A happy Ja Marcus Russell after being picked by the Raiders.
As many of you know, LSU Quaterback Ja Marcus Russell became the first pick in the first round by the Oakland Raiders. Also, some of you may remember that this space annouced that the Raiders would select Notre Dame Quarterback Brady Quinn as their signal caller of the future.
I did get it wrong, but it wasn't because I thought Brady Quinn was going to be the better quaterback. It was the CAA guy I was talking to.
After Russell's selection, I recognized and walked over to meet his agent Eric Metz, who was standing about 40-feet from our table at Radio City Music Hall on Saturday. The Phoenix-based representative took time to speak with me about the flying rumors that Quinn and not his client Russell was going to be the Raiders choice.
"We never had a doubt", he said, regarding the rumors. "We knew we had it months ago." Each time I shared with him the CAA information regarding their view that the Raiders deal was in the bag, he winced. Indeed, the simple fact that Rusell walked in wearing a black suit and tie was the ultimate Draft-day tip-off.
Metz strikes me as a person who's honest, caring, and aware of the importance of relationships. We talked about the fact that this was the second free-fall for a CAA-represented quaterback. As you know, CAA had a similar situtation with USC's Matt Leinart, who was picked 10th in the first round last year, and that after CAA promised him not less than becoming the third choice in the first round.
"You know, honesty goes a long way," Metz said. "We don't try to snow anyone." This explains why -- according to sources -- Metz has such a great relationship around the league. It may also be the key reason why his client was the choice of the Oakland Raiders.
It also may explain why CAA lost Matt Leinart. Lets see what happens with CAA and Brady Quinn.
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