Russell pleaded not guilty

  Former Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell pleaded not guilty in Alabama state court on Tuesday to a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance.  The 24-year-old former LSU star was arrested at his home July 5 in Mobile as part of a two-month undercover narcotics investigation, authorities said. Russell was accused of possessing codeine syrup, for which he did not have a prescription, according to police.  Russell was given a preliminary hearing date of Aug. 11.   "He's upbeat. He's looking forward to his day in court and getting this behind him," Donald Briskman, Russell's attorney, said Tuesday, according to WALA-TV in Mobile.  "We fully expect he will be exonerated from these charges. That's exactly how I feel. I've had an opportunity within the last week to get some additional information which bolsters my feeling that he's ultimately going to be acquitted."  "Be mindful of the fact that there were nearly a dozen people at the house when the sheriff conducted the investigation and raid," WALA quoted Briskman as saying.  Russell was released by the Raiders in May after three disappointing seasons with the team. He had been paid about $36.4 million through last season and was still owed $3 million at the time of his release.  The Raiders have filed a grievance seeking $9.55 million from Russell in what they say was paid as salary advances for the 2010-12 seasons.