Russell goes to Raiders; Quinn plummets to 22nd

Russell was the top overall choice, by the offense-deficient Raiders. The 6-foot-6 junior QB who can throw the ball 80 yards fits the mold for Al Davis, who loves the deep ball.

Obviously, in the eyes of NFL teams, LSU players have plenty of draft-day luster. Five spots after Russell, Tigers safety LaRon Landry went to Washington.

And the glow of the Golden Dome has severely faded.

Quinn sat and watched 21 players chosen before he went to the Browns, the team he grew up rooting for in Dublin, Ohio. Once considered the best prospect in this year?s crop, he was still unchosen when the Browns traded back into the first round, getting Dallas? pick.

When selected, Quinn let out a big sigh of relief and looked upward before shaking commissioner Roger Goodell?s hand as the fans who booed him before the draft cheered this time.

Russell had no such anxious moments.

When Roger Goodell, conducting his first draft as commissioner, announced Russell?s name, Raiders fans in the crowd cheered loudly. But there was a mixture of cheers and boos when Russell, who is bigger than some NFL linemen, came on stage to don a Raiders hat and hold up a No. 1 black jersey.

Then came chants of ?L-S-U, L-S-U? for the man who soon will be in charge of the Oakland offense.

?I kind of had faith in it. Everybody had been talking about it for a while,? Russell said of being chosen first. ?It?s a dream come true. Growing up as a kid playing every sport in life and always seeing the guys on the professional level, and here I am today.?

?I can?t wait to get in the black and silver and get to work.?