The Raider Nation came through again with this week’s sound-off question. The question was what to do with the team’s quarterback situation. The options were:
1. Give JaMarcus Russell another chance to prove he can be the guy next year.
2. Use the first-round pick on a quarterback such as Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen or Jake Locker.
3. Give Bruce Gradkowski, who led the Raiders to a win in his first start as Russell’s replacement on Sunday, a chance to be the guy.
4. An idea of your own.
The responses were as varied as the options. But it’s clear that many fans would rather see Gradkowski quarterback the team in 2010 than Russell. It’s an interesting situation. If Gradkowski, who led Oakland to a win in his first start Sunday, continues to lead the team well, he may deserve a shot.
Below are some of your responses. Thanks to everyone who participated:
Shiran from Charleston: I say give Gradkowski a shot to be the guy and you can still draft a QB if JaMarcus is going to be written off. I think too many people got spoiled by the success of first year QB's like Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan that they expect instant results. Jemarcus needed work, and I'm not sure how long it would take to get him ready. All I know is that when I watch him, I don't feel as if he cares whether he wins or loses. If Gradkowski can get the job done, why cast him aside just because he isn't your prototypical QB. It's all about winning, and it doesn't have to be pretty. Our receivers may be in better shape next year, but the rookies still need a lot of work.
Jared Amos from San Diego: Hey Bill,I would bring back Jemarcus only if he was willing to restructure his current contract into something more reasonable. Even with a restructured contract, no other team is going to give him the sort of money he would be paid under a restructuring. Given the re-birth of Vince Young, maybe he takes the off season to lose some weight, learn the playbook and put in the time it takes to become an NFL qb. I would also look at bringing in a veteran qb and potentially drafting a qb early in the 2nd round (Colt McCoy?) rather than spending millions of guaranteed dollars on another qb that is no guarantee to pan out.
Michael Flocco from Bearde: I think raiders should take a hard look at colt mcoy and release j russell and stick with grad. as back up.
James from Canada: Raiders should try and trade for Kevin Kolb or sign a QB via free agency. If that isn't possible, take a OL with the first round pick, then pick up Tebow or another QB in rd. 2. I want JaMarcus to succeed, but his future doesn't look to bright in Oakland. He has had his chances, and doesn't seem to care about winning or improving.
Bret Armstrong from Walton, NY: Bill- I'm gonna give it to you straight on this one. Bruce Gradkowski deserves a shot to be the guy for Oakland, in my honest opinion JaMarcus Russell has had 24 games as a starter to prove he is worthy. There's a slim chance that we can get a Vince Young type of situation from him, but he just lacks the heart. This comes from one of his biggest supporters. Bruce Gradkowski is 1-0 as a Raiders starter. He comes at a cheaper price. He is a Jon Gruden draft choice. He has heart, determination, leadership skills, trust from his teammates, work ethics. He is a guy who has not yet been given a real shot, he is young, and so far he is a winner. Tom Cable believes in him and we have no reason not to believe what Tom thinks is best for the team actually is. The biggest knock I've heard so far is his height, but it is my frank opinion that height has nothing on heart and hustle. (See Drew Brees or David Garrard). The simple fact is that yeah there are some taller QB's out there, but average height is like what, 6-2 or 6-3? Gradkowski is 6-1, it's not like he's Seneca Wallace- 5'11". Yeah he deserves a shot to finish the rest of this year and work to earn the starter role for the team next year.
Big Primo from Vallejo, Ca.: No more picking QB's, we do not and never had the ability to develop players, nor does Al have the patience. What we need to do is trade for Troy Smith from Baltimore! He was going to be their starter till a fluke Illness cost him the spot. That tells me he can be a player in this league.
Jared from Juntion City, OR: I think they need to ditch Russell if for no other reason his HUGE salary cap number. Now it makes more sense why he wanted $62 M in a briefcase. Just take the money and run. He could be worth keeping if they could restructure and have him at a lower cap number, similar to the Javon Walker deal. They need a veteran on the roster. If Gradkowski is that guy or not is yet to be proven, but things are looking up. What about Joey Harrington as a backup? They should look for a QB in the draft, but I don't think I trust them with that first round pick. I really like Kafka out of NorthWestern. As long as they don't take Tebow in the first round though, I think any rookie would be a step in the right direction.
Lyle from Cumberland, MD: I have the perfect idea to help the Raiders. It is obvious that JaMarcus cannot succeed at the next level. So, move him to Offensive tackle (he is as big as the lineman they have now), and see if he can't revive his career there. Let Brucey finish the season and if he isn't looking up to par go ahead and spend the first pick on Locker or another proven QB. Hopefully, this will turn the team around and make them a contender in the next few years.
DB from Oakland: Give Bruce a chance. Who says he cant be our QB of the future? If he plays solid football for the rest of the year. Roll with him going into the next year. we have a lot of holes to fill and need all the draft picks we have. We also can't afford to pay for how much a QB is asking for these days (in the top 10). If Bruce falters look for a Colt McCoy or another QB in the 3rd round. I also do not see Jake Locker coming out of college this year and I think Jimmy will be swept up before we pick. That leaves us with Sam Bradford and i am not confident in the fact he is even a franchise QB.
Rex from Provo, UT: 4. Trade for a quarterback with a proven work ethic.Gradkowski is okay for now. He solves the whole - look away from the TV whenever Russell drops back - problem that the Raiders had for the first 9 games of the season. (Seriously, week before last against KC, the Raiders win if they just stop passing altogether.) But I don't believe he's the long term answer and those three QB prospects you mentioned gave me a shiver of terror, so no thank you.
1. Give JaMarcus Russell another chance to prove he can be the guy next year.
2. Use the first-round pick on a quarterback such as Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen or Jake Locker.
