The Sports Truth

JaMarcus Rusell is a big, strong, athletic quarterback. Scouts compare him to Daunte Culpepper.

Of course, the last time we checked, Culpepper had lost his starting job in Miami to the immortal Joey Harrington.

We know Daunte was still recovering from a knee injury, but his only true talent during his glory years in Minnesota was throwing the ball high in the air and watching Randy Moss come down with it. True, Moss is now in Oakland, a potential target for Russell. But he stopped caring about football about three years.

First Round Quarterback Busts

More than any other position in pro sports, quarterback has seen its share of busts. Especially at the top of the draft. Need we remind San Diego fans of Ryan Leaf? Or those in Seattle of Rick Mirer? What about Akili Smith, Heath Shuler … the list goes on and on.

We know Al Davis is concerned solely with the allure of a big arm and deep passing attack, but maybe he should take a look around the league to see how the top teams have been built. Indianapolis, granted, made the right decision in drafting Peyton Manning first. He’s really good.

But the Patriots’ starting QB was a sixth round pick and that club is known for stock-piling draft picks. The Bears rely on a strong defense. San Diego actually traded out of the top pick in order to draft a supposedly lesser quarterback later on. And just how is Philip Rivers doing these days?

Bottom line: As important as a good quarterback is to a team, one is also easy to find later on in the draft. The most consistent teams are built around a sturdy offensive line (and Wisconsin tackle, Joe Thomas, is as solid a prospect as the league has seen in years) or defensive line.

But if Oakland must select a signal caller, it shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss Brady Quinn. He actually played in a pro offense in college - but he hasn’t won the big game, critics claim. Know the last college QB they claimed that about?

Peyton Manning.