"While the debate continues whether recently dumped Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell(notes) is the biggest bust in NFL draft history, don't expect the former No. 1 pick to defend himself publicly anytime soon.

For one, Russell headed to Arizona this week to start losing weight, according to two sources close to the player. Apparently, Russell is again more than 300 pounds and is looking to drop at least 25 before trying to sign with another franchise to revive his moribund career.

Second, Russell isn't planning to do any interviews anytime soon because, well, there's nothing he can really say that's going to sound good to anyone around the NFL.

"If he complains about how he was handled in Oakland, that's going to come off like he's not taking responsibility," said one of the sources close to Russell. "If he takes all the blame, it sounds noble but it's not going to mean anything. He just has to get in shape and get himself in a situation where he can turn everything around."

A key to turning things around is improving the basics that so failed him in three seasons with the Raiders. Right now, Russell is seen as a fundamental and mechanical mess.

"It's so bad that his mechanics are even completely screwed up," a second source close to Russell said. "There's stuff they go over in high school that he hasn't worked on the past three years."

Some of Russell's issues may speak to the franchise's dysfunction as much as Russell's well-documented lack of dedication."