After nine mostly dreadful starts, the Raiders expressed their disgust with QB JaMarcus Russell by officially benching him prior to their Week 11 matchup against the Bengals. Head coach Tom Cable called it an easy decision.

Bruce Gradkowski, who hasn't been a full-time starter since his rookie season with the Buccaneers in 2006, will take over under center, and Cable said he expects Gradkowski to be the starter for the rest of the season. The timing of the move is peculiar, but the change itself is not.

Russell has a touchdown-interception ratio of 2-9 this season, and his completion percentage is just 46.8. He showed signs of improvement late last season but has regressed significantly in the months since the 2009 campaign began. It's true that the Raiders have done little to help Russell develop — they start two rookies at wide receiver, one of whom (Darrius Heyward-Bey) consistently drops catchable passes; the running game has faltered; and Cable's play-calling has left much to be desired — but the biggest concern regarding Russell is that he seems detached from reality.

Observers say Russell doesn't appear to understand how poorly he has played and fails to grasp the importance of preparation for games, which has led to him calling out incorrect signals to his teammates before snaps. He certainly has the physical tools to be a successful pro quarterback, yet the 24-year-old, who became the full-time starter when the 2008 season opened, comes off as aloof and casual to a fault, according to some.

Skeptics abound, however, when it comes to Gradkowski's ability to lead the Raiders to better outcomes than Russell achieved, and some insiders think Russell is going to get a few weeks off to clear his head and watch before he's thrust back into the starting role.

Regardless, his future with the team is more in doubt than ever before. He's signed through the 2012 season, but, although it's unlikely, it's not out of the question that owner Al Davis would cut his losses and look for another signalcaller in the draft or free agency this offseason. Russell has yet to show he's serious about the game, and until that changes, he'll struggle no matter what team he's on.

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