If Bruce Gradkowski is to be the Raiders' quarterback of the future, he might have to wait until 2010 to prove it. Gradkowski, who had delivered an unquestioned spark to Oakland's offense since taking over as its starting QB in Week 11, suffered a torn MCL in his left knee and a partially torn MCL in his right knee during the Raiders' 34-13 loss to Washington on Sunday.Gradkowksi injured the knees on two seperate plays in the first half and was replaced by much-maligned backup JaMarcus Russell in the third quarter.
"It's just tough," Gradkowksi said. "It's tough because the past couple weeks I felt gave us great positive attitudes and energy, and then this happens. But you know stuff happens for a reason. We just have to battle back and we'll be all right."
Gradkowski finished the day 10 of 18 for 153 yards. Oakland trailed 17-10 when he left.
But the Raiders' fortunes turned south with Russell back at the helm -- a familiar story for the Silver and Black. Russell opened the year as Oakland's No. 1 quarterback after starting 15 games in 2008. But the Raiders flopped to a 2-7 start this season, and Russell was benched in favor of Gradkowski midway through a Week 10 loss to Kansas City. The Raiders then proceeded to go 2-1 under Gradkowski's leadership, prior to Sunday.
Russell completed 10 of 16 passes against Washington for just 74 yards. He also tossed an interception and was sacked six times.
He mostly dodged the media afterward, save for CSN Bay Area, which flagged him down briefly.
"It's kind of difficult, coming in, not starting," Russell said. "The best thing to do is just let the game come to you, don't force anything.
"We just couldn't get too much going, that's basically it."
As has become the norm in Oakland, Russell was booed heartily as the Redskins stretched their tenuous halftime lead into a comfortable margin of victory."I try to zone it out," Russell said of the fans' negative reaction, "and pay attention to the guys that are out on the field with me."
At 4-9 and eliminated from AFC playoff contention, the Raiders have almost no choice but to stick with Russell for their final three games -- at Denver, at Cleveland and against Baltimore. Russell has been a colossal disappointment in his three years in the league, but thanks to his hefty contract, Oakland had given him every opportunity to secure the starting quarterback spot before finally relenting and inserting Gradkowski into the lineup.
Russell now gets another shot to prove he belongs as a starter in the NFL. If Sunday's any indication, though, he won't be making much of that chance.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Despite not being able to watch this debacle due to my lame Fox affiliate's decision not to broadcast the game, I heard enough. Anyone could tell the vast difference when JaMarcus was in as opposed to Gradkoswski. That was obvious.Even winning out and finishing the season 8-8 wouldn't have gotten us into the playoffs, but we could have ended the season on an up note.And 8-8 was probably not quite going to happen. But 7-9 was attainable. And we could've gone into the offseason with positive momentum.If Bruce hadn't gotten hurt. He did and we wish him a speedy recovery. Now we are back where were.I don't know what Charlie Frye would be able to do, but if they stick with Russell as the starter for these last 3 games, the Raiders won't win a single one of them. Everyone with eyes knows that. His impact on the game yesterday was astounding. He destroyed the morale of his team and any momentum they may have had. Furthermore, Cable's future was still uncertain with Bruce under center,but with Russell as the starter guarantees he will be fired in the weeks following the final game of the season. He knows what he has in Russell, or doesn't have more to the point.It's clear Russell hasn't learned anything sitting on the bench the past four weeks. So, Cable's best choice if he has any hope of saving his job is to start Charlie Frye.I don't see that happening, however. Russell will likely be the starter for the last 3 games and he will walk of the field after a 0 TD blow-out loss in the final game with The Heads of Tom Cable, Paul Hackett and ted Tollner in a sack.
x2 my friend,russell is and has been a bust.i say cut the losses and let frye get in some playing time. he dang sure can't be any worse. i say cut russell give him his $10,000,000 for next year not to come back and waste a spot on the roster. we'll be back tho. we who are the raider faithful know we'll be back, we just have to suffer the bad years to get back to the good ones. GO RAIDERS
I definitely agree with the point about Russell--regardless of his incredible physical prowess, the man just doesn't grasp the mental game of being a QB. Worse, he can't stay focused and interested when he's NOT the center of attention as the starter. Where I CAN'T agree with you, DRSNUTZ46, is about the team bouncing back anytime soon, with Russell or without. I would love to see a competitive Raiders team--they're the balance of the "good guy" teams, the historically raw and mean football team that people loved to hate. Unfortunately, they have a cancer at the very top pulling the strings, and as long as Davis is making the decisions about personnel, I don't see the Raiders as a legitimate contender--oh, they can get back to winning seasons with a decent QB and a few other key players, but don't hold your breath for a shot at the Super Bowl. Lastly, a shout out to Gradkowski--get well soon--your team needs you desperately.
Amen, DRSNUT46. The Raiders need to cut their losses and should rid themselves of Russell as soon as they can. He's a proven bust.
Does anybody know what Russell runs the forty in? The man is sloooooooowwww. Slow on his feet, slow to react, slow to look off receivers. The guy is even slow running onto and off the field. I think Ken Stabler was faster than him and KENNY was strictly a pocket passer. Let's give Frye a chance. The team's attitude deflated the moment the big and slow Russell took the field.
As a Redskin fan, I can commisserate with Raider fans, as our teams have a lot in common...Used to be in the top echelon every year, now trying to get it back; I think the Skins are getting there but if Bruce hadn't gotten hurt your guys might've pulled this one out...We also have a young version of Al Davis in our own Dannyboy Snyder, who runs our team like a fantasy team...Overpaying and bidding against himself ever since he broke up a decent Skins team in 2000 to sign long past their prime Jeff George, Bruce Smith and Deion Sanders, and signing big name DLinemen who promptly go on IR, get rich then move on...Hang in there!
Great comparison, bassman--I considered mentioning the similarities between Snyder and Davis in my first post, but now I can just agree heartily with your thoughts instead. Both teams will continue down difficult paths as long as their meddling owners keep choosing the players, instead of relying on a proven team-building GM.
the only person more upset with gradkowski going down than raider nation was jamarcus russell. Now he has to play instead of sitting on his ever expanding butt while blowing his 30 mil guarenteed on double cheesburgers!! Serious, does anyone think that Russell even wants to play? It sure didn't look like it before. Didn't the 3rd team QB play well in preseason? Why go back to a loser who has no comitment to the game. PS- DIE AL DIE!