Tag: JaMarcus Russell

PHOTOS: A look at LSU’s SEC Championship Game history

LSU has an all-time record of 5-1 in the SEC Championship Game, and a few of those wins have been followed by national championship victories.

LSU may not always be in the SEC Championship Game, but their historic trend bodes well for them when they do make an appearance. LSU is 5-1 all-time in the SEC Championship Game, which is good for the best winning percentage in the game among all SEC schools.

Three different coaches have claimed an SEC championship for LSU with Nick Saban, Les Miles, and Ed Orgeron. And on a few occasions, a victory in the SEC Championship Game has been followed up by a national championship.

Here is a look back through LSU’s history in the SEC Championship Game.

Raiders pick WR over former LSU QB JaMarcus Russell in 2007 NFL re-draft

Russell is still well-remembered as one of the worst busts in NFL history.

Former LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell had no shortage of hype coming out of Baton Rouge, but he fell far short of the expectations after he was selected first overall in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders.

Actually, falling “far short” is probably an understatement, considering that Russell has gone down as one of the biggest busts in LSU history.

In his 2007 NFL re-draft, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport rectified the situation for the Raiders by having them select wide receiver Calvin Johnson out of Georgia Tech instead.

Here’s what he had to say about the pick:

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“By his second professional season, Megatron had established himself as one of the best wideouts in the game. When he came closer than anyone ever has to a 2,000-yard season with his 122 catches for 1,964 yards in 2012, he staked his claim as one of the greatest wide receivers ever.”

Johnson went to six straight Pro Bowls from 2010 to 2015, was named a first-team All-Pro three times and is a mortal lock for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot.”

Russell finished out his three-year NFL career with a completion percentage of 52.1%, 4,083 passing yards,18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.

It’s interesting to think about what could have been if the Raiders had gone with Johnson instead, though there’s a host of options that would have produced a better overall outcome for the team over Russell.

Rodney Harrison comparing Mitchell Trubisky to Ryan Leaf is utterly ridiculous

Rodney Harrison compared Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky to one of the biggest busts in NFL history in QB Ryan Leaf, which is ludicrous.

Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky can’t catch a break. Not only did the Bears decline his fifth-year option, but he’ll have to battle veteran Nick Foles for the starting job. Oh, and there’s another NFL analyst blasting him as a bust following one terrible season.

NBC Sports analyst Rodney Harrison appeared on NBC Sports Chicago’s Under Center Podcast, where he didn’t hold back when discussing Trubisky. He went as far to compare Trubisky to one of the biggest busts in NFL history in quarterback Ryan Leaf.

Context is always important in these situations. Harrison was discussing the open quarterback competition between Trubisky and Nick Foles, and he was talking about how he doesn’t believe Trubisky will get another opportunity to start in the NFL if he doesn’t start this year. He said Trubisky would be considered one of the biggest busts in NFL history if that were to happen. Then the Leaf comparison came.

“Let me tell you something, I’m an expert on quarterback busts — bad quarterbacks — because I played with Ryan Leaf,” Harrison said. “And I tell you, you just don’t have the patience for these young guys that just can’t play.”

The criticism surrounding Trubisky has been fair, especially when factoring in that the Bears passed on Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. But lumping Trubisky in with a notable NFL bust is ridiculous.

Trubisky has become everyone’s favorite whipping boy in the NFL. The quarterback that everyone loves to make fun of following an abysmal performance last season. While some of it is surely warranted following that terrible 2019 season, these analysts are using last season’s performance as his overall evaluation.

While Trubisky’s inconsistency has marred his short career, people tend to forget that he helped lead the Bears to a 12-4 record, division title, postseason berth and Pro Bowl appearance in his second season. Sure, Chicago’s dominant defense was a big factor in that success, but that doesn’t negate Trubisky’s contributions. Just as his horrible 2019 season doesn’t negate what he accomplished in 2018.

Comparing him to Leaf is ludicrous. Leaf’s NFL career lasted just 21 starts, where he posted a career record of 4-17. He tossed 14 touchdowns to 36 interceptions and had a completion percentage of 48 percent.

Looking at Trubisky, he’s completed 63.4% of his passes with 48 touchdowns to 29 interceptions with a 23-18 record in three seasons.

No one’s saying Trubisky is a great quarterback. But he’s also not a terrible quarterback. So comparing him to one of the biggest busts in NFL history is utterly ridiculous.

Although this isn’t the first time an NFL analyst has likened Trubisky to an NFL bust. ESPN’s Ryan Clark compared Trubisky to Leaf and JaMarcus Russell last September.

It was ridiculous then, and it’s ridiculous now.

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Mel Kiper Jr.’s worst bad calls during the NFL Draft

Let’s look at some of the ESPN’s NFL Draft guru’s major misses.

First, this will be a two-part series. We’ll get to ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s best calls soon.

For now, we’ll look at some of his major misses.

Russell Wilson

(Getty Images)

Kiper: “I think he’ll have a Seneca Wallace-type career where you can bring him off the bench and he’ll add a spark.”

Um, nope. Wilson, drafted in the third round by Seattle, 75th overall, has been named to seven Pro Bowls and has started in two Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl XLVIII.

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NFL draft: The worst first-round picks at every selection spot since 2002

The first round of the NFL draft is a veritable minefield with each of the 32 spots presenting its own opportunity for a pitfall. And with the odds for those picks panning out being about as random as a coinflip, the list of busts is a long one. But …

The first round of the NFL draft is a veritable minefield with each of the 32 spots presenting its own opportunity for a pitfall.

And with the odds for those picks panning out being about as random as a coinflip, the list of busts is a long one.

But who are the bad selections that really stand out? After picking the best pick at every spot since 2002, here’s a look at the worst missteps at each selection spot since the first round went to 32 picks.

1. JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders (2007)

(Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Not only is JaMarcus Russell the worst No. 1 pick of our defined time period, but he’s also arguably the worst No. 1 pick of all time. Russell lasted in the league only three seasons, throwing 18 touchdowns to 23 picks as a bad work ethic and indifferent attitude spelled his demise.

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