Football Gradkowski might start for Raiders

Over-Head · 11-17-2009, 05:22 PM

He couldn't do any worse than our $60 mill wonder boy

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...SP1S1ALAH0.DTL

(11-16) 21:22 PST -- Raiders coach Tom Cable said he'll have the final say on who will start at quarterback. It's just that he hasn't finalized his say yet.

Cable spoke with Raiders owner Al Davis after Sunday's 16-10 loss to the Chiefs, and said he has been given the latitude to make his own decision - even if that means benching JaMarcus Russell for backup Bruce Gradkowski.

Expect a decision Wednesday when the Raiders begin practicing for Sunday's game against the visiting Bengals.
"It will be focused on winning, period, what gives us the best chance to win," Cable said Monday. "I'm just waiting to put all my facts together here and make a good decision for this team."

The problem is, Cable doesn't have the greatest list of options from which to choose.
Russell is second-to-last in the NFL in completion percentage and passer rating. Gradkowski is a career journeyman with a 9-to-15 touchdown-to-interception ratio and 58.7 passer rating over four interrupted seasons.
Even if Cable wants to start Gradkowski, it isn't that simple. Gradkowski came to work with a strained hamstring Monday after completing 5 of 9 passes for 49 yards with two interceptions Sunday. Cable said he is questionable to play, starter or not.

"It's just a tough situation," said Gradkowski, who has replaced Russell during two straight home games. "We need to find a way to win games and, whatever we can do, we need to do."

If Gradkowski can't practice Wednesday, Russell might get the start by default, which is no way to win back Cable's confidence.
And be sure, Cable's confidence in the franchise quarterback is shaken. Enough so, Cable declined to rename him the starter after watching video Monday, knowing the next option is hurt.

"If he remains the starter, he's got to understand the responsibility that comes with that position," Cable said. "You can't go out time and time again and consistently be that inaccurate, not have command like you need to in this league.
"That's a very critical position in the National Football League. It has to be great, or at least close to it all the time."

Russell isn't even close, and hasn't been all season. It takes a terrible body of work to maintain a 46 percent completion rate over nine starts.
So why bench Russell now? He isn't playing any worse than he has all season. Russell completed 40 percent or less of his passes in three other starts without getting yanked.
The reason, Cable said, is he expected Russell to grow out of it by now. Cable expected improvement to come if Russell kept plugging away. He has been patient because Russell has had two head coaches and three play-callers in 1 1/2 seasons starting.

At some point, though, enough is enough. If Russell loses his job, it won't be simply because he had mental errors and misreads in an 8-for-23 game against the Chiefs. It will be because he isn't giving the Raiders (2-7) a fighting chance to win.
"He knows that what it takes to succeed in this league is consistent play," Cable said.
Russell was not in the locker room during media access. Teammates declined to state a preference at quarterback. Gradkowski said the sooner a starter is named, the better off the offense will be.
"I think it's easier if you're the guy and you've got a whole week to prepare and the whole team knows that," Gradkowski said. "If that's this guy, that guy, we just need to come together more."

If ya can't bench him Cable, pop his punk azz one in the mouth!

LaChapelle · 11-17-2009, 05:30 PM

I was surprised at how he acted on the sideline (at least what the cameras showed) after being benched. Al most baby him, like he's been know to do to other players.

**DaFace** · 11-17-2009, 05:36 PM

I have no idea why JR has lasted this long. Aside from the fact that he's getting paid an insane amount of money, he has no business playing.

LaChapelle · 11-18-2009, 05:38 PM

Losing to the Chiefs was the final straw:

Raiders bench Russell for Gradkowski

Posted by Mike Florio on November 18, 2009 6:01 PM ET

The JaMarcus Russell era has ended.

For now.

Raiders coach Tom Cable, who yanked Russell for Bruce Gradkowski during Sunday's 16-10 loss to the Chiefs, said Wednesday that Gradkowski is the new starter.

Per RaiderBeat.com, Cable called the move an "easy decision."

Through nine starts in 2009, Russell has a passer rating of 47.7, with two touchdown passes and nine interceptions. For his career, the first overall pick in the 2007 draft has a passer rating of 65.5.

Gradkowski's first Raiders start will come against the 7-2 Bengals. The former Toledo Rocket started 11 games as a Buccaneers rookie in 2006 and one with the Browns in 2008.

Hog's Gone Fishin · 11-18-2009, 05:40 PM

This is not good! They're catching on!

**Bane** · 11-18-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

This is not good! They're catching on!

Exactly!Cable benching Ja Suckit is prob the smartest thing he's done so far.I hate to see it though,I'm hoping Ja Suckit is their QB for many years to come.
Posted via Mobile Device

**Bane** · 11-18-2009, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaChapelle

Losing to the Chiefs was the final straw:

Raiders bench Russell for Gradkowski

Posted by Mike Florio on November 18, 2009 6:01 PM ET

The JaMarcus Russell era has ended.

For now.

Raiders coach Tom Cable, who yanked Russell for Bruce Gradkowski during Sunday's 16-10 loss to the Chiefs, said Wednesday that Gradkowski is the new starter.

Per RaiderBeat.com, Cable called the move an "easy decision."

Through nine starts in 2009, Russell has a passer rating of 47.7, with two touchdown passes and nine interceptions. For his career, the first overall pick in the 2007 draft has a passer rating of 65.5.

