NFL Combine: Brady Quinn Chiseled, JaMarcus Russell Chubby

On nearly every board, LSU's JaMarcus Russell has moved ahead of Notre Dame's Brady Quinn as the best quarterback in the 2007 NFL draft. But if a player's physique means anything, score one for Quinn at the scouting combine today in Indianapolis.

All the quarterbacks were paraded around wearing nothing but shorts in front of the scouts (and NFL Network cameras) to be weighed and measured, and there's no question that if one of them is going to be on the cover of Men's Health, it'll be Quinn. Russell was a somewhat pudgy 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds. Quinn was a ripped 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds.

Does that make a big difference in where they'll be drafted? Ordinarily I'd say no. But it's intriguing that the team with the first overall pick, the Oakland Raiders, is led by Al Davis, a man who for decades has boasted about his ability to spot great athletes just by looking at them. Davis used to find his own secluded spot at the combine and point out which players he thought were the best athletes, based purely on appearance. Davis isn't quite as active in the scouting of players as he once was, but he's still the man who's ultimately in charge. I think the Raiders will take Russell first overall, but don't rule out Quinn just yet.

UPDATE: Brady Quinn's bench press is as impressive as his body.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

2-23-2007 @ 4:05PM

JD said...

I've always thought Quinn has the biggest biceps of any quarterback I've ever seen. Russell is fat and I'm still trying to figure out how he shot up the draft boards because of one good game against a terrible ND defense

2-23-2007 @ 5:15PM

len said...

QB is a funny position in that just being an athlete isn't what makes someone good. As a matter of fact in the old days names like Sonny Jurgenson, Joe Kapp and george blanda would never be mistaken for a MR. Olympia. While today's game is different, I still think leadership ability and coolness are the most important qualities. Let's face it if you are even being considered by the NFL you are an athlete ...

2-26-2007 @ 1:51AM

Kelly Metcalf said...

Plain and simple, Quinn is a mediocre quarterback that plays against mediocre defenses except for a few games out of the year. When faced with an SEC defense across the line of scrimmage he faltered until LSU let when the game had been decided. Jamarcus Russel sees these defenses every weekend. But hey the SEC defenses aren't any good look at what Florida did to Mr. Heisman Troy Smith. Had Notre Dame played an SEC schedule Quinn's numbers would have been mediocre to match his skills.

2-23-2007 @ 6:22PM

Tom Cassintino said...

Don't forget the dark horse Trent Edwards..... He has the talent and when it comes to the likability factor, you ain't seen nothing yet. This kid is smart, motivated, and ready to win the scouts over.

2-23-2007 @ 7:28PM

Scott R. said...

I think Brady Quinn is a betetr QB then Russel, and to bad the 49ers do nto have a no 1 pick or who needs a QB because I would love to see him in a 49er uniform, nothign against Alex Smith our current QB but Quinn is far better then Smith will ever be. but hey if Smith can stop his poor decissions and cut back on mistakes he can be a good QB. but truth Quinn ahs better talent by far then all the recent QB's taken the past three years. and far better then Russel, who his a good QB but not better then Quinn. and if the radiers take Russell over Quinn there mistake. but hey I rather see Quinn go somewhere he can appreciated and ahve a chance to win, cause face it the radiers are nto going anywhere anytime soon.and Quinn deserves to be with any team then the Oakland Radiers. look at another ND QB who nooen thought would be any good and he is a HOF and won titles and won everything else as far as records go and that was Joe Montana. so wake up everyoen Quinn will be alot better then Russell. good luck Brady.

2-23-2007 @ 8:48PM

D. Green said...

Brady is done. He was a terrible college QB...He didn't have big numbers against good teams... Russell did for three years. Sorry but This Brady isn't Tom...

2-23-2007 @ 10:15PM

Larry Hanlock said...

This is a message to Kelly Metcalf who bases his opinions on his own biases and not on fact. The last poll of the year had Notre Dame having the 20th toughtest schedule and do you know what LSU's SOS was? Try 65th and do you know that only 2 other SEC teams were even in the top 20. (Mississippi and Arkansas) In summary, it appears that if ND played in the SEC their record would of been better than 10-3. Further, NFL teams are basing their decisions on fact, so I believe Quinn will be the No 1 pick. Kelly you can't base your decision on 1 game especially a game that is played 5 weeks after the last. These games are glorified exhibitions not story tellers.

2-23-2007 @ 10:25PM

Scott F. said...

Russell will be like all the other Black QBs, skillful, but unable to read a defense. He'll suit the Raiders just fine, being as though he's gonna have to run for his life half the time. Because of this, he'll lose the weight in no time at all. Good player, but the Raiders are going to be bad for years to come.

2-23-2007 @ 11:11PM

Gamecock Man said...

Thanks Scott F., for your epic racism. Honestly, any old joe could tell you that Russell is better. If he's getting lazy, then maybe he's a liability, but he has the potential to be better than Quinn. Quinn is good, but way overrated. I think he'll make a decent QB one day. But Russell has the potential (and I emphasize potential) to be great. Don't let Quinn's numbers fool you--he did it against questionable opposition.

2-23-2007 @ 10:54PM

2-23-2007 @ 11:19PM

Gary said...

In reference to some bloggers here that doubt Jamarcus Russell and the strength of the SEC you may want to rethink your comments. Russell was one of the highest rated passers in the country that was very hard to bring down by 300 pound lineman...check under ND's inability to bring him down at all in the Sugar Bowl. As far as ND going 10-3 in the SEC, you may want to reverse that to 3-10. LSU didn't even win their division and beat ND like a drum. Typical format in that ND is overrated every year and once again the SEC proved they deserve the National title shot every year.

