Al Davis makes it clear Campbell is his QB

Owner Al Davis reiterated at Tuesday's press conference that Jason Campbell reminds him of two-time Super Bowl winner Jim Plunkett.

Davis considers Plunkett on of the most under-appreciated players in NFL history. He patted himself on the back for the Campbell trade last offseason and compared Campbell's Auburn track record favorably to that of Cam Newton's. In short, Davis made it clear that he considers Campbell the unquestioned starter of the Raiders heading into 2011. Cross quarterback off Oakland's offseason shopping list.

 

Al Davis on cutting JaMarcus Russell: Can't solve players' problems

Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis said he cut former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell last spring because he felt the club could no longer fight personal problems for its players.

The Raiders paid Russell more than $30 million for three seasons in which he started 25 games and threw more INTs (23) than TD passes (18).

Davis, in his first public comments since cutting Russell, said he couldn't invest more time in what became one of the biggest busts in NFL draft history.

"Basically he's a good person but he's got personal problems," Davis said. "And I decided it was time that we weren't going to fight it anymore."

Russell admitted to using codeine at times when he was with the Raiders, and has since admitted to mistakes in his life.

The Raiders had traded for QB Jason Campbell two weeks prior to moving on from Russell.

"It hurt is a great deal," Davis said of the Russell era. "But you've got to go on."

Russell has since had at least two workouts with other NFL teams, but has remained unsigned.



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