JaMarcus Russell to Work Out for the Bears?

So apparently JaMarcus Russell has a Friday workout scheduled with the Chicago Bears. Interesting. Now I know that everyone is reacting to this news with the following face:

But let's look at this in a more serious manner. Russell, who has had notable off-field issues, including an arrest for codeine possession in 2010, last played in the NFL during the 2009 season. His career stats are presented in the following:

18 TD
23 INT
4,803 YDS
65.2 QBR

It doesn't take a genius to realize that during his brief stint in the NFL, Russell was absolutely terrible. But how much of that poor display was due to his work ethic? In other words, if Russell were to work as hard as the other elite QBs in the league (i.e. Brady, Manning, Brees, etc.) and be motivated by the work ethic of the younger generation of QBs (i.e. Wilson, Griffin, Luck, Newton, etc.), could he at least be a solid starter?

Let's take a brief look at Russell's pre-draft scouting report, courtesy of CBSSports:

"Has outstanding arm strength and size for his position … Shows good overall foot quickness and agility to step out of the pocket and buy time for his receivers"
"His arm strength and fluid mechanics let him get the ball out quickly, once he sets his feet … Shows no wasted motion and is consistently in good position to deliver the ball on time … Has the strongest arm in football, at any level … Can throw the ball the length of the field and put on an impressive show during Sugar Bowl practices, when he sat down on the ground and effortlessly flicked the ball out more than 40 yards … Generates great velocity and ball speed firing up the seams and is an excellent prospect for a vertical passing game."

Russell indeed possesses elite size and arm strength. From watching him in Oakland and LSU, it was evident that he would never struggle with the physical aspects of the game. Unless of course you count staying in shape.
But what about Russell's negatives?

"At maximum growth potential and any more weight will affect his quickness … His weight needs to be monitored, as he will lose some of his agility when he hits the 260-pound range … Lacks the change of direction agility to make the initial tackler miss … Has a good grasp of the passing game, but sometimes gets too confident in his arm strength and will try to force the ball into tight spots"

All information from CBSSports & NFLDraftScout.com
Please don't sue me. I mean seriously.

Russell's main weakness revolve's around his lack of discipline. While those issues were mainly hidden at LSU, it was evident that in the NFL, Russell would need a ton of positive influence. He didn't exactly start off on the right foot either, as his rookie season was highlighted by a lengthy lockout. At Oakland, teammates often remarked that Russell never studied film. He was constantly the last one on the field and the first one off the field. As a result, Russell didn't put in the necessary work in the weight-room, field, and film room. During games, Russell couldn't read the defense properly, often leading to poor throws.

But what if Russell can become disciplined?

*If the above video won't play, just go on YouTube and search "JaMarcus Russell Road to the NFL". I'm still trying to figure this blogging stuff out.

Earlier this year, it was highlighted that Russell started working out with Jeff Garcia at TestWest Academy. He was losing weight and getting back into shape. While it's unclear whether Russell is actually back into playing shape, it's clear that Russell has been working hard. For NFL GM's and coaches, the question is whether Russell will continue to work hard if signed. He has the talent, but without discipline and motivation, he's worthless. If Russell does make it back into the NFL, don't expect him to start anytime soon (if ever). In fact, he'll be fortunate if he can catch on as a backup and make a solid career out of it. But still, you never know. Despite Russell's boneheaded past, I still wish him the best. For those Chicago fans who are panicking over Russell's workout, please don't. There is ZERO chance Russell takes Jay Cutler's spot. Furthermore, it's very unlikely that he will be signed by the Bears at all. This is probably one of those things where the GM says "hey let's give him a look". Still, teams who may be in need of a QB might take a look at Russell.