It’s much easier to talk about all the things Bruce Gradkowski isn’t but damned near impossible not to mention what he is – a true competitor.

Gradkowski arrived in Oakland as a third stringer competing with Charlie Frye for a roster spot. By the end of his first preseason in Oakland he made Jeff Garcia expendable and by the end of his first regular season as a Raider he helped usher JaMarcus into retirement.

Today Gradkowski made his exit from Oakland official by accepting a two-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. Ironically it was The Big Gradkowski who led the Raiders to a dramatic victory over the Cincy Cats just two years ago.
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Nothing, not even injury, will take Gradkowski's job away. (Photo: YardBarker.com)

How is it that Bruce Gradkowski hurt his shoulder when he’s clearly made of Teflon? Nothing seems to faze the journeyman thrower. He came to the Raiders one year ago competing with Charlie Frye just to be the third string QB and not only did he make the roster but made Jeff Garcia expendable then took JaMarcus Russell’s job.

One year later, The Big Gradkowski was again supposed to be holding a clipboard while Jason Campbell took the first team snaps. That lasted all of six quarters.  

This Sunday, Bruce Almighty was struggling through a JaMarcus-esque performance partly due to his shoulder injury. After seeing his starter complete just one in seven passes Tom Cable wasn’t about towatch his team drop a 14^th straight contest to the Chargers so he made the move to go with Campbell.

All Campbell did was lead the Raiders on two epic drives that helped to snap the Chargers streak.

Despite Campbell’s heroics, today Coach Cable announced that if healthy Gradkowski would still be the starter.

A tough pill for Campbell to swallow but he took it like a pro.

Being the Rodney Dangerfield of pro football hasn’t been an easy road to till but it’s what Campbell has become accustomed to.  

As for Bruce, well, until he loses some limbs nothing is going to keep him off the field. Since becoming the starting QB, the Raiders have seen their offense go from irrelevant to irresistible – at least to opposing defenses.

Of course this is all part of the if game. If The Bruce is ready to get loose he’ll get the nod. If not, it will be Campbell’s second chance at a first impression. Either way there is no quarterback controversy at all. Just a couple of guys who want what’s best for the team. Right about now that is a welcomed problem for Coach Cable. A much better dilemma than having to choose between JaMarcus Russell and Jeff Garcia at least.

JaMarcus Russell: The face of the franchise.

So, this is what it’s come down to. The number one overall selection in the 2007 NFL draft has been benched in favor of 194^th overall selection in the 2006 draft.

How Bruce Gradkowski’s career QB rating of 58.6 has become favored over JaMarcus Russell’s 65.5 is a quandary that now reflects the sad state of the Oakland Raiders.

While the decision to bench Russell was long overdue, the fallout from it could be the pebble that ultimately creates enough ripples to turn the tide. At least that is what Tom Cable is praying for.

Drafting Russell was a gamble. When Al Davis phoned in the pick, most football minds knew it was going to take time for the young 21-year-old thrower to develop. Blessed with an arm the likes of which had never been seen before, it was a given that Davis would tap JaMarcus to help revive the vertical game.

Today, that vertical game has been grounded before this franchise takes a complete nose dive.

Gradkowski doesn’t have the cannon of Russell. Well, comparatively, Gradkowski has a Super Soaker to Russell’s WMD, but that hardly matters. The quarterback position is about making good decisions, correct reads and accurate throws. JaMarcus is capable of doing all of the aforementioned, he just doesn’t seem to be able to do them all in succession.

While Russell’s performance is his cross to bear, he alone does not shoulder the blame.

Starting your career with a holdout is no way to indicate the desire to lead. This is a business and these things do happen. Still, one can’t help but wonder what damage was done by missing the first training camp of his career.

Flash forward to his second lap around the NFL and Russell had to endure a coaching change, three different play callers and an ever rotating carousel of wide receivers. Hardly the type of situation a young quarterback thrives in. None the less, by season’s end Russell was playing the best football of his pro career.

In his crucial third season, Cable opened the doors to young JaMarcus in the form of a QB school that offered an offseason session. Russell was there often, even going as far as to eventually hold his own private workouts with wide receivers he flew to Alabama on his dime.

Of course, there were also two new voices in Russell’s ear as well. Ted Tollner was hired by Coach Cable to “coordinate the passing game” and Paul Hackett appeared on the payroll as Russell’s personal tutor.

Despite the steps taken, Russell still showed up to camp overweight and was never pushed by the veteran Jeff Garcia who hardly took a snap due to lingering injuries.

Garcia’s presence was intended to be a measuring stick for Russell. Instead, all that came of the situation was the whining of an aging vet who eventually was shown the exit.

To add injury to insult, Russell lost the lone wide receiver he had any chemistry with as Chaz Schilens suffered a freak injury in training camp. The result would be two rookies being forced into the starting lineup while veteran Javon Walker has seen no action of any significance this season. 

Louis Murphy has shown promise but has also shown plenty of rookie miscues half way through the season. Darrius Heyward-Bey looks to be a bigger project than Russell.

With the playoffs out of sight and another 11-loss season in range, now would appear the perfect time to let Russell prove his worth. Unfortunately, Cable’s job is in the balance and Russell has been given ample opportunities to earn his keep. 

The Bruce is loose!

Let the Big Gradkowski era begin!

Even if the change helps to get the NFL’s most pathetic offense up to par, it still does not help to clarify where the future of this franchise lies.

Cable can’t win for losing.

If this is the moment that finally ignites the faint ember beneath Russell’s 270 pound frame, then it will be wondered why the measure was not taken earlier.

If Gradkowski steps up to the challenge and plays brilliantly, then Russell’s contract will become dead weight, killing the salary cap for years to come.

If nothing changes and this team is still as hapless as ever, then the pirate vessel led by Al Davis will appear to be dead in the water with no land in sight.

No matter the outcome, the path that has led the Raiders to this point is seemingly a dead end. A bumpy road littered with disappointment, underachievement, poor personnel decisions, horrible coaching hires and one 6 foot, 6 inch quarterback with a contract worth $60-million who has now officially become the sad face of a once proud franchise.

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