Ryan Leaf, or JaMarcus Russell?
When it comes to the debate over the NFL's Greatest Bust, both quarterbacks are always the first to come to mind. However, if you're looking for a definite answer, the NFL Shop at Draft in New York City may have it.
On one side of the store, they put up a banner featuring the #1 overall pick for each year over the last decade, going from Michael Vick in 2001 and David Carr in 2002 to Alex Smith (2005), Mario Williams (2006), and then Jake Long for 2007.
Here's the thing: Jake Long was not the #1 overall pick in 2007. He went first overall in 2008.
Former Raider JaMarcus Russell was drafted first overall in 2007.
It could be that the NFL wanted to look past the possible greatest bust ever, or that since JaMarcus is a free agent/retired, they didn't have the rights to put up his image on for any marketing scheme.
He held out of the first half of the 2007 season for more money, receiving just over $30 million guaranteed. Russell showed signs of promise at the end of the 2008 season, winning his last three games straight - most notably against Tampa Bay and Houston - then reported to camp in 2009 at nearly 300 pounds. After a much less than impressive performance in the first half of the season, Raider head coach Tom Cable benched Russell for six-footer Bruce Gradkowski, who led Oakland to a three-game winning streak before tearing both knees against Washington late in the season.
Russell's release from the Raiders in the 2010 season was Oakland's biggest victory both on and off the field, and Russell has not been signed by an NFL team since.
There were rumors that Tampa Bay was looking to sign him in 2010 to play as an offensive lineman, but that never came to be.
Source: profootballtalk.nbcsports.com
