JaMarcus Russell showed up at training camp last year pushing three bills. Who can blame him? He has $29 million in the bank. In 2009, JaMarcus has attempted to show new commitment to football. He held a “receivers camp” in his off-season home of Alabama. It was attended by Louis Murphy and a handful of guy I’ve never heard of. So much for that idea. Russell even came to camp this year closer to his listed weight of 270.
However, seeing pictures of JaMarcus in training camp makes me doubt his conditioning. He seems to be practicing with a nylon pullover under his jersey and socks pulled up all the way. It almost seems like he’s trying to sweat off his extra pounds. He also looks like a fool. It’s not THAT cold in Napa, where the Raiders are holding pre-season camp. In May, JaMarcus had similarly ridiculous get-up. He wore a long sleeve shirt with a t-shirt over it — both underneath his jersey. I’m not exactly sure why JaMarcus chooses to suit up in such random attire. It’s probably has something to do with UnderArmour not wanting a fat guy to wear their gear. There are pictures of JaMarcus from training camp and mini camp after the jump.
Via NBC Bay Area:
The problem now that the Raiders have opened training camp is that we’re really seeing more of JaMarcus Russell.
The Oakland Trib’s Jerry McDonald quoted Russell Thursday on his Twitter feed admitting that he’s reporting to training camp a little heftier than he ought to be. “I’m probably a little heavy,” JaMarcus reportedly said. “But I’m not 300 pounds like you all said last year.”
Whoa, did we really say he was 300 pounds last year? It turns out that we in the predominantly Raider-hating sports media did, in fact, peddle that very rumor prior to the 2008 season. Don Banks wrote in his Sports Illustrated column in March of 2008 that, “there are rumors that (Russell is) close to 300 pounds and not exactly prepared for his close-up.”
David White tries to guess JaMarcus current weight, carnival-booth style, in his San Francisco Chronicle blog. “Someone suggested he looks about 278 pounds,” White remarks. “I’d take the under on that by 2-3 pounds.” White also notes that Russell’s playing weight is listed as 270.
TRAINING CAMP
MINI CAMP
