Sports

Obituary

Darrell Russell dies at 29

The ex-NFL player, who was a Buc briefly near the end of his troubled career, dies in a car crash.

Compiled from staff and wire reports
Published December 16, 2005

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LOS ANGELES - Darrell Russell, whose promising NFL career included a brief, controversial stop with the Bucs before it was derailed by drugs and alcohol, was killed in a high-speed car crash early Thursday.

Russell, 29, was a passenger in a car driven by former Southern California teammate Mike Bastianelli that went out of control about 6 a.m. and hit a curb, tree, newsstand, fire hydrant, light pole, another tree and an unoccupied transit bus, Lt. Paul Vernon said.

Russell and Bastianelli, 29, were unconscious when firefighters arrived. Russell died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Bastianelli died at UCLA Medical Center.

Bucs general manager Bruce Allen was saddened by Russell's death.

"This is a sad ending to a life that showed great promise," said Allen, who when he was GM of the Raiders drafted Russell as the No. 2 overall pick in 1997 out of USC. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his mother, Eleanor, and the entire Russell family."

Russell, a defensive lineman, signed a free-agent contract with the Bucs in March 2004, touching off a critical reaction locally from fans and media. His signing came on the heels of running back Michael Pittman's legal problems stemming from a domestic dispute. Russell would have to submit to regular, random drug testsand the team required his participation in its offseason workout program.

The Bucs released Russell two weeks before training camp. It later surfaced that Russell had tested positive for alcohol, which is banned for players in the league's substance-abuse treatment program.

"He was a hell of a guy," Raiders receiver Jerry Porter said. "He just never found the strength to get going again after all the trouble he got into."

The 6-foot-5, 325-pound Russell had a promising start before substance-abuse problems ruined his career. He had 281/2 sacks in five seasons with Oakland, making the Pro Bowl in 1998 and 1999. "Darrell was a good guy. He was a big kid ... that had a big heart," said former Raiders offensive lineman Lincoln Kennedy. "He couldn't say no to anybody. That's what had a big deal with his demise."

Russell was suspended three times for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. After being released by the Raiders at the end of his second suspension, he played briefly for the Redskins in 2003.

Bastianelli was a reserve receiver for USC in 1995-98.

Times staff writer Stephen F. Holder contributed to this report.

[Last modified December 16, 2005, 00:54:19]