Commentary

JaMarcus Russell deserves a chance

No joking here -- five factors showcase his potential value to a new squad

Updated: May 20, 2010, 11:15 AM ET

By KC Joyner | Special to ESPN Insider

In the six years I have been writing about professional football, I have taken on more than a few difficult contrarian causes when it comes to the quarterback position. Chicago Bears fans got irate last year when I noted in a SportsNation chat that the bad decision rate of Jay Cutler with the Denver Broncos meant he was very likely going to be the next Rex Grossman.

Pittsburgh Steelers fans, and Atlanta Falcons fans, were in much the same boat when I wrote columns about the high bad decision rates of Ben Roethlisberger and Michael Vick. Peyton Manning backers also weren't too happy with an article I wrote that detailed 10 reasons why his fan club didn't have more members.

As difficult as each of those arguments were to make, they pale in comparison to the cause I will be taking on this week, namely that JaMarcus Russell deserves a second chance to play quarterback in the NFL.

What??!?! Stick with us to see KC's arguments why all may not be lost for the former No. 1 draft pick. To keep reading, you must be an ESPN Insider.