News Flash: Russell still not under contract

OK, so maybe that didn't deserve a News Flash, but whatever. The point is that first overall pick of this years draft, JaMarcus Russell, still isn't anywhere close to signing a contract. And, if you would believe this article, everyone is blaming something else for why the Raiders haven't signed their top pick.

One person familiar with the negotiations said the Raiders have offered Russell "substantially more than what Mario Williams got last season." That flies in the face of what another person familiar with the negotiations said, that as of now, the Raiders' best offer to Russell doesn't even match the $24 million guaranteed given 49ers quarterback Alex Smith — the top draft pick in'05.

Worse, the second person said, Smith gets that $24 million "under all scenarios." That includes injury, death, even if he flames out and joins Ryan Leaf as one of the all-time busts.

Davis said Wednesday that the main sticking point is the refusal of Russell's agent, Eric Metz, to include a provision in Russell's contract that empowers the Raiders to recoup some of the guaranteed money if Russell were to hold out, walk away from the deal or conduct himself in a manner that compromises his playing status.

Nonsense, the other person familiar with the negotiations said. Metz is willing to include such a provision as long as the financial part of the equation is acceptable, and Russell would "give the money back" if he violates the terms of his contract.

So yeah, this doesn't sound like it's going to end anytime soon. Raiders fans better hope their o-line can protect Daunte, because with Russell missing this much practice it would just be embarrassing for him to go out on the field at all early in the season.