METAIRIE, La. -- New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton said Saturday that he doesn't believe now would be the right time for the team to bring in former LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell.
Russell was a popular college player in Louisiana, putting together a highlight-filled LSU career that led the Oakland Raiders to make him the No. 1 overall draft pick of 2007. But Russell struggled with the Raiders, who released him Thursday after three seasons.
Payton doesn't believe that Russell's NFL career is over.
"I'm sure he's going to look for that other opportunity, and our league usually provides that," Payton said. "Certainly, any time the first pick of the draft after three years is released, it's newsworthy, and that next opportunity for him is going to be important."
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press