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Sources: Russell agrees to $61M deal
Jay Glazer
FOXSports.com, Updated 30 minutes ago STORY TOOLS:
After lengthy negotiations, No.1 pick JaMarcus Russell and the Oakland Raiders have finally agreed to a deal, sources have told FOXSports.com.
The six-year contract agreed to Monday night is worth $61 million, including $32 million guaranteed.
The Lions gave No. 2 pick Calvin Johnson $27.2 million in guarantees this year and top pick Mario Williams got $26.5 million in guaranteed money a year ago from the Texans.
The two sides negotiated on Friday and Saturday, while breaking Sunday for Oakland's season opener, with each party being confident they could get a deal done to have him practice by Wednesday.
Amazingly, the same numbers Russell signed for would have gotten a deal done in April when Oakland selected the quarterback with the top pick and would have avoided the lengthy holdout. However, at that point the Raiders said cash flow problems stemming from stadium issues would prevent the team from giving Russell the money he wanted. In the end, Oakland came through with the cash.
Russell will join the team as the No. 3 quarterback behind Josh McCown and Daunte Culpepper. McCown was 30-for-40 for 313 yards and two touchdowns in the 36-21 loss to the Detroit Lions. He also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in the closing minutes with the Raiders trailing by eight points.
The sticky negotiation forced Russell to take a hard line stance, while forcing the Raiders to figure out who their primary negotiator would be. Several chefs seemed to be in the kitchen during negotiations.
The last top pick to miss a game was Bo Jackson, who sat out the entire 1986 season after being drafted first overall by Tampa Bay. Jackson chose to play baseball instead, and was eventually drafted a year later in the seventh round by the Raiders.
The last first-round pick not to be signed by the season opener was offensive lineman Bryant McKinnie, who missed the first eight games in 2002 after being selected with the seventh overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings.
The former LSU quarterback compiled a 25-4 mark as a starter in college. He completed 61.9 percent of his passes for 6,625 yards and 52 touchdowns.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Jay Glazer
FOXSports.com, Updated 30 minutes ago STORY TOOLS:
After lengthy negotiations, No.1 pick JaMarcus Russell and the Oakland Raiders have finally agreed to a deal, sources have told FOXSports.com.
The six-year contract agreed to Monday night is worth $61 million, including $32 million guaranteed.
The Lions gave No. 2 pick Calvin Johnson $27.2 million in guarantees this year and top pick Mario Williams got $26.5 million in guaranteed money a year ago from the Texans.
The two sides negotiated on Friday and Saturday, while breaking Sunday for Oakland's season opener, with each party being confident they could get a deal done to have him practice by Wednesday.
Amazingly, the same numbers Russell signed for would have gotten a deal done in April when Oakland selected the quarterback with the top pick and would have avoided the lengthy holdout. However, at that point the Raiders said cash flow problems stemming from stadium issues would prevent the team from giving Russell the money he wanted. In the end, Oakland came through with the cash.
Russell will join the team as the No. 3 quarterback behind Josh McCown and Daunte Culpepper. McCown was 30-for-40 for 313 yards and two touchdowns in the 36-21 loss to the Detroit Lions. He also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in the closing minutes with the Raiders trailing by eight points.
The sticky negotiation forced Russell to take a hard line stance, while forcing the Raiders to figure out who their primary negotiator would be. Several chefs seemed to be in the kitchen during negotiations.
The last top pick to miss a game was Bo Jackson, who sat out the entire 1986 season after being drafted first overall by Tampa Bay. Jackson chose to play baseball instead, and was eventually drafted a year later in the seventh round by the Raiders.
The last first-round pick not to be signed by the season opener was offensive lineman Bryant McKinnie, who missed the first eight games in 2002 after being selected with the seventh overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings.
The former LSU quarterback compiled a 25-4 mark as a starter in college. He completed 61.9 percent of his passes for 6,625 yards and 52 touchdowns.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