Gradkowski's first Raiders start will come against the 7-2 Bengals. The former Toledo Rocket started 11 games as a Buccaneers rookie in 2006 and one with the Browns in 2008.

Damn!That's gonna be a tough start for the kid with the way the Bengals have been playing.
Posted via Mobile Device

RJ · 11-18-2009, 06:06 PM

Dammit, I just picked up the Bengals D to start against Russell this week.

Can Gadkowski be equally bad?

**Bane** · 11-18-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJ

Dammit, I just picked up the Bengals D to start against Russell this week.

Can Gadkowski be equally bad?

I don't think Matt Millen at QB could be any worse than Ja Suckit.
Posted via Mobile Device

11-17-2009, 05:22 PM
Over-Head Boom, Boom , Crash Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: In my shed Casino cash: $9995760	Gradkowski might start for Raiders He couldn't do any worse than our $60 mill wonder boy http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...SP1S1ALAH0.DTL (11-16) 21:22 PST -- Raiders coach Tom Cable said he'll have the final say on who will start at quarterback. It's just that he hasn't finalized his say yet. Cable spoke with Raiders owner Al Davis after Sunday's 16-10 loss to the Chiefs, and said he has been given the latitude to make his own decision - even if that means benching JaMarcus Russell for backup Bruce Gradkowski. Expect a decision Wednesday when the Raiders begin practicing for Sunday's game against the visiting Bengals. "It will be focused on winning, period, what gives us the best chance to win," Cable said Monday. "I'm just waiting to put all my facts together here and make a good decision for this team." The problem is, Cable doesn't have the greatest list of options from which to choose. Russell is second-to-last in the NFL in completion percentage and passer rating. Gradkowski is a career journeyman with a 9-to-15 touchdown-to-interception ratio and 58.7 passer rating over four interrupted seasons. Even if Cable wants to start Gradkowski, it isn't that simple. Gradkowski came to work with a strained hamstring Monday after completing 5 of 9 passes for 49 yards with two interceptions Sunday. Cable said he is questionable to play, starter or not. "It's just a tough situation," said Gradkowski, who has replaced Russell during two straight home games. "We need to find a way to win games and, whatever we can do, we need to do." If Gradkowski can't practice Wednesday, Russell might get the start by default, which is no way to win back Cable's confidence. And be sure, Cable's confidence in the franchise quarterback is shaken. Enough so, Cable declined to rename him the starter after watching video Monday, knowing the next option is hurt. "If he remains the starter, he's got to understand the responsibility that comes with that position," Cable said. "You can't go out time and time again and consistently be that inaccurate, not have command like you need to in this league. "That's a very critical position in the National Football League. It has to be great, or at least close to it all the time." Russell isn't even close, and hasn't been all season. It takes a terrible body of work to maintain a 46 percent completion rate over nine starts. So why bench Russell now? He isn't playing any worse than he has all season. Russell completed 40 percent or less of his passes in three other starts without getting yanked. The reason, Cable said, is he expected Russell to grow out of it by now. Cable expected improvement to come if Russell kept plugging away. He has been patient because Russell has had two head coaches and three play-callers in 1 1/2 seasons starting. At some point, though, enough is enough. If Russell loses his job, it won't be simply because he had mental errors and misreads in an 8-for-23 game against the Chiefs. It will be because he isn't giving the Raiders (2-7) a fighting chance to win. "He knows that what it takes to succeed in this league is consistent play," Cable said. Russell was not in the locker room during media access. Teammates declined to state a preference at quarterback. Gradkowski said the sooner a starter is named, the better off the offense will be. "I think it's easier if you're the guy and you've got a whole week to prepare and the whole team knows that," Gradkowski said. "If that's this guy, that guy, we just need to come together more." If ya can't bench him Cable, pop his punk azz one in the mouth!
Posts: 12,040

11-17-2009, 05:30 PM	#2
LaChapelle Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $10004900	I was surprised at how he acted on the sideline (at least what the cameras showed) after being benched. Al most baby him, like he's been know to do to other players.
Posts: 8,588

11-17-2009, 05:36 PM	#3
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $2036899	I have no idea why JR has lasted this long. Aside from the fact that he's getting paid an insane amount of money, he has no business playing.
Posts: 51,768

11-18-2009, 05:38 PM	#4
LaChapelle Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $10004900	Losing to the Chiefs was the final straw: Raiders bench Russell for Gradkowski Posted by Mike Florio on November 18, 2009 6:01 PM ET The JaMarcus Russell era has ended. For now. Raiders coach Tom Cable, who yanked Russell for Bruce Gradkowski during Sunday's 16-10 loss to the Chiefs, said Wednesday that Gradkowski is the new starter. Per RaiderBeat.com, Cable called the move an "easy decision." Through nine starts in 2009, Russell has a passer rating of 47.7, with two touchdown passes and nine interceptions. For his career, the first overall pick in the 2007 draft has a passer rating of 65.5. Gradkowski's first Raiders start will come against the 7-2 Bengals. The former Toledo Rocket started 11 games as a Buccaneers rookie in 2006 and one with the Browns in 2008.
Posts: 8,588

11-18-2009, 05:40 PM	#5
Hog's Gone Fishin Fish are scared of me Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1710477	This is not good! They're catching on!
Posts: 40,350

11-18-2009, 06:06 PM	#8
RJ Supporter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: In a shotgun shack Casino cash: $9965202	Dammit, I just picked up the Bengals D to start against Russell this week. Can Gadkowski be equally bad?
Posts: 14,931