Raiders go with LSU's Russell with top pick in NFL Draft

Russell | Needs | Surprises | Quinn

NEW YORK -- JaMarcus Russell barely had to wait before taking the stage as an Oakland Raider at Saturday's NFL Draft. Brady Quinn was the forgotten quarterback, plummeting all the way to Cleveland at 22nd.

Russell was the top overall choice, by the offense-deficient Raiders. The 6-foot-6 junior QB who can throw the ball 80 yards fits the mold for Al Davis, who loves the deep ball.

LSU players had plenty of draft-day luster. Five spots after Russell, Tigers safety LaRon Landry went to Washington, and two more Tigers were chosen later in the opening round.

Quinn watched 21 players chosen before he went to the Browns, the team he grew up rooting for in Dublin, Ohio. Once considered the best prospect in this year's crop, he was still available when the Browns traded back into the first round, getting Dallas' pick.

When selected, Quinn let out a big sigh of relief and looked upward before shaking commissioner Roger Goodell's hand as the fans who booed him before the draft cheered this time.

LSU's JaMarcus Russell is the first QB taken in the first round by the Raiders since bust Todd Marinovich in 1991. (AP)

"I felt like the weight of the world was lifted of my shoulders," Quinn said. "The love-hate relationship comes from going to Notre Dame. It's like the Yankees, you either love 'em or hate 'em.

"I got great advice beforehand and that was just to be patient. I said before that I was going to be open-minded, and that's the tough thing. I was open-minded, and I had a point in my head where I didn't think I was going to fall any further, and it obviously exceeded that."

Russell had no such anxious moments.

When 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 Oakland offense.

"I kind of had faith in it. Everybody had been talking about it for a while," Russell said of being chosen first. "It's a dream come true. Growing up as a kid playing every sport in life and always seeing the guys on the professional level, and here I am today."

"I can't wait to get in the black and silver and get to work."