Hidden Runningback...

[mxbronco13]

Do you guys think Shanahan would go for Gary Russell from Minnesota? I know he couldn't play this year but the guy is good. Laurence Maroney did very well in New England and Russell shared carries with him(IMO Russell played just as well if not better). The Broncos were big on Maroney and would have gotten him Cutler was gone so what are your thoughts? Gary Russel is 5'11 215 with a 40 of 4.49 and he was supposed to be a top 20 pick until his grades kept him out of college in 2006. I think he would be a huge factor in the NFL and we couldn't get him maybe Kenny Irons. Peterson will be gone, Lynch has too many questions(probably will be gone too), Bush might be affected by his broken leg, Pittman = Tatum Bell with better balance. Also here are Russell's numbers in 2004-5.

Career Rushing Receiving
Year G Rush Yds Yds/G Avg TD Rec RecYds Yds/G Avg Lng RecTDs
2004 3 24 144 48.0 6.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2005 12 186 1130 94.2 6.1 18 16 168 14 10.5 56 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Career 15 210 1274 85.0 6.1 18 16 168 11.2 8.4 56 1

Maroney only had 190 more yards on 95 more attempts in 2005 than Russell.

[Inkana7]

Word from the Texas vs. Nation Bowl the other night was that Russell showed up fat and out of shape. Pass.

[ReleaseTheBeast7]

Yeah, I've been saying this for awhile.

And sorry, but Antonio Pittman is nothing like Tatum Bell.

[ReleaseTheBeast7]

Word from the Texas vs. Nation Bowl the other night was that Russell showed up fat and out of shape. Pass.

Yeah I heard that too... And there were a couple of players that stood out too.

[mxbronco13]

Word from the Texas vs. Nation Bowl the other night was that Russell showed up fat and out of shape. Pass.

That might by true but you aren't going to keep your body like that if you are going into the draft. I expect him to work his @$$ off the next month.

[pipes]

That might by true but you aren't going to keep your body like that if you going into the draft. I expect him to work his @$$ off the next month.

Actually I would think that having been off of football for a year, that it would challenge him to show up in the best shape he could possibly be in.

He didn't have this year to showcase his talents and abilities and the only way that he can show ANYTHING this year is at post-season events such as the combine and at the Nation Bowl.

Basically its very reminiscent to the Clarett situation.
1. Both were off of football for a year before entering the draft
2. Both obviously didn't value their careers enough to bust their a$$ to show up in good shape....if earning millions of dollars and getting to PLAY A GAME for a frieking living isn't enough motivation to not turn into a tub-of-goo, then what is?

Its too bad, cause I've seen Russell play and he was very good....but for the reasons above, then I personally wouldn't want Denver to draft him anywhere before the sixth or seventh rounds.

[dogfish]

That might by true but you aren't going to keep your body like that if you are going into the draft. I expect him to work his @$$ off the next month.

ahh, but that's the question-- what does it say about a guy's true level of motivation if he busts his ass training for the combine solely because he knows there's money on the line? once he gets paid, will he continue to work as hard as possible?


i'm not saying that i absolutely wouldn't want russell, but if he indeed showed up fat and out of shape for his first chance in a long time to make an impression, that doesn't say good things about him. . . at the very best, it's a dumb decision from a guy who already has questions about his intelligence and/or desire (bad grades can be from lack of effort as well as lack of intelligence). . . . he had a chance to really come out and prove that he'd been staying in shape, that he was hungry (for success, not cheeseburgers), that he was willing to give everything he's got to succeed-- he had an opportunity to boost his stock and show that he deserves a chance, and it sounds like he blew it. . . i know that some people will say "oh, it doesn't matter, this guy can play," but it DOES matter-- EVERYBODY has talent in the NFL, and no one cruises on talent alone. . . you gotta be willing to work your ass off as well, and showing up out of shape for a post-season event when you haven't played in a year isn't a good indicator of his willingness to do so. . .

[JayCutler06]

russell will be fine hell run well at the combine. it may take him tell after training camp to get fully in shape

[lancane]

russell will be fine hell run well at the combine. it may take him tell after training camp to get fully in shape

That may not be enough to land here...Denver will focus on those who can possibly be that back now, not another possible Clarett. If he is overweight at the combine and interviews badly, then he may not even make Denver's list.

[MHS]

to say he is out of shape and fat is the reason to not draft him isnt that great of a reason... he hasnt played footbal in a year... of course he is not in shape... it all depends on how he does at the combine and in intervies.

[mxbronco13]

to say he is out of shape and fat is the reason to not draft him isnt that great of a reason... he hasnt played footbal in a year... of course he is not in shape... it all depends on how he does at the combine and in intervies.

I agree so thets say he does well and he is not in so bad a shape like all of you are going on about. We could stock up on other issues in the beginning rounds and pick him in in the 4-6 possibly.

[lancane]

I agree so thets say he does well and he is not in so bad a shape like all of you are going on about. We could stock up on other issues in the beginning rounds and pick him in in the 4-6 possibly.

It will not drop him from my top five for Denver, but if he does not shed some fat and put up outstanding numbers at his combine and pro day, then he will fall down. They will not wait till the second day to take a halfback, not this time. Hopefully he will rebound, but at this point I will hold on to changing my belief of him till then.

[JayCutler06]

i think he may need to work the fat off in training camp hell be fine

[kratos_godofwar]

That might by true but you aren't going to keep your body like that if you are going into the draft. I expect him to work his @$$ off the next month.

Yeah, thats what people said about Maurice Clarett also, but he still showed up fat and out of shape. I wouldn't mind, but kinda risky to take someone who failed to keep up their grades. Shows that he's not very deditcated to studying which is a huge factor in the NFL. I'd perfer Kenny Irons before I take this guy.