3. Give Bruce Gradkowski, who led the Raiders to a win in his first start as Russell’s replacement on Sunday, a chance to be the guy.
4. An idea of your own.
The responses were as varied as the options. But it’s clear that many fans would rather see Gradkowski quarterback the team in 2010 than Russell. It’s an interesting situation. If Gradkowski, who led Oakland to a win in his first start Sunday, continues to lead the team well, he may deserve a shot.
Below are some of your responses. Thanks to everyone who participated:
Shiran from Charleston: I say give Gradkowski a shot to be the guy and you can still draft a QB if JaMarcus is going to be written off. I think too many people got spoiled by the success of first year QB's like Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan that they expect instant results. Jemarcus needed work, and I'm not sure how long it would take to get him ready. All I know is that when I watch him, I don't feel as if he cares whether he wins or loses. If Gradkowski can get the job done, why cast him aside just because he isn't your prototypical QB. It's all about winning, and it doesn't have to be pretty. Our receivers may be in better shape next year, but the rookies still need a lot of work.
Jared Amos from San Diego: Hey Bill,I would bring back Jemarcus only if he was willing to restructure his current contract into something more reasonable. Even with a restructured contract, no other team is going to give him the sort of money he would be paid under a restructuring. Given the re-birth of Vince Young, maybe he takes the off season to lose some weight, learn the playbook and put in the time it takes to become an NFL qb. I would also look at bringing in a veteran qb and potentially drafting a qb early in the 2nd round (Colt McCoy?) rather than spending millions of guaranteed dollars on another qb that is no guarantee to pan out.
Michael Flocco from Bearde: I think raiders should take a hard look at colt mcoy and release j russell and stick with grad. as back up.
James from Canada: Raiders should try and trade for Kevin Kolb or sign a QB via free agency. If that isn't possible, take a OL with the first round pick, then pick up Tebow or another QB in rd. 2. I want JaMarcus to succeed, but his future doesn't look to bright in Oakland. He has had his chances, and doesn't seem to care about winning or improving.
Bret Armstrong from Walton, NY: Bill- I'm gonna give it to you straight on this one. Bruce Gradkowski deserves a shot to be the guy for Oakland, in my honest opinion JaMarcus Russell has had 24 games as a starter to prove he is worthy. There's a slim chance that we can get a Vince Young type of situation from him, but he just lacks the heart. This comes from one of his biggest supporters. Bruce Gradkowski is 1-0 as a Raiders starter. He comes at a cheaper price. He is a Jon Gruden draft choice. He has heart, determination, leadership skills, trust from his teammates, work ethics. He is a guy who has not yet been given a real shot, he is young, and so far he is a winner. Tom Cable believes in him and we have no reason not to believe what Tom thinks is best for the team actually is. The biggest knock I've heard so far is his height, but it is my frank opinion that height has nothing on heart and hustle. (See Drew Brees or David Garrard). The simple fact is that yeah there are some taller QB's out there, but average height is like what, 6-2 or 6-3? Gradkowski is 6-1, it's not like he's Seneca Wallace- 5'11". Yeah he deserves a shot to finish the rest of this year and work to earn the starter role for the team next year.
Big Primo from Vallejo, Ca.: No more picking QB's, we do not and never had the ability to develop players, nor does Al have the patience. What we need to do is trade for Troy Smith from Baltimore! He was going to be their starter till a fluke Illness cost him the spot. That tells me he can be a player in this league.
Jared from Juntion City, OR: I think they need to ditch Russell if for no other reason his HUGE salary cap number. Now it makes more sense why he wanted $62 M in a briefcase. Just take the money and run. He could be worth keeping if they could restructure and have him at a lower cap number, similar to the Javon Walker deal. They need a veteran on the roster. If Gradkowski is that guy or not is yet to be proven, but things are looking up. What about Joey Harrington as a backup? They should look for a QB in the draft, but I don't think I trust them with that first round pick. I really like Kafka out of NorthWestern. As long as they don't take Tebow in the first round though, I think any rookie would be a step in the right direction.
Lyle from Cumberland, MD: I have the perfect idea to help the Raiders. It is obvious that JaMarcus cannot succeed at the next level. So, move him to Offensive tackle (he is as big as the lineman they have now), and see if he can't revive his career there. Let Brucey finish the season and if he isn't looking up to par go ahead and spend the first pick on Locker or another proven QB. Hopefully, this will turn the team around and make them a contender in the next few years.
DB from Oakland: Give Bruce a chance. Who says he cant be our QB of the future? If he plays solid football for the rest of the year. Roll with him going into the next year. we have a lot of holes to fill and need all the draft picks we have. We also can't afford to pay for how much a QB is asking for these days (in the top 10). If Bruce falters look for a Colt McCoy or another QB in the 3rd round. I also do not see Jake Locker coming out of college this year and I think Jimmy will be swept up before we pick. That leaves us with Sam Bradford and i am not confident in the fact he is even a franchise QB.
Rex from Provo, UT: 4. Trade for a quarterback with a proven work ethic.Gradkowski is okay for now. He solves the whole - look away from the TV whenever Russell drops back - problem that the Raiders had for the first 9 games of the season. (Seriously, week before last against KC, the Raiders win if they just stop passing altogether.) But I don't believe he's the long term answer and those three QB prospects you mentioned gave me a shiver of terror, so no thank you.
Bill Williamson | email
NFL- ESPN AFC West Blogger
- Spent four seasons covering the Broncos for the Denver Post
- Previously covered Vikings, Packers, Seahawks
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Bill Williamson
Williamson joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the Denver Broncos for the Denver Post. He previously covered the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.
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