Russell Strikes Back

Take that, Planet Earth.

While none of JaMarcus Russell’s millions-strong army of detractors owe any apologies for disparaging comments made over his shoddy 2009 performance, the much-maligned Raiders quarterback deserves a reprieve, and a hand, after Sunday’s clutch save in Denver.

Russell emerged from exile on Cable Island early in the fourth quarter Sunday after third-stringer-turned-starting-quarterback Charlie Frye was knocked into next week with a concussion and rallied the Raiders to a stunning 20-19 victory over the Broncos.

Russell’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Chaz Schilens with 35 seconds remaining and Sebastian Janikowski’s ensuing extra point allowed the Raiders to escape Invesco Field with a victory for the second consecutive season and helped put at least a little distance between Russell and the ghosts of Ryan Leaf and Akili Smith.

Let’s be clear: In no way will this space be used to craft an “I Love You JaMarcus, I Was Wrong” Christmas card.

One feel-good moment can’t atone for a season’s worth of ineptitude. Any way you cut, awful would be a step up for Russell based on this year’s numbers.

And even though the Raiders and Russell enjoyed that rare happy ending, everything the former No. 1 overall draft pick has done wrong since slipping into Silver and Black slippers two-plus years ago was on display again Sunday.

He was that familiar statue in the pocket, intensely focused on his primary receiver and oblivious to the three foaming-at-the-mouth defensive linemen bearing down on him every time he dropped back. He missed open receivers and put the ball on the ground for the 9,714th time this season.

The sight of Frye on the ground, just moments away from grabbing a Snickers bar and dashing off to the Bat Cave, surely left many in Raider Nation queasy, especially knowing who was waiting behind Curtain No. 2.

But Russell, after a slow start, started to do things we hadn’t seen all season. He stepped up to avoid the pass rush and rocketed passes that hit his receivers between the numbers and in stride. Best and most shocking of all, he pulled a game out instead of throwing or fumbling it away.

A week ago, Russell came on in relief of an injured Bruce Gradkowski and helped turn a winnable game into a 34-13 cliff dive of a loss to the Redskins. An already angry Raider Nation turned the Hate-o-meter up to 11 every time Russell put his helmet on and trotted out onto the field to orchestrate a series of nowhere drives.

The mere fact that coach Tom Cable named Frye his starter against the Broncos spoke volumes about how far from grace Russell, the Raiders’ appointed savior, had fallen.

During his three-plus quarters of action, Frye demonstrated the ability to lead the offense and make sound decisions with the ball, which seemed to justify the decision to keep Russell on the bench.

To have Russell be able to step in and complete the mission, given his present circumstance and the situation he inherited (on the road against a hate division rival with plenty to play for and a hostile crowd growing louder in volume while sensing its team was about to go in for the kill), it’s impossible not to feel good for the guy.

Sure, he’s stunk up the joint and earned his VIP seating next to the Gatorade cooler and complimentary clipboard, but to take everybody’s best shot for months and then come out and deliver at crunch time, you have to tip your cap.

At the same time, that doesn’t mean you have to hand him the ball next week at Cleveland and certainly not at home in Week 17 against the Ravens. In fact, the Raiders would be doing Russell a favor by shielding him from the home fans until next season, at the very least.

His struggles have done severe damage to fans’ and the organization’s faith in Russell. Whether that damage remains irreparable or not remains to be seen.

But for one day at least, Russell showed some heart, showed some fight and showed that he might not be down for the count in Oakland just yet.

Tags: Bruce Gradkowski, Charlie Frye, Chaz Schilens, JaMarcus Russell, Tom Cable