Russell Signs With Raiders

Darrell Russell, a defensive lineman who was the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft, signed a seven-year, $22.05-million contract with the Oakland Raiders on Tuesday and reported to camp two days late.

Russell is the first of the top six picks in this year’s draft to sign.

“It is a big relief. I look at it like it wasn’t a holdout, it was like a chemist in the lab coming up with that perfect compound,” the former USC standout said.

In other Raider news, Desmond Howard sat out two workouts while nursing a slight hamstring strain.

Howard, who signed a four-year, $6-million deal after being selected most valuable player in the Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers, is day-to-day.

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Backup quarterback Bill Musgrave surprised the Denver Broncos by announcing his retirement, virtually assuring Bubby Brister of making the roster.

Musgrave, who played in six games last season, including one start, but who had slipped to fourth on the depth chart issued at training camp, told Coach Mike Shanahan he was quitting.

Meanwhile, defensive end Neil Smith’s right-knee injury appears to be minor and he was expected to practice today.

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Linebacker Trev Alberts of the Indianapolis Colts retired after three injury-plagued seasons and failing to fulfill the promise that made him the No. 5 pick in the 1994 draft.

The Colts announced Alberts’ retirement a day after he failed to show for shoulder surgery. He sat out 20 games over three seasons because of a dislocated right elbow, concussion, partially dislocated left shoulder and hamstring injury.

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Jamie Sharper, the Baltimore Ravens’ top pick in the second round, arrived at camp during the team’s afternoon workout after ending his nine-day holdout by agreeing to a three-year, $1.7-million contract.

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The Detroit Lions re-signed Robert Bailey, who played last season with the Miami Dolphins. He was with the Lions in the off-season until being cut just before training camp.