Bruce Gradkowski is far from a star. In fact, pick an adjective – well-traveled journeyman comes to mind – that means average and it probably can be applied to the Oakland Raiders quarterback.

He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of Toledo in the 6th round in 2006 draft and he promptly started 11 games that season, throwing nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. His efforts that season, by far the most he has played, produced a sub-70 quarterback rating.

The Bucs let him play in four games the following year before letting him go and he spent last year as a backup for the inept Cleveland Browns before joining Oakland this season.

That should provide some insight into just how bad JaMarcus Russell was playing when Tom Cable finally pulled the plug and benched the former first overall pick. And Gradkowski’s performance Sunday against Cincinnati – a perfectly average game during which he completed half of his 34 passes for 183 yards (for two touchdowns with a pick and a lost fumble) – should also lend some credence to a post I wrote after the first game this year when Oakland pushed San Diego to the limit before losing late.

The Raiders defense – though far from good – has shown signs at times of competence this season. And the team has a three-headed running attack loaded with potential. But Russell’s ineptitude for most of the season has with rare exception covered up any gains the team might have made.

And off-the-field issues have further provided reason to ridicule the once proud silver and black.

Gradkowski or not, I didn’t think the Raiders had a chance at all of upsetting a surprising Cincinnati Bengals team that still controls its own destiny as far as capturing the AFC North title this season. But thanks to the joys of NFL Sunday Ticket, I flipped on the game with about three minutes left and there was the old Toledo Rocket quarterback methodically taking the Raiders down for a game-tying touchdown.

Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots, providing play-by-play for CBS Sports, summed it up. Harlan started “He may not be the prettiest quarterback” and Wilcots finished his sentence: “He gets the job done.”

I’m not sure many announcers will be saying that about Gradkowski this season. And I’m pretty sure he’s not the long-term answer for a team that still has a long, long way to go before it’s going to be competitive.

But for one afternoon when Gradkowski hit rookie wideout Louis Murphy with a 29 yard touchdown to tie the game he gave Coach Cable a chance to look credible in claiming after the game that “I’m the only guy in the universe that thinks we are headed in the right direction.” (I think the quote came from his post-game news conference – I saw the quote on the NBC Sunday night pre-game show)

Whether that’s true or not is yet to be seen. But today they were definitely heading in a better direction than they have most of the season. And for that they can thank Gradkowksi.