Jamarcus russell the bust
- mstrbass2000
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- Willmark
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Greatest busts of all time:
1. Ryan Leaf
2. Jamarcus Russell.
After that cases can be made for numerous players.
But Leaf IMO takes #1 bar none. Pre draft scouts were talking about “laser/rocket arm” and comparing his arm strength to Jeff George. There was even discussion of do you take him #1 over Manning.
Russell? He was lucky that year was extremely weak for QBs. That and the Old Man who should have been in bed at that point caught the Sugar Bowl performance and the rest is history.
No Al, he was not “a great player, get O’vah it”. Hubris is a funny thing, especially when it leads you to one of the greatest NFL busts of all time.
1. Ryan Leaf
2. Jamarcus Russell.
After that cases can be made for numerous players.
But Leaf IMO takes #1 bar none. Pre draft scouts were talking about “laser/rocket arm” and comparing his arm strength to Jeff George. There was even discussion of do you take him #1 over Manning.
Russell? He was lucky that year was extremely weak for QBs. That and the Old Man who should have been in bed at that point caught the Sugar Bowl performance and the rest is history.
No Al, he was not “a great player, get O’vah it”. Hubris is a funny thing, especially when it leads you to one of the greatest NFL busts of all time.
- Corleone
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I think this interview proves why Jamarcus is #1 tbh.Willmark wrote: Sun Apr 12, 2026 2:51 pm Greatest busts of all time:
1. Ryan Leaf
2. Jamarcus Russell.
After that cases can be made for numerous players.
But Leaf IMO takes #1 bar none. Pre draft scouts were talking about “laser/rocket arm” and comparing his arm strength to Jeff George. There was even discussion of do you take him #1 over Manning.
Russell? He was lucky that year was extremely weak for QBs. That and the Old Man who should have been in bed at that point caught the Sugar Bowl performance and the rest is history.
No Al, he was not “a great player, get O’vah it”. Hubris is a funny thing, especially when it leads you to one of the greatest NFL busts of all time.- These users gave a High Five to the author Corleone for the post (total 6):
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- Rainman56
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Guy wouldn't have been ripped on as bad if he wouldn't have held out for more $$$ and missed training camp...And actually to the job seriously and gave the impression he actually gave a $hit...Guy got paid and checked out. 
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Dude never even got one tryout (AFAIK) after the Raiders released him. He is the greatest draft bust of all time, IMO.
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Checked out?Rainman56 wrote: Sun Apr 12, 2026 2:57 pm Guy wouldn't have been ripped on as bad if he wouldn't have held out for more $$$ and missed training camp...And actually to the job seriously and gave the impression he actually gave a $hit...Guy got paid and checked out.![]()
I don’t think he’d ever checked in.
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I vote Jamarcus over Leaf. If Colts chose him over Manning then he'd be #1 but ultimately he wasn't the #1 pick and signed to a ridiculous contractWillmark wrote: Sun Apr 12, 2026 3:02 pm The interview is certainly cringe inducing. No argument.
But comparatively speaking, football wise? Leaf.
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He wasn't the #1 pick but the Chargers did trade up to #2 for him. I do agree Russell is #1 bust of all time but it's close.DanKD wrote: Sun Apr 12, 2026 3:18 pm I vote Jamarcus over Leaf. If Colts chose him over Manning then he'd be #1 but ultimately he wasn't the #1 pick and signed to a ridiculous contract
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Holding out for more money and then not giving a f[raiders_icon]ck is just part of the reason he is by far the biggest bust in NFL history. Leaf is up there but far from JaMarcus level bust
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Go easy on Leaf. He had reinvented himself and has made an effort to help younger players avoid his mistakes. JaMarcus continues to play the victim card and doesn't seem to have worked very hard to become a productive member of society.Willmark wrote: Sun Apr 12, 2026 2:51 pm Greatest busts of all time:
1. Ryan Leaf
2. Jamarcus Russell.
After that cases can be made for numerous players.
But Leaf IMO takes #1 bar none. Pre draft scouts were talking about “laser/rocket arm” and comparing his arm strength to Jeff George. There was even discussion of do you take him #1 over Manning.
Russell? He was lucky that year was extremely weak for QBs. That and the Old Man who should have been in bed at that point caught the Sugar Bowl performance and the rest is history.
No Al, he was not “a great player, get O’vah it”. Hubris is a funny thing, especially when it leads you to one of the greatest NFL busts of all time.
But yes, Between the lines Leaf most certainly did not live up to being the HOF player he was being rated against going into the 1998 NFL Draft. From that stand point I agree with you.
Yes-I am being a homer.
Go Cougs.
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I have yet to see a solid argument for anyone being a bigger draft bust than Russell. He earned that title..... it's the only thing he ever earned.
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