Question of the Day: Would You Take a Chance on JaMarcus Russell?

Remember JaMarcus Russell? Big talented QB out of LSU. Got drafted first overall by the crazy Raiders. Couldn’t keep his weight down. Got in all sorts of trouble. Washed out in Oakland. Drifted around. Got arrested for Purple Drank. Pretty much became the poster boy for squandered talent. Yeah that guy. Well he’s back in the news. No he didn’t get arrested again. He’s in the news because he’s trying to make a comeback. He hasn’t played in the NFL since 2009 and hasn’t even had a try out with a team since 2010. But he thinks he can catch on in 2013 with someone, somewhere.

Here’s what JaMarcus said about his comeback attempt:

"The last few years, the things going through my life, football is my job and it is how it feeds my family. People would say [that] I didn’t love the game but that pisses me off. People don’t know the real you but I want people to know the real me and see what I can do. People are always saying that I’m a bust. I want to show them I’m not. I’m committed to this now."

My question for you: Would you take a chance on this guy? With all the huge red flags. The weight thing. He’s down to 308 after peaking out at 320. Obviously he needs to get smaller if he wants to play QB in the NFL. Also, the character issues. Can this guy stay clean? And just the fact that he hasn’t seen any action since 2009. Yes we know the guy has natural gifts…or had natural gifts. Who knows how much of that talent is still there. Maybe he’ll put together a YouTube video and show us how he can still throw and move around.

I’m sure some team will kick the tires on him. I’m reasonably certain the Vikings will not be that team. Maybe the Jets. He seems like their kind of guy. And they could use a QB. Maybe they could sign him as a Tebow replacement. Punt protector JaMarcus Russell?

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