JaMarcus Russell may have just given Tom Cable the ace up his sleeve to keep his job as head coach and force Al Davis to choose him over the purported franchise quarterback.
As first reported by Contra Costa Times columnist Cam Inman this afternoon, Russell has checked into the Maloofs' Palms Hotel and Casino a day after skipping the Raiders' final team meeting and further angering teammates with his obtuse ways.
If true, it just shows - again - that Russell prefers to party than to pontificate a lost season. Yes, I know the season is over. And yes, I get it that Russell's absence was "excused" due to "personal reasons," according to Cable in his Monday presser. But this just sends all the wrong messages. As I wrote this week, Davis should cut Russell and keep Cable. And as I add now, Cable should have his play-calling duties stripped and hire an offensive coordinator. And Davis should hire a General Manager. But I digress...
At least one of Russell's teammates was fed up enough with Russell's absence to not-so-subtly point it out to reporters Monday in the locker room. And if you believe the other, thus far uncorroborated rumors, it's just the latest in a long line of stories floating around showing off Russell's "I've-got-$30-million-reasons-why-I-don't-have-to-work-as-hard-as-you" stance.
Cable could take that into his scheduled meeting with Davis next week. He wouldn't even need an overhead projector to show the chasm developing between Russell and his teammates, and that Cable was right to bench Russell, whom Davis has said will be "great." Then again, it would also prove Lane Kiffin was correct about Russell.
Unfortunately for Russell, what happens in Vegas, gets Blogged about in Silver and Blackdom. Stay tuned...
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