Just Say No To JaMarcus Russell: Bengals Have No Room For Developing Quarterback

by Josh Kirkendall on May 15, 2010 10:21 AM EDT in Analysis

Putting aside the fact that no one believed that the Bengals could seriously look at a quarterback that wouldn't improve the team's roster, the Bengals curiosity with JaMarcus Russell started and ended with an inquiry soon after (arguably) the league's biggest draft bust of all time was released from the Oakland Raiders. We put to rest the rumor earlier in the week, based on a report by Geoff Hobson.

Will it not just die?

Hobson reiterated the Bengals stance on Friday saying:

There don’t appear to be any plans at the moment to look at the free-agent quarterback. One fear appears to be that he’s seen as a developmental guy and that the Bengals don’t have room for a project. Russell coming to Cincinnati is being described more and more as a “longshot.”

Some media reports, applying the logic that they're the Bengals and anyone can be signed (which, in reality, has been true), are finally acknowledging this little fact that Hobson and Joe Reedy have pointed out all week: It's so not going to happen.

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Comments

my bet= Pats

by quickslant on May 15, 2010 10:32 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I think the term "developing"

sounds too positive. I would probably classify Russel as totally undeveloped, incapable, or amorphous blob

by The Dealio on May 15, 2010 10:33 AM EDT reply actions

What if ......

What if MB brought him in as an example of what not to do with your NFL career. Oh wait, we’ve had enough of those through the years. Akili, Ki-Jana, Klinger, so on, so on, so on.

Wait! We could use him as a tackling dummy!

by ALBengalFan on May 15, 2010 10:49 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Or a left tackle. ;-)

by TheWalrus1971 on May 15, 2010 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Ugh...

I wouldn’t want him on Carson’s blind side. I don’t care that he’s the size of a 747.

by ALBengalFan on May 15, 2010 12:14 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Well we thought we put the A.Jones rumor to rest too.. We were wrong..

by JamesShively on May 15, 2010 12:13 PM EDT reply actions

J.Russell: "Hey you guys ever heard of Goetta…Is dat shit any good ? "

by JamesShively on May 15, 2010 12:15 PM EDT reply actions

“Whats this Skyline Chili all about ?”

by JamesShively on May 15, 2010 1:20 PM EDT reply actions

Signing Russell would be a huge....

disaster. A lot of the bengals questionable signings have at least a hint of a positive outcome… Larry Johnson last season, Adam Jones, Gibril Wilson… Signing Russell would just be plain dumb.

by whodeyve on May 15, 2010 2:03 PM EDT reply actions

Re

good thing the reports are saying were not going to..

by JamesShively on May 15, 2010 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

65.2

I am not for him, and I’m not against him either. But the stats should show he’s a better suit then at least Jordan…
QB Ratings TD’s-INT Yards Passes comp
Jemarcus Russell 65.2 18-23 4,083 354-680
J.T. O’Sullivan 69.9 9-13 1,866 145-257
Jordan Palmer 25.3 0-2 41 7-12

I’m not saying sign him, but I am saying the man has game experience, and it was with a team that in it’s offense the QB gets raped more times the Big Ben rapes at a college sorority. I don’t want him to be a starter, I just feel competition with O’Sullivan and Palmer, even if we signed Russell and cut him after, I would be happy to know we have more competent back ups.

by C Byers on May 15, 2010 4:21 PM EDT reply actions

Love the headline

Of course we have no room for him: none of the other QB’s would be able to reach their lockers once he was in the room.

Russell may well be better than J. Palmer, but if we were bringing him in, (1) it wouldn’t be to hold the 3rd-QB clipboard, (2) unless Carson was injured, he wouldn’t see the field except in garbage time, and (3) if he did have to play, we’d be completely screwed no matter how well he did (realistically speaking). Not that it’s a bad thing to push our backups to be better, but if the Bengals were going to do that, shouldn’t they have gone after a free agent or late round draft prospect who isn’t a 290-lb. has-been?

by Mr. X on May 15, 2010 5:11 PM EDT reply actions

Jamarcus

I think jamarcus Russell would be a good back up for cincinnati. I would take him over Jt O sullivan

by Makin Edwards on May 15, 2010 5:18 PM EDT reply actions

say yes to jeff garcia

by ritalin on May 15, 2010 6:43 PM EDT reply actions

He hasn't been arrested or convicted of any crimes

So I don’t see a reason for us to sign him.

"You shouldn't throw rocks at a man with a machine gun." - Rowdy Roddy Piper

by St. Esiason on May 15, 2010 8:37 PM EDT reply actions

There are worse things than getting Russell..

It would be a mistake not to do something.JTO amd Jordan just might be the worst two QB in the NFL. These guys are absolutely useless. Russell would be a big upgrade – that is how bad they are. Right now if Carson goes down we may as well just not show up and just forfeit the game. Teams are going to be targeting Carson big time lnowing that we are a complete non factor without Carson.

"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"

by JUNGLEJOHN on May 15, 2010 9:48 PM EDT reply actions

QB

Im not sure why we didnt draft one this year in the seventh round?????

by James Schmid the great on May 15, 2010 11:12 PM EDT reply actions

They need someone

Not saying to sign Russel, but if he comes cheap why not? JT and Jordan are not good and dont have the potential to be good. If Russel cared he would probably be a good QB. I would rather have someone else, trade for a veteran, or Jeff Garcia. or hell, maybe Tim Couch is still trying to make a comeback, but if them 3 options dont work out, why not Russel.

by JCompton41 on May 15, 2010 11:21 PM EDT reply actions

Garcia does not fit the Bengals offense. Although they are in need of a quality back up. I feel a guy like Bulger would be a good fit. And honestly Russell may be a better option than JT

by Bdub14 on May 16, 2010 2:13 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

what other free agent qbs?

Are or could be available? Sorry Jordan

by quickslant on May 16, 2010 3:45 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

If Russell could get a strong willed HC

He could actually turn out pretty well, not elite, but good.

I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.

by Topher Doll on May 16, 2010 7:03 PM EDT reply actions

Hopefully it's not Lewis!

by TCfromDubVee on May 16, 2010 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions

While I don't think it will happen

Do you really think it would make us worse to have him as a back-up?

I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.

by Topher Doll on May 16, 2010 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions

No

but i dont think it would make us better and that we could find a better backup via free agency or trade.

by JCompton41 on May 16, 2010 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I didn't ask that

He really isn’t any WORSE then what we already have, he may not make us better, but he sure can’t be a worse back-up then what we have now.

I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.

by Topher Doll on May 16, 2010 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions

why

Why waste money when he wont make us better.

by JCompton41 on May 16, 2010 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I think if we are gonna spend money for anther qb, why not grab someone who will actually make us better

by JCompton41 on May 16, 2010 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions

He might.

Personally I’d be a little more concerned about work-ethic related character issues than completely off the field stuff in terms of it having a negative effect on the locker room. When you have a guy sleeping through team meetings, I’m sure it’s hard to avoid resentment growing. Look what’s been going on behind the scene for the past few seasons in Pitt, and Big Ben at least produces on the field and has a semblance of work ethic. We don’t need some lazy parasite in PBS.

by Jaegner on May 17, 2010 5:22 AM EDT up reply actions