Dressed in a black suit, former Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell let his lawyer enter a not guilty plea to a felony narcotics charge on his behalf at a Mobile, Ala., courtroom on Tuesday. The short court appearance came two weeks after undercover sheriff's deputies raided the home of the former No. 1 overall pick's house where they found a bottle of codeine syrup, a controlled substance. Several other people were reportedly at the house, but he was the only one arrested.
Russell, who didn't talk to reporters on his way in and out of the courtroom, is scheduled to be back in court for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 1.
Russell's attorney, Donald Briskman, told Mobile's Press-Register that Russell is "getting prepared to play professional football." Russell, 24, remains a free agent after the Raiders released him after three lackluster seasons.




