"JaMarcus Russell is still big in the South (and, no, we're not setting up a joke that he's big everywhere). The former Raiders quarterback, cut on Thursday, was the Mardi Gras king in his hometown of Mobile, Ala., in January, and several of his former college and high school coaches came to his defense Friday.

"I hear he was lazy, and I didn't know that JaMarcus," said Florida State coach Jumbo Fisher, who was Russell's offensive coordinator at LSU. "He did everything we asked him and more."

Russell, the 2007 No. 1 overall draft pick, cleared waivers Friday and is free to sign with any team - presumably for close to the veteran's minimum of $620,000. The Raiders, already out $39 million, saved $6.45 million this year by cutting him.

"He is talented, smart, and some team is going to get a bargain, because there is obviously more there than what he showed for the Raiders," Fisher said."