Usually on Sundays I write a postgame article reflecting on the Raiders game that day.   But I can’t possibly repeat what I heard on the radio all afternoon against the Redskins.  To give a brief recap:  the referees still have a problem with the Raiders with horrible rulings and penalties that didn’t happen and JaMarcus Russell stepped in the 3rd quarter because of an MCL sprain to Bruce Gradkowski.  Russell was sacked 6 times while Gradkoski was sacked 2 times.  They each played a half of the game and Gradkowski led the Raiders to 10 points with no turnovers while Russell threw INT #10 and the Raiders had an opening drive FG on Russell’s first series to open the second half.  That was the only scoring from Russell.

  With Gradkowski banged up Russell could get more playing time to try to gain support to be considered a descent quarterback.  But the way the Raiders play with Gradkowski looks far superior to the way they play with Russell.  With the same offense Russell won 2 games in 9 starts with 2TDs and 14 turnovers on himself.  Gradkowski threw more TDs in a quarter (4th @Pittsburgh) than Russell could in the first half of the season.  Russell will need to guide the Raiders to 3 straight wins to close the year to be even thought about as a franchise QB. 

  When a president is about to leave the White House he is called a lame duck.  I consider Russell a lame duck because he is lame and as dumb as a duck.  He doesn’t know when to leave the pocket and throw the ball away or check-down pass when a blitz comes after him.  Although Russell had no help from his O-line he does not have the quickness to dodge the pressure.  Remember Gradkowski eluding the blitzing Steelers LBs last week.  Russell just stands still and looks like a deer in the headlights.  Russell is due about $9 million next year, I say restructure or get out of Raider Nation. 

  I believe Gradkowski is the QB that gives the Raiders the best chance to win and be competitive.  Russell is hopefully just an interim replacement that will be benched from the start of next year so we can all see what Bruce can do with a full season to work with.