We can't say with any confidence at this point if you should take JaMarcus Russell's comeback attempt seriously.
The former Oakland Raiders quarterback is trying to reboot his NFL career with the help of Jeff Garcia and the TEST Football Academy in San Diego. Aaron Nagler of Bleacher Report is documenting Russell's progress in a series of video episodes.
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Physically, Russell still looks more like a right tackle than a quarterback. In the video, we see him in black, fitted workout pants and a large gray sweatshirt that hides what appears to be a sizable carriage. The TEST crew puts Russell through a personal combine that will serve as a baseline to measure his progress.
"Now I'm heavier than normal, so now is just getting a perspective where we're at," Russell said. "Once the pro day comes, I'll be in some great shape and my numbers will excel."
We see Russell run the 40-yard dash for the first time in five years, registering a time of 5.2. A goal of 4.8 has been set before Russell participates in a personal pro day in April. (Russell ran a 4.83 ahead of the 2007 draft.)
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"I think he's got a hill to climb," TEST founder Brian Martin said in what might be a significant understatement. "I think the jumps are going to be a little more difficult. I think he's got some extra weight on his body he's gotta get off. Once we get that weight off, I think he'll jump through the roof, but right now the jumps are not going to be exceptional."
Garcia calls Russell "naturally gifted," a fair assessment for a man who once was the first player taken in an NFL draft. But Russell still has a long way to go -- both physically and from a perception standpoint -- if he's going to find an NFL team willing to overlook prior misgivings.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.
