5-at-10: Jamarcus Russell comeback, Super rooting interests and players you love to hate

Jamarcus Russell

Jamarcus Russell comeback

We love the draft. You know this.

We love the ever-changing nature of the way it plays out. We love the merging merits of need vs. best player available. We love the immediate reviews and the long-term grading of this pick and that draft. (Want to know how the 49ers were able to turn things around so quickly? One, Jim Harbaugh is a coaching ninja, going 24-7-1 in two years for a franchise that was 46-82 from 2003-2010 without a winning season or a playoff berth. Two, they were slap money in the 2011 draft, getting defensive difference maker Aldon Smith in round one, dealing later picks to land quarterback Colin “Humpty” Kaepernick in round two, starting nickel back Chris Culliver in round three, and starting fullback Bruce Miller in round seven.)

And news of Jamarcus Russell’s vowed comeback leaves the draft hound in us dumbfounded. Hey, great if the guy can make it back, it’s not like every franchise is overflowing qualified quarterbacks in this day and age.

But here are the two things we can say without question about Russell: He is the reason the 5-at-10 is familiar with PurpleDrank (the prescription-cough syrup-based drink that also includes a Jolly Rancher, and guys, we may not know much, but if a grown man is getting his drink on with a concoction that needs a Jolly Rancher or a Life Saver, well, there could be any number of wide-ranging questions asked – not that there is anything wrong with that); and Russell is the worst draft pick ever.

Forget the social and medical purposes of the PurpleDrank (and if you used a lemon Jolly Rancher or a LemonHead would it be YellaDrank, and if so would that guy from YellaWood be willing to be a sponsor… where were we), Russell was the first pick in a draft that included the best running back (Adrian Peterson), wide receiver (Calvin Johnson), offensive tackle (Joe Thomas), middle linebacker (Patrick Willis), cornerback (Darrelle Revis) and arguably the second best tackle in the league (Joe Staley) and the best guard (Marshal Yanda). Ouch-standing.