Bigger bust: Ryan Leaf or JaMarcus Russell?

[stevew]

What dubb said.

Who would want to have to play him? He's not a worker type, so do you even want him as your #3 developmental QB? Russell will get people fired if he has to play.

[Ksyrup]

Might be better for him to play a year in that alternate league to show he can actually play (assuming any of those teams would want him), maybe latch on as a 3rd stringer/developmental guy toward the end of this year? Who knows.

[stevew]

The Chargers traded up to get Leaf-

Gave up what turned out to be the #8 selection(David Boston) in the next draft to Arizona. The Chargers had the #3 pick.

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

Todd Marinovich Bio - Drug Problems of QB Todd Marinovich - Esquire

Here's a recent story about him in Esquire. He was picked 1st overall, but drug problems were the culprit in his life.

I had previously read that article and recommend it.

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Russell is in David Carr land if the Raiders release him. Nobody is going to give him a starting job. Best he can hope for is a backup position in a good situation, actually work hard and develop his skills and hope a starting job opens up a couple of years down the road. I think he's done, but it's not over quite yet.

Carr > Russell, in my opinion. Carr was probably never going to be a great QB, but given the amount he got sacked in Houston, he didn't do all that badly.

[cougarfreak]

I chose Leaf, I thought he'd be good. People who thought Russell was going to be any good were nuts.

[Bad-example]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

Yeah, Todd Marinovich was also a pretty big bust, though did he get picked #1?

Yeah, as the #24 pick he really isn't in the conversation.

[RainMaker]

I would say Leaf because he was put on the same level as Manning. Then again, I don't think I've ever seen a QB who is as bad as Jamarcus. I remember watching some Raider games last year and being in shock at how bad he was. Leaf was bad, but he got to a point where you weren't laughing at every other pass he threw. But I don't know if I can objectively give an answer.

I think being a fan for this long we get immune to first round busts. It's just so common, especially at QB that it's not a shock. If Sam Bradford flames out in the NFL, will anyone really be shocked? I guess I just figure that half the top picked QBs will bomb out in the NFL so I don't have high expectations. It feels much more like rolling some dice these days.

[k0ruptr]

I heard Russell is up over 300 pounds, I think he could make for a decent Defensive End, or Tight End.

or Tackling dummy, oh wait anytime he lined up last season thats what he already was.

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

I would say Leaf because he was put on the same level as Manning. Then again, I don't think I've ever seen a QB who is as bad as Jamarcus. I remember watching some Raider games last year and being in shock at how bad he was. Leaf was bad, but he got to a point where you weren't laughing at every other pass he threw. But I don't know if I can objectively give an answer.

yeah, that's the thing. i was in sd during the leaf era and every pre-season it was 'he's figured it out'

he would light up pre-season games and show glimmers during the early season but one bad game and it was downward spiralsville.

even towards the end he wasn't hopeless everyone was just exacerbated with the whole affair.

[Atocep]

I think people are already forgetting how much hype Russell had coming out of LSU. Most people had him going 1st overall so it wasn't like the Raiders were the only people high on him. Calvin Johnson was seen as an equal or maybe slightly better talent overall, but no one else was in the discussion for going #1 overall. Kiper was actually comparing him Elway and actually stated he'd be a top 5 QB within 3 years.

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

russell was said to have had the best pro day anyone has ever scene. ever.

[Danny]

Originally Posted by Atocep

I think people are already forgetting how much hype Russell had coming out of LSU. Most people had him going 1st overall so it wasn't like the Raiders were the only people high on him. Calvin Johnson was seen as an equal or maybe slightly better talent overall, but no one else was in the discussion for going #1 overall. Kiper was actually comparing him Elway and actually stated he'd be a top 5 QB within 3 years.

Yes, Russell sucks obviously, he definitely was touted by many.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

I picked Leaf, only because he was pretty much universally annoited as a legend in the making and there were plenty of concerns about Russell, which the Raiders chose to ignore anyway.

Albionmoonlight makes a great point with the Kolb / Manning comparison as well.....

+1

[Noop]

[stevew]

over/under on the first "russell is broke" story? 2015?

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by stevew

over/under on the first "russell is broke" story? 2015?

Or the "Russell battles Todd McCullough for 400lbs+ pinball wizard trophy" story.

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

I think being a fan for this long we get immune to first round busts. It's just so common, especially at QB that it's not a shock. If Sam Bradford flames out in the NFL, will anyone really be shocked? I guess I just figure that half the top picked QBs will bomb out in the NFL so I don't have high expectations. It feels much more like rolling some dice these days.

Aye, that's exactly right. I'd much rather my team take a QB in the 2nd round. Less pressure to succeed straight away, and gives the team anoter season or two to make sure their is some semibalance of an O-Line to protect him.

The failure of the high-1st round QBs pretty much comes down to expectations and being put in horrible situations IMO. Put a lot of these guys in the 2nd round and I bet their careers turn out very differently.

[larrymcg421]

Russell's 2nd season alone makes him better than Leaf.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

Aye, that's exactly right. I'd much rather my team take a QB in the 2nd round. Less pressure to succeed straight away, and gives the team anoter season or two to make sure their is some semibalance of an O-Line to protect him.

The failure of the high-1st round QBs pretty much comes down to expectations and being put in horrible situations IMO. Put a lot of these guys in the 2nd round and I bet their careers turn out very differently.

QBs drafted in rounds 1 and 2 from 2000-2009:

Top 10
Matt Stafford
Mark Sanchez
Matt Ryan
Jamarcus Russell
Vince Young
Matt Leinart
Alex Smith
Eli Manning
Philip Rivers
Carson Palmer
Byron Leftwich
David Carr
Joey Harrington
Mike Vick

1st Rounders Outside the Top 10
Josh Freeman
Joe Flacco
Brady Quinn
Jay Cutler
Aaron Rodgers
Jason Campbell
Ben Roethlisberger
JP Losman
Rex Grossman
Kyle Boller
Patrick Ramsey
Chad Pennington

Round 2
Pat White
Brian Brohm
Chad Henne
Kevin Kolb
John Beck
Drew Stanton
Kellen Clemens
Tavaris Jackson
Charlie Frye
Andrew Walter
Chris Simms
Drew Brees
Quincy Carter
Marques Tuiasosopo


Given the choice, I'd take my chances on a 1st round QB because drafting after the 1st round your chances of finding an elite or even serviceable QB go down drastically.