2-23-2007 @ 11:40PM

Matt said...

Neither one of these QBs is anything special. Russell gained momentum in the eyes of sports writers near the end of the year due to his size. I laughed when one of the college bowls commentators was saying how he reminded him of Culpepper. Like that was supposed ot be a compliment? Quinn is ok, but to this point really hasn't shown anything spectacular. It's such a crap shoot determining who will have the longevity as an NFL quarterback.

I would be bummed with the 1st pick this year and a hole at QB.

2-23-2007 @ 11:50PM

questions abound said...

Funny stuff there D. Green. In his career, Russell has thrown 15 TDs and 17 interceptions against ranked teams. Is that what you call putting up big numbers? ND's pass defense was horrible this year and was the main reason they got blown out by three teams. And yet Russell's performance against them means he's now the #1 pick? Did you even see his first TD pass against ND? The ball hung in the air longer than most punts. If ND had had a decent free safety, that ball would have been either deflected or picked off. And the only time that ND's defense actually got to Russell in the backfield, JaMarcus tried to do too much and fumbled the ball away. But hey, he sure looked good throwing another moon shot bomb to his fastest wide reciever who, due to another screwup by the ND defense, was being covered by a linebacker. My guess is that nearly any halfway decent QB in the country could hit a wide open WR being defended by a LB. Russell could turn into a decent NFL QB, but he's hardly a sure thing given his inconsistent play against decent teams.

Bill said...

Well you can tell those who hate ND. Russell never had to read a defense. He just stood back there and throw the ball up and let an athlete go up and get it. He will be a bust. He won't be able to move that tub of lard fast enough in the NFL. I'll bet that he is pretty bad at reading a defense. Quinn may not be the physical specimen that Russell is but it is his intangibles that will make him a great quarterback one day.

2-24-2007 @ 12:30AM

George B Vieto said...

JaMarcus has the potential to be Captain Comeback when he has teammates that will protect him from being a punching bag for Raiders opponents.

2-24-2007 @ 12:56AM

Mr Fakrash said...

Because how you look has no bearing on whether you can play..Brady Quinn having large biceps does not indicate whether he will be proficient in reading NFL defenses..Becuase Jamarcus Russell is on the chubby side does not mean he doesn't have the ability to get it done..I'm sure if Notre Dame had been a more worthy opponent, or if they had won the game, Brady Quinn's name would be spewing from every drafnik's lips, including amateurs like you....Didn't your mother ever tell you not to judge a book by its cover??

2-25-2007 @ 7:24PM

Terrence said...

I guess Penn State, Michigan, USC,Tennessee and yes even Ohio State all sucked. Yes and the SEC Graduates its Black Players along with I have a nice old bridge in Brooklyn I can sell you at a good price.

Brady Quinn did great with the material at hand. He played good if not great against most teams except Michigan and LSU last year. And the year before he was the offense for ND.

ND would do fine against the SEC. It always has. Bear Bryant, the greatest coach ever in the SEC was 0-4 against Notre Dame. The Irish cost him 3 National Championships. 73,74 and 80. So give everyone a break. Congratulations to Florida on a hell of a year. I remember not too long ago that we heard how they were going to kick our ass in the Sugar Bowl too by Steve Spurrier. The Gators forgot to tell Jerome Bettis and the rest of the 92 Irish and got whomped on. We are even with LSU and have a winning record against the Vols (Who are actually the classiest Fans and team in the South)

As for questionable oppositon. Penn State,Michigan, USC, Michigan State,Georgia Tech have all won more National Championships than most of the SEC teams other than ALabama and recently Florida.

There is no game in the deep south that pits two teams against each other with more national Championships and All Americans and Heisman Trophy winners, winning percentages every single year than when Notre dame plays USC and then second to that when Notre Dame plays Michigan. As much as you all like to talk about the Cocktail Party Georgia Florida or the Iron Bowl with Alabama verses Auburn(Who by the way got humped out of sharing the National Championship a few years ago with USC)

BRADY QUINN SURE DOES NOT NEED ME TO VALIDATE HIM.HE WILL BE A VERY RICH YOUNG MAN WITH A DEGREE HE EARNED WITH HARD WORK AND EFFORT IN A FEW WEEKS

I actually like the SEC so this was hard to write. My apologies to my friends at Auburn, Mississippi,LSU,Tenn,Georgia,Miss St,Arkansas, and the rest. It is is gets old hearing how ND plays a soft schedule. SOS was number 20 this year. That is the fact.

We are down. Not bad for going 10-3 and 10-3. Give us a few moreyears. We will be back on top.

Until then congrautlaions to the Gators. I think you all are still scoring TD's on Ohio State!

2-24-2007 @ 2:49AM

insomniac said...

JaMarcus Russell's combine weight is the same weight that Daunte Culpepper is listed at, but Russell is two and a half inches taller. I haven't seen people ever describe Culpepper as being fat, so what's the big deal w/ Russell being the same weight on a taller frame?

2-24-2007 @ 3:31AM

Kevin said...

Please all you bloggers close your eyes and just imagine which QB you can picture excepting the Superbowl trophy! If anyone had half a brain they would be imagining its Brady Quinn. Jamarcus Russell might be a good QB in the NFL and he certainly had a great college career, but before Mel Kiper blessed us with his great knowledge, no one would be even talking about JR being the #1 pick