John Clayton just said on ESPN’s “NFL Live” that the Raiders are preparing the process of cutting quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

Clayton said it is not a matter of if, but when Russell will be cut. He also said the team could release Russell before Oakland’s minicamp, which runs Friday through Sunday, and that there is no trade market for him. The Raiders will save more than $6 million if they cut Russell this year.

Russell was the No.1 overall draft pick in 2007 and Oakland has paid him more than $36 million for three extremely unproductive seasons. The team decided to give up on Russell when they traded for Washington’s Jason Campbell during the draft.

I wrote Saturday that the Raiders needed to cut Russell now. It seems Oakland feels the same way. Lets see when it officially happens.