Raiders' Kelly now NFL's highest-paid defensive tackle
He is NFL's highest-paid defensive tackle
Bay Area News Group
Article Launched: 02/29/2008 01:40:29 AM PST
Raiders cut ties with starting left tackle SimsTommy Kelly wasn't drafted into the NFL, has never been selected to a Pro Bowl and generally isn't in the discussions of best defensive linemen. But he can put this on his résumé: Thursday, the Raiders made Kelly the highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL.
Kelly, 27, signed a seven-year, $50.5 million deal that includes $18.125 million in guarantees.
Kelly was playing well at defensive end before he sustained a season-ending knee injury against the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 28. He is expected to move inside with the retirement of defensive tackle Warren Sapp.
"I've trained that monster, and he's coming (along)," Sapp said of Kelly last season. "There's nothing I can do to stop him. It's going to be his spot, and I'm going to step the hell out of the way gracefully."
Kelly signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played only 10 games, including three starts at defensive tackle, but led the team with four sacks. He played both end and tackle in 2005, then started all 16 games at tackle in 2006.
Kelly moved to right end last season and was credited with helping to lead a midseason defensive resurgence before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament against the Titans.
The move also opens up a spot at end. Kelly's injury led to more playing time for Chris Clemons, who tied for the team lead with eight sacks. Work is ongoing toward re-signing Clemons, a person in the front office said. However, the size of Kelly's contract might prevent that from happening.
Beyond that, the Raiders have explored the possibility of freeing up more salary-cap room by cutting running backs LaMont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes.
At season's end, the Raiders were about $26 million under the projected 2008 salary cap of $116 million.
They cut into that by re-signing running back Justin Fargas and placing the exclusive franchise tag on cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Those moves would cost the Raiders about $13 million if Asomugha signs as expected.
Jordan is due $4.7 million in base salary this season. Rhodes is on the books for $3 million in base salary, as well as a $2 million roster bonus. Cutting Jordan and Rhodes would free up $8.3 million in cap room.
The Raiders no longer have a pressing need for either back, with the emergence of Fargas last season and the presence of second-year back Michael Bush.
The Raiders have a long history of making a big splash in the free-agency pool, which opened for business Thursday night.
Potential targets this year include defensive end Jevon Kearse, wide receiver Bernard Berrian and safety Gibril Wilson.
Wilson, a former Oak Grove High standout, is the kind of hard-hitting, big-play safety the Raiders have lacked since Rod Woodson retired after the 2003 season. Wilson played a vital role in the New York Giants' stirring run to a Super Bowl victory last season.
Berrian would be a nice fit in an offense that has lacked a big-play threat and could be without Jerry Porter if he signs with another team.
The Raiders saw Berrian's game-altering abilities Nov. 11 at McAfee Coliseum. Berrian blew past cornerback Chris Carr for a 59-yard touchdown that turned a 6-3 deficit into a 10-6 lead in the fourth quarter.
Kearse was cut by the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday and hasn't been the same player since his Titans days, when he became known as "The Freak." However, Raiders owner Al Davis has a penchant for taking risks with such players.
The Raiders hit pay dirt with just such a gamble in 2005 when they signed defensive end Derrick Burgess after his Eagles career ended. Burgess made the Pro Bowl in 2005 and 2006 and tied Clemons for the team lead in sacks last season.
He is NFL's highest-paid defensive tackle
Bay Area News Group
Article Launched: 02/29/2008 01:40:29 AM PST
Raiders cut ties with starting left tackle SimsTommy Kelly wasn't drafted into the NFL, has never been selected to a Pro Bowl and generally isn't in the discussions of best defensive linemen. But he can put this on his résumé: Thursday, the Raiders made Kelly the highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL.
Kelly, 27, signed a seven-year, $50.5 million deal that includes $18.125 million in guarantees.
Kelly was playing well at defensive end before he sustained a season-ending knee injury against the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 28. He is expected to move inside with the retirement of defensive tackle Warren Sapp.
"I've trained that monster, and he's coming (along)," Sapp said of Kelly last season. "There's nothing I can do to stop him. It's going to be his spot, and I'm going to step the hell out of the way gracefully."
Kelly signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played only 10 games, including three starts at defensive tackle, but led the team with four sacks. He played both end and tackle in 2005, then started all 16 games at tackle in 2006.
Kelly moved to right end last season and was credited with helping to lead a midseason defensive resurgence before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament against the Titans.
The move also opens up a spot at end. Kelly's injury led to more playing time for Chris Clemons, who tied for the team lead with eight sacks. Work is ongoing toward re-signing Clemons, a person in the front office said. However, the size of Kelly's contract might prevent that from happening.
Beyond that, the Raiders have explored the possibility of freeing up more salary-cap room by cutting running backs LaMont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes.
At season's end, the Raiders were about $26 million under the projected 2008 salary cap of $116 million.
They cut into that by re-signing running back Justin Fargas and placing the exclusive franchise tag on cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Those moves would cost the Raiders about $13 million if Asomugha signs as expected.
Jordan is due $4.7 million in base salary this season. Rhodes is on the books for $3 million in base salary, as well as a $2 million roster bonus. Cutting Jordan and Rhodes would free up $8.3 million in cap room.
The Raiders no longer have a pressing need for either back, with the emergence of Fargas last season and the presence of second-year back Michael Bush.
The Raiders have a long history of making a big splash in the free-agency pool, which opened for business Thursday night.
Potential targets this year include defensive end Jevon Kearse, wide receiver Bernard Berrian and safety Gibril Wilson.
Wilson, a former Oak Grove High standout, is the kind of hard-hitting, big-play safety the Raiders have lacked since Rod Woodson retired after the 2003 season. Wilson played a vital role in the New York Giants' stirring run to a Super Bowl victory last season.
Berrian would be a nice fit in an offense that has lacked a big-play threat and could be without Jerry Porter if he signs with another team.
The Raiders saw Berrian's game-altering abilities Nov. 11 at McAfee Coliseum. Berrian blew past cornerback Chris Carr for a 59-yard touchdown that turned a 6-3 deficit into a 10-6 lead in the fourth quarter.
Kearse was cut by the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday and hasn't been the same player since his Titans days, when he became known as "The Freak." However, Raiders owner Al Davis has a penchant for taking risks with such players.
The Raiders hit pay dirt with just such a gamble in 2005 when they signed defensive end Derrick Burgess after his Eagles career ended. Burgess made the Pro Bowl in 2005 and 2006 and tied Clemons for the team lead in sacks last season.
