THE OFFICIAL OAKLAND RAIDERS 2009 OFFSEASON THREAD
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Can Raiders take the next step?
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 at 8:06 pm in Oakland Raiders.
With Shane Lechler in the bag, the Raiders can focus their attention on getting Nnamdi Asomugha signed to a long-term contract.
The Raiders would love to lower the cap figure of $11.7 million that would accompany a franchise tag, possibly even more if it is an exclusive tag. The deadline for designating franchise players is Thursday, and the only way that doesn’t happen with Asomugha is if the two sides agree on a long-term contract.
The question is whether Asomugha, who has been on only one winning team in his life in any sport (including high school), believes he can get that done in Oakland and if there is a dollar figure that is so substantial he simply could not turn it down.
Even if it meant a chance to join a perennial winner, like, say, New England.
Making Lechler the highest paid punter in history is one thing. His reported deal is for $12 million over four years, with $9 million guaranteed.
Making Asomugha the highest paid cornerback in the NFL will cost considerably more.
Last year’s premiere cornerback, Asante Samuel, got $20 million in guaranteed money from the Philadelphia Eagles. His six-year deal was reportedly worth $57 million.
You wonder what agent Tom Condon (coincidentally, the same man who represents Lechler) is asking for as he trades numbers through front office members with Al Davis. His starting point in terms of guaranteed money is probably in excess of $25 million.
A lot of money, to be sure, but if the Raiders could