Raiders Take LSU's Russell First in NFL Draft; Quinn Falls

By Bob Bensch

April 29 (Bloomberg) -- Louisiana State University quarterback JaMarcus Russell was chosen by the Oakland Raiders with the first pick in the National Football League draft yesterday, while Notre Dame's Brady Quinn fell to the 22nd selection.

Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson was taken second by the Detroit Lions in the draft, which was held at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Quinn, who holds 36 passing records at Notre Dame, was taken by the Cleveland Browns.

In Russell, the Raiders get a 6-foot-6, 260-pound passer who threw 52 touchdown passes in college and posted a 25-4 record as a starter.

``This is someone that can come in and help us win games,'' Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said on the team's Web site. ``This is the right guy for us and this is the right time. It was perfect.''

Oakland has the NFL's worst offense last season in going 2- 14. Quarterbacks Aaron Brooks and Andrew Walter combined for six touchdown passes and 21 interceptions while being sacked 72 times.

``I'm ready to go in and compete, I'm ready to go to work,'' Russell, 21, said on the team's Web site. ``This is a new year and I'm ready to be a part of that process.''

Third Pick

After Detroit took the 21-year-old Johnson, the Cleveland Browns took Wisconsin offensive lineman Joe Thomas, 22, third. The Browns then traded with Dallas and selected the 22-year-old Quinn, an Ohio native who threw 95 touchdowns at Notre Dame, after he wasn't among the first 21 selections.

``I could not imagine he would fall back in our lap at pick 22,'' Browns General Manager Phil Savage said. ``We ended up with Joe Thomas and Brady Quinn which is a scenario we could have only imagined in our sleep.''

Gaines Adams, a defensive end from Clemson, was taken by Tampa Bay fourth overall, followed by Penn State offensive tackle Levi Brown fifth by Arizona and LSU defensive back LaRon Landry at No. 6 to Washington. Minnesota chose Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson seventh.

Atlanta took Arkansas defensive end Jamal Anderson eighth, the Miami Dolphins selected Ohio State wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr. and the Houston Texans chose Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye.

San Francisco selected Mississippi linebacker Patrick Willis at No. 11, followed by Buffalo taking California running back Marshawn Lynch and St. Louis picking Nebraska defensive end Adam Carriker.

Jets Make Trade

The New York Jets traded with Carolina and took University of Pittsburgh cornerback Darrelle Revis at No. 14. The Pittsburgh Steelers chose Florida State linebacker Lawrence Timmons and Green Bay selected University of Tennessee defensive tackle Justin Harrell.

Denver traded first-round picks with Jacksonville and both selected Florida players with the Broncos taking defensive end Jarvis Moss at No. 17 and the Jaguars chosing safety Reggie Nelson 21st.

Cincinnati took Michigan cornerback Leon Hall at No. 18, followed by the selection of a pair of Texas defensive backs: Michael Griffin by Tennessee and Aaron Ross by the New York Giants.

Completing the first-round picks after Quinn was taken were LSU receiver Dwayne Bowe (Kansas City), Miami safety Brandon Meriweather (New England), Miami linebacker Jon Beason (Carolina), Purdue defensive end Anthony Spencer (Dallas), Tennessee receiver Robert Meachem (New Orleans), Central Michigan offensive lineman Joe Staley (San Francisco), Auburn guard Ben Grubbs (Baltimore), LSU receiver Craig Davis (San Diego), Miami tight end Greg Olson (Chicago) and Ohio State receiver Anthony Gonzalez (Indianapolis.)

Record

The first round took a record six hours and eight minutes. LSU led all schools with four first-round selections, while Miami had three and Ohio State, Tennessee, Florida and Texas had two each.

The first three rounds of the draft were held yesterday, with the final four today.