NEW YORK (AP) -JaMarcus Russell, the big-play quarterback from LSU, was the first pick in Saturday’s NFL draft as the Oakland Raiders pulled no surprises.
The 6-foot-6 junior comes off an impressive season and a superb Sugar Bowl that helped catapult him to the top spot. And with the Raiders coming off a 2-14 year in which they had the league’s worst offense, he easily could be the starter on opening day.
Oakland will count on Russell to invigorate the Raiders, who scored only 168 points last season.
When Roger Goodell, conducting his first draft as commissioner, announced Russell’s name, Raiders fans in the crowd cheered loudly. But there was a mixture of cheers and boos when Russell, who is bigger than some NFL linemen, came on stage to don a Raiders hat and hold up a No. 1 black jersey.
Then came chants of “L-S-U, L-S-U” for the man who soon will be in charge of the Silver and Black offense.
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