Home > My pick? Brady Quinn over Jamarcus Russell with the no. 1 pick in the NFL draft

My pick? Brady Quinn over Jamarcus Russell with the no. 1 pick in the NFL draft

They'll become multi-millionaires within the next few weeks, but have Quinn and Russell got that special quality to make them top NFL quarter-backs?

by Dustin Ramos on 17 April 2007

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Brady Quinn: Should be No 1 pick in draft (gettyimages.com)

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The NFL draft is just around the corner and still the question lingers: Who is the best quarter-back in the draft, Jamarcus Russell or Brady Quinn? They are both extremely gifted quarter-backs, both have the potential to be great in the NFL. However; they are completely different in style.

Jamarcus Russell is the odds-on favorite to be the first quarter-back taken in the draft (most likely by the Raiders). It has been said that a quarter-back of this quality only comes around once every decade. He is about 6ft 6ins tall and 260 pounds. He's larger than most line-backers and is tough to bring down. He has the mobility to take off and get first downs. His "can't miss" quality is his rocket of an arm. It is said that he had the strongest arm in college and in the pros, being able to launch the ball 80 yards down the field.

Al Davis even compared Russell to Hall of Fame quarter-back John Elway. How could anybody pass that up? Believe it or not, there is some doubt on Jamarcus' abilities. At 260 pound, he is 10 pounds more than most teams would like him to be. This brings up the question of his work ethic and how dedicated to the game he really his.

His ability to read a defense has also been questioned. Despite all the fuss that has been made about him, he was propelled to be the No 1 quarter-back taken by his performance in the Sugar Bowl. This one game has changed his status in the draft. Should one game really be the basis to the future of a team's franchise?

Brady Quinn entered the '06 season as the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy and to become the No 1 NFL pick. Since then his status had dropped considerably, and he has even been considered one of the most overrated players in the draft. However, he is an athlete nonetheless. He helped restore Notre Dame's football organization.

He has an NFL arm, not the strongest, but he has the ability to make every type of throw. He is a pocket passer, but has the ability to get out of the pocket and run for a first down. Last year Quinn had one of the longest runs for the Fighting Irish when he took off for a gain of 60 yards. It has even been argued that the best thing about Quinn is that he has been groomed in the Charlie Weis pro-style offense, which would make him the most NFL-ready quarter-back.

Who is the better of the two? Seemingly, anyway you look at it, you will see that Russell is by far the better quarter-back. But although Russell has superhuman ability, I feel that Brady Quinn isthe best quarter-back in this year's draft.

Quinn is good at reading a defense and is a more in-your-face leader, while Russell tries to lead by example. Not that that is a bad thing, but Quinn demands leadership, which is a great quality in a rookie quarter-back unproven in a new offense.

But the main reason I go for Quinn is his work ethic. He obviously spends a lot of time in the weight room and will even spend extra time analyzing film on his opponents. His devotion to the game and his football talents make him the best quarter-back in the draft.

Russell or Quinn - or is there somebody else out there? Send your views to Sportingo.

Comments (4)

by C.Master on April 17, 2007

I think the game that is most indicative of Jamarcus's potential in the NFL is the very first game he every played in college: LSU v. Oregon State (2004). He was not the sharp, accurate passer that he later proved to be as a starter. But Russell came off of the bench in the 3rd Qtr with LSU down 9-0 and orchestrated a TD drive on his 3rd possession. And in what became characterstic of his zen-like calm in the 4th Qtr, J.Russ led LSU to victory on the final drive of the game where he threw a TD pass and ran the 2-point conversion into the endzone to tie the score. LSU subsequently beat OSU in OT. That was the first game that J.Russ ever touched a football in a college football game. Some say that B.Quinn is the most polished. I disagree! I have an undergrad degree from LSU and a grad degree from Notre Dame, so I have watched both these players very closely over the past 4 years (often in person). And I believe that J.Russ is the most prepared to win against NFL style defenses. As a starter, J.Russ h

by Kyler on April 18, 2007

He is about 6ft 6ins tall and 260 pounds. He's larger than most line-backers and is tough to bring down. He has the mobility to take off and get first downs. His "can't miss" quality is his rocket of an arm. It is said that he had the strongest arm in college and in the pros, being able to launch the ball 80 yards down the field.

by Greg Varkonyi on April 18, 2007

Russel definitely has more "upside" (god how I hate this word). Quinn is more of a back to the basics QB. I don't think the can't win a big game question should matter since Peyton Manning won the Super Bowl (remember how he could not win the big one?) It's all a question of who fits where... Russell is perfect for the Raiders, whilst Quinn would fit in best with the Dolphins. Will he slip that far? I don't think he will, but the fins may move up to get him!!!