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What if the Detroit Lions had drafted JaMarcus Russell?

By Colton Wesley

OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 03: JaMarcus Russell #2 of the Oakland Raiders walks off the field against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on January 3, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 03: JaMarcus Russell #2 of the Oakland Raiders walks off the field against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on January 3, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 19: Quarterback, JaMarcus Russell #2 of the Oakland Raiders passes the ball at the 2007 NFL Players Rookie Premiere on May 19, 2007 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 19: Quarterback, JaMarcus Russell #2 of the Oakland Raiders passes the ball at the 2007 NFL Players Rookie Premiere on May 19, 2007 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) /

Part 1 | The Rookie

All right, y’all, it’s gameday. JaMarcus Russell is all suited up, looking good and ready to start for the Detroit Lions at quarterback in week one and oh, hey, it’s Calvin! Sure enough, the Lions played the Raiders in week one and seeing as how in this simulation Calvin Johnson was drafted by the Raiders, it seemed only right to put him in their lineup as well.

In the real world, the Lions won this game 36-21. In JaMarcus World…

50. 27. 28. Final. 20

Ah, crabapples.

The Lions led 14-3 early after a couple of rushing touchdowns, but the Raiders outscored them 24-6 down the stretch and came away with the win.

Despite the close game, Russell had just about the worst debut possible, completing only 7 of 30 passes for 93 yards and four interceptions. Calvin Johnson, on the other hand, had a modest but productive outing, picking up 29 yards on three receptions.

The Lions’ ground game was—surprisingly—productive, as the team picked up 201 yards on 34 carries, but it couldn’t make up for all of Russell’s turnovers.

After the game, pundits and media personnel question the decision to start Russell right away, but head coach Rod Marinelli defends his rookie quarterback and re-iterates that he will start again the next week.

I mean, it makes sense though, right? Russell’s a rookie, and a rookie on a sub-par team at that. Give it a few games, he’ll be fine—

51. 60. 7. 50. Final

Oh.

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