Having been touted by the media as the worst No. 1-overall draft pick since...ever, former Oakland Raiders' quarterback JaMarcus Russell has lost 27 pounds to begin his long journey back to the NFL to prove the doubters wrong.

Coming out of Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2007, it was believed that the Raiders were drafting the QB of the future, but the future turned out to be only three seasons.

He was cut by the team on May 6, 2010 and has been out of the game, under the "free agent" tag.

According to Russell himself, "he is no longer breathing like a fat man" (reported belgeinfo.com) when he runs or works out in general, which he admitted was a big problem for him during his brief time as a professional.

This isn't the end of the weight loss program--even though he is now 288, he said that he is "on the way to 270," which is his ultimate goal.

The workouts were tough for the 27-year-old at the start, but as his body adapted, his pace got quicker, his muscles got stronger and his waist line got smaller.

"Through the first couple weeks, I could barely make it through the workout," Russell says in a video produced by Bleacher Report. "We (Russell, along with Brian Martin of TEST Football Academy) go in to do the warmup, and here I am breathing like a fat man. Now I'm breathing pretty good and able to stand up on my own two feet."

"In addition to his work with Martin, Russell has a host of All-Star coaches who are reportedly helping him with his return. Jeff Garcia (quarterback technique training), Olympian Ato Boldon (speed training and analysis) and former running back Marshall Faulk (reading defenses) are just a few of Russell's teachers as he works his way back to the gridiron," stated thepostgame.com.