USC COACH SAYS QB HURTING HIS CHANCES BY NOT REPORTING
By Steve Corkran
MediaNews
Article Launched: 08/25/2007 01:36:42 AM PDT
USC's Pete Carroll, an NFL head coach for four seasons, believes Raiders rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell is making a mistake by skipping training camp.
In an interview Friday with NBC Sports, Carroll said, "This is devastating for a young guy."
The Raiders selected Russell with the first pick of the NFL draft in April. He attended all three of the team's mini-camps, as well as many of its off-season workouts.
But the quarterback failed to report to training camp July 26 with the rest of his teammates and has missed the team's three exhibition games.
"The learning process is so critical," Carroll added. "You have to stay with the rest of the football team as they learn and progress."
The coach of 31 seasons said veterans can afford to miss extensive time during camp - rookies cannot.
"Training camp has such value not just to him, but to his teammates and coaches," said Carroll, who is close with Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin, a former USC assistant.
"He's a cool kid and he should have had a great start with a new program and a new coach, and now that's probably not possible."
Russell's absence led the club to sign veteran Daunte Culpepper five days into camp. Now, Culpepper is on the verge of securing the starting spot that Russell held out hope of winning.
"It is," Russell said in June, when asked if starting right away was possible. "It can be. But, man, it depends how much coach throws at you, whether he wants to
let you learn as you play or keep you grounded until you play. Whatever the coach feels, I'll be here to do that."
Perhaps he will be there for Kiffin. But for now, the Raiders have no option but to proceed without the player drafted to help rescue them after winning only 15 games in four seasons.
"This is not helping the kid's career," Carroll said of the holdout. "It's unfortunate for the kid, and the Raiders have come up with a tremendous quarterback situation by getting Daunte."
Kiffin said he is more concerned with those in uniform than Russell.
"We're going to go with what we have right now," he said this week. "Like I've said before, I've got to get this team ready to beat Detroit (in the opener Sept. 9) with who we have right now."
• Chris Carr and Johnnie Lee Higgins alternated on punt returns for the Raiders on Friday night.
• Jake Grove and Jeremy Newberry alternated series at center as Kiffin evaluates which player deserves the nod during the regular season.
• The Raiders' Sebastian Janikowski kicked field goals from 50 yards and 42 yards from the infield dirt but missed a 33-yarder on the grass.
• Cornerback Fabian Washington was beat for a 40-yard pass play on St. Louis' first offensive play and on an 8-yarder on a third-down play - both by veteran wide receiver Isaac Bruce.
By Steve Corkran
MediaNews
Article Launched: 08/25/2007 01:36:42 AM PDT
USC's Pete Carroll, an NFL head coach for four seasons, believes Raiders rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell is making a mistake by skipping training camp.
In an interview Friday with NBC Sports, Carroll said, "This is devastating for a young guy."
The Raiders selected Russell with the first pick of the NFL draft in April. He attended all three of the team's mini-camps, as well as many of its off-season workouts.
But the quarterback failed to report to training camp July 26 with the rest of his teammates and has missed the team's three exhibition games.
"The learning process is so critical," Carroll added. "You have to stay with the rest of the football team as they learn and progress."
The coach of 31 seasons said veterans can afford to miss extensive time during camp - rookies cannot.
"Training camp has such value not just to him, but to his teammates and coaches," said Carroll, who is close with Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin, a former USC assistant.
"He's a cool kid and he should have had a great start with a new program and a new coach, and now that's probably not possible."
Russell's absence led the club to sign veteran Daunte Culpepper five days into camp. Now, Culpepper is on the verge of securing the starting spot that Russell held out hope of winning.
"It is," Russell said in June, when asked if starting right away was possible. "It can be. But, man, it depends how much coach throws at you, whether he wants to
let you learn as you play or keep you grounded until you play. Whatever the coach feels, I'll be here to do that."
Perhaps he will be there for Kiffin. But for now, the Raiders have no option but to proceed without the player drafted to help rescue them after winning only 15 games in four seasons.
"This is not helping the kid's career," Carroll said of the holdout. "It's unfortunate for the kid, and the Raiders have come up with a tremendous quarterback situation by getting Daunte."
Kiffin said he is more concerned with those in uniform than Russell.
"We're going to go with what we have right now," he said this week. "Like I've said before, I've got to get this team ready to beat Detroit (in the opener Sept. 9) with who we have right now."
• Chris Carr and Johnnie Lee Higgins alternated on punt returns for the Raiders on Friday night.
• Jake Grove and Jeremy Newberry alternated series at center as Kiffin evaluates which player deserves the nod during the regular season.
• The Raiders' Sebastian Janikowski kicked field goals from 50 yards and 42 yards from the infield dirt but missed a 33-yarder on the grass.
• Cornerback Fabian Washington was beat for a 40-yard pass play on St. Louis' first offensive play and on an 8-yarder on a third-down play - both by veteran wide receiver Isaac Bruce.
