Russell deal close?

ESPN is all about innovation. Instead of agents, players, coaches or front-office personnel, they’re now going straight to the source: aunts and uncles.

ESPN has reported, citing JaMarcus Russell’s uncle, that the Oakland Raiders and their No. 1 holdout draft pick are close to a deal.

Russell’s uncle, Ray Russell, told USA Today the Raiders “realize they have dropped the ball, and they started negotiating in good faith.“  

“They’ve done more talking in the last week and a half than the previous three months. It’s almost done,” Ray Russell was quoted on ESPN.com. “It’s just a damn shame it’s taken this long.”

Source: ESPN.com. Sept. 5 – 8:52 p.m. et