contract on Tuesday and should be on the field for the team's Wednesday practice.

There is still considerable work to be done, however, in terms of drawing up the contract, and a source close to the negotiations said late Monday that the two sides could still be working "very late into the night and maybe into [Tuesday] morning" to craft the precise language of the deal. ESPN.com has learned that Russell is still not in the Bay Area, and will not fly to Oakland until his representatives feel comfortable with all the details of the contract.

Sources said the contract, hammered out in four days of marathon face-to-face negotiations in the Bay Area, has a maximum value of at least $61 million.

The deal also includes about $31-$32 million in guarantees and an attractive payout schedule that will enable Russell to earn substantially more in the first three seasons of the deal than the $20.95 million that Houston Texans defensive end Mario Williams, the top overall selection in the 2006 draft, will bank in his first three years.

There are also at least $3 million in guarantees in the fourth season of Russell's deal, and he will also make more in that period than the $23.35 million that Williams will pocket in his first four years.

So, while it appears that the Raiders were able to hold the guarantees in the range that they had been proposing in recent discussions, the long holdout seems to have garnered Russell a very advantageous payout structure.

Of course, it also cost him any opportunity to win the starting job in training camp.

The Raiders' staff chose Josh McCown as the starter after a preseason competition with Daunte Culpepper, who was signed as a free agent during camp.

Russell, 22, staged one of the longest holdouts by a rookie in recent history. In 2002, offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie, the first-round choice of the Minnesota Vikings that year, missed the first eight games of the regular season. In terms of top overall picks, no one has held out longer than Russell since tailback Bo Jackson declined to sign with Tampa Bay altogether in 1986.

During his three seasons as the LSU starter, Russell completed 493 of 797 passes for 6,625 yards, with 52 touchdown passes and 21 interceptions.

After weeks of inertia, the parties met for much of the day Friday at an undisclosed Bay Area site, and drew close to an accord. The talks moved in reverse for a while when they resumed Saturday.

Because the Raiders opened the season Sunday against the Detroit Lions, there was not much bargaining.

The weekend negotiations represented the first face-to-face bargaining since the parties met in Los Angeles on Aug. 20 and there was a ramped-up sense of urgency.

The two sides then got back to work Monday and spent much of the day fine-tuning the proposal and committing it to contract language.

That's a whole lotta dough for some guy who showed up big for a bowl game against Brady Quinn's Irish. The big arm had scouts drooling too... but remember Ryan Leaf... or Kyle Boller?

The Raiders better get this kid some weapons and fast...

Am I the only one looking at this, disgusted at the money some people believe they are worth. The kid isn't even tested and already thinks he can poop gold nuggets.

I honestly believe that Russell will not be that great of a QB in the NFL level. Call me crazy, but that's what I believe.

time for a NBA structure and rookie caps. These holdouts and payouts for unproven players is going to kill the game sooner rather then later.

Sweet, I hope they throw him in to the starting role in 2 weeks!

But the difference is that Josh Mccown is holding down the fort... unlike our QBs.

He won't play this year, he's too far behind in terms of knowing the playbook, offense, ect. to actually see the field this year unless everyone else gets hurt.

They need to upgrade his weapons and fast otherwise it won't matter how much he's got coming, he'll be spending it all on doctors.

First off, Happy Birthday Dawgs,,,

and yeah, you are right,,, he sure is getting a bunch of dough...

Every time I see an interview or read an article about Russell, he comes across very arrogant. Think he will become like Pacman or Vick, and just find trouble?

Someone will introduce him to the NFL... TRUST!!!

About time he signed.

I don't like that they're paid so much without being proving it on the field, but what if they get injured and can't play anymore? Of course, that's like saying $14 million can't feed their families, but they're just trying to make everything they can. Amazing the kind of money they get though, for playing a game (albeit, a violent game)

Well, I would never wish ill on the guy, but I don't know if he'll have a great NFL career. Just hope he stays healthy, and hope he loses against us.