Brady Quinn also held out if I recall. Although not for the entire camp, but he too, retarded his growth by missing about a quarter to half of training camp. He was the 17th or 18th pick overall.

That DE for Jacksonville (Harvey) he held out last year until the last week of camp or the regular season. He was a 18th pick or something like that too.

Owners don’t have to pay those contracts. Al should have told Russell if he isn’t signed by draft day that they will go ahead with Calvin Johnson.

Once Al drafted JaMarcus Russell….it was ALL ON AL and his staff to get him signed and in camp. They blew it big time!

The problem is you are asking Russell to take less money than others of his comparable status at that time. Who would do that? Labor unions don’t do that. How many strikes (hold-outs) have we seen in industry. Corporate executives don’t do it. Top Hollywood actors and actresses don’t take less.

I understand the principle you are espousing. But America is run by rules. The rules state that an employee or contractor can get whatever the market is willing to bear. In the NBA they have rules on how much they will pay out. MLB and the NFL do not.

Look at how the Dolphins handled things. They took the OT and passed on the QB. I am sure money might have entered into the equation. But then again Jake Long is the highest paid OT in the league.

It is what it is. Remember the phrase “Don’t hate the player, hate the game” Well Russell, along with all other athletes and people for that matter, are just players. The Owners, Executives, Managers, Generals, Supervisors etc…are the guys/gals running the game.

The market determines the value, not Al Davis or anyone else. The system needs to change, YES, but when trying to build a winning football team an owner shouldn’t take it upon himself to hurt his team over some unreasonable principle. That is exactly what Al did with the JR contract.