ALAMEDA, Calif. — Banished to the bench in a disappointing third season, JaMarcus Russell said he still is the quarterback of the future for the Raiders.
“We all have road bumps in our life and this just happens to be one bump,” Russell said Thursday in his first public comments since losing the starting job to Bruce Gradkowski last month.
Russell said he was “embarrassed” when he was benched by coach Tom Cable, that his weight and work ethic aren’t problems and that he will not renegotiate his contract to take less money than he is owed.
If Russell doesn’t throw another pass this season, he will be the first quarterback since 1998 to have a rating less than 50 with at least 200 attempts. Another QB with that mark was Ryan Leaf of the Chargers, perhaps the biggest quarterback draft bust.
• Guard Robert Gallery will miss the rest of the season with a lower-back injury.
Woman claims abuse against Ravens’ Suggs
BALTIMORE — A woman filed a $70 million lawsuit against Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, claiming he is father of her two children and assaulted her multiple times.
Suggs said he has nothing to hide, but he was not able to discuss the case.
“As bad as I want to talk about it right now, I can’t,” Suggs said.
Candace Williams, 26, is also seeking a restraining order against Suggs, whom she said knocked her down and poured bleach on her and their son.
Footnotes.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan sat out practice because of a toe injury, making it unlikely he’ll play Sunday against the Saints.
• The Jets placed linebacker Larry Izzo (herniated disc in his neck) on injured reserve. The Associated Press
