Although anyone can see JaMarcus Russell's play on the field this season at times this season one very under reported factor is the fact that in April this year JaMarcus's Uncle and Father figure Ray Ray Russell passed away.

There is a great article at:

http://www.sacbee.com/raiders/story/1927287.html

ALAMEDA – He was his rock. His deflector. His father figure.

And now, he's gone.

Ray Russell, uncle to Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell, passed away at 42 years young April 17 of congestive heart failure. He was everything to the face of the Raiders franchise, trying to keep temptation at bay for a youngster with $60 million in his pocket and wanting to keep his nephew grounded.

JaMarcus Russell is the Quarterback for the Oakland Raiders and has the world against him right now he is also a 24 year old who has recently lost the closest person in the world to him. 

I have no evidence that this is a factor other than my own logic but it would have to be on his mind.

There is the obvious argument that if he is emotionally unstable at all he shouldn't be playing but I really don't see any great benefit in playing Gradkowski (or Garcia) as he isn't taking us to the playoffs either and these young guys are only going to learn together by going through the hard times together.

I know he is playing pretty shitty at the moment but to me he looks like a good player in bad form rather than just a straight out bad player, he isn't going anywhere we might as well get behind the guy and push him to success rather than failure.

At least this year we have a bunch of young guys with potential to root for than a bunch of pissed off vets.

R.I.P. Ray Ray Russell