Raiders Notes: Hurry-up Offense, Get Russell in Game
Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin has said that Daunte Culpepper needs adequate time to learn the offense before he is ready to start at quarterback this season.
Rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell's entry into the mix is fueled by more than his readiness.
For one, Russell arrived with huge expectations as the top pick in the NFL draft in April. Then there's the matter of Russell's exorbitant salary.
Starting quarterback Josh McCown is making a base salary of $2 million this season, his sixth. Culpepper is earning $3.2 million this season, his ninth. Russell is being paid a base salary of $3.16 million in the first year of a six-year contract he signed eight days ago.
The Raiders are paying all their quarterbacks salaries befitting a starter. Fortunately, they have salary-cap room this season to accommodate them. Just the same, Russell's salary increases the pressure on Kiffin and the Raiders to play the rookie as soon as possible.
"There are a number of different avenues that we'll go," Kiffin said, "but we'll definitely be competing to get him to play as fast as we can."
A lost season is one way Russell could see the field sooner rather than later. The Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos all turned over the quarterback job to first-rounders at some point last season.
Then again, Vince Young, Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler didn't receive $31 million guaranteed and weren't No. 1 picks.
Overall, Russell's base salary averages $4,867,523 between now and the end of the 2012 season, with a high of $6.96 million in 2012.
Russell's compensation already is a hot topic in the Raiders locker room.
"Guys making money jokes," Russell said Monday. "Other than that, everything's fine."
Cleveland Browns Coach Romeo Crennel is in a similar situation on the heels of selecting quarterback Brady Quinn at No. 22 this year.
"Any time you pick a first-round guy, because you pay them the amount of money that you pay them, there's always pressure to get them into the game as soon as possible," Crennel said Wednesday during a conference call.
The Raiders play host to the Browns on Sunday. Third-year player Derek Anderson is expected to start at quarterback. Quinn, however, is "one play away," Crennel said.
After missing preseason camp, Russell isn't that close yet. He worked out on Tuesday's off day to make up for the 48 days he missed during contract negotiations.
"We started with taking him back with some fundamentals but, at the same time, pushed him through as high intensity of a (workout) as we could," Kiffin said.
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