ALAMEDA, Calif. — The Oakland Raiders benched former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell yesterday, handing the starting quarterback job to journeyman Bruce Gradkowski for the foreseeable future.

Coach Tom Cable made the announcement of the change following practice as the Raiders (2-7) prepare to play the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Cable said this was not a temporary move, that his plan is to stick with Gradkowski.

"I don't want to be like that," he said. "This is where we're headed and what we're going to do. He'll take this team and go with it."

Gradkowski is 17 for 30 for 163 yards and two interceptions as a backup in Oakland this season.

Russell was not in the locker room during the media access period and was not available for comment after the decision was announced.

The Raiders believed Russell would be the quarterback to turn the struggling franchise around when they drafted him No. 1 out of LSU in 2007 and eventually gave him a contract with about $31 million in guaranteed money.

In 28 career games, Russell has completed 51.6 percent of his passes with 17 touchdowns, 21 interceptions and 14 lost fumbles for a passer rating of 65.5. He had started 25 of the past 26 games for Oakland, missing only one last year with an injury.

BILLS

FITZPATRICK TO START AT QB

The Buffalo Bills have a new starting quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick. They practiced in pads on a Wednesday for the first time that anyone can remember.

As for addressing all those false-start penalties the Bills have been committing this season?

Well, Perry Fewell joked that he threatened to start cutting off players' fingers if they jump the snap count in practice.

However interim his title might be, Fewell made some lasting impressions on his first full day as Bills head coach after Buffalo abruptly fired Dick Jauron on Tuesday.

"We had fun," said Fewell, who has little time to prepare for his debut on Sunday, when the Bills (3-6) travel to play at Jacksonville (5-4).

"I'm probably a little bit more fired up, a lot more emotional I would say," he said, comparing his style to that of the ever low-key Jauron. "Whether (the players) take on those characteristics or not, I don't know. I just know that I'm going to get the team to try to focus on one game, Jacksonville."

BROWNS

QB QUINN FINED FOR HIT

Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn has been fined by the NFL for his low hit on Baltimore's Terrell Suggs.

After throwing an interception in Monday night's 16-0 loss to the Ravens, Quinn dived at Suggs' knees while trying to bring down cornerback Chris Carr, who had picked him off. Suggs had to leave the game and will miss Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts because of a sprained ligament in his right knee.

Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis accused Quinn of a cheap shot.

Quinn understands why the Ravens were mad and can appreciate them questioning his intentions.

"I can see why they'd be upset," he said. "But again, he wasn't even in my vision. I was trying to get to the ball. He cut across my face as I was already try to jump down for the tackle."

Quinn received a letter from the league yesterday but would not disclose the size of his fine, saying only that it was "a good amount."

ELSEWHERE

Cowboys: Doug Free is expected to make his first career start for Dallas against Washington on Sunday in place of injured right tackle Marc Colombo, who had started 57 consecutive games. Colombo had surgery Monday, a day after he broke his left leg and suffered ligament damage in his ankle against Green Bay.

Panthers: Carolina running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart are questionable for today's game against Miami with lingering injuries. Williams skipped practice yesterday with a sore left knee. Stewart practiced in full after sitting out Tuesday with a sore Achilles' tendon.