JaMarcus Russell addresses difference between LSU and Oakland Raiders

JaMarcus Russell had an incredible career at LSU, where he turned himself into a No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick. But his NFL career was short-lived, and he talked about the differences between his time in Baton Rouge and in Oakland with the Raiders.

At LSU, Russell threw for 6,625 yards and 52 touchdowns over three years and won a national championship with the Tigers before the Raiders took him No. 1 overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. But he only played in Oakland from 2007-09 before his release prior to the 2010 season.

During an appearance on The Pivot Podcast, Russell discussed where it all went wrong in Oakland, saying he didn’t have the weapons on the field.

“You say I had a great career at LSU, but I also had great teammates, a great team,” Russell said. “You had to be all that for a quarterback to be what he needs to be. … It wasn’t all there. They had the first pick for a reason. You know what I’m saying?

“I don’t like to be the one to throw guys under the bus, but man, come on, bro. For real. That s*** was way before I got there. And I just feel like us as Black men and becoming Black quarterbacks, they want us to be like Jesus Christ and save that s***. I need some s*** to save.”

JaMarcus Russell gives damning take on Raiders environment

Russell played in just 31 career games over three seasons in Oakland after the Raiders drafted him. In his words, though, he believes the NFL and Raiders doomed him from the start.

Russell discussed his career on a recent episode of The Pivot. He said he didn’t get the same treatment from the NFL based on how they advertise certain players at the forefront.

“I don’t think it went that way,” Russell said. “How today’s game goes where they set everything up to make this guy be our guy? We want to make this for this guy? No. No way possible. I didn’t see it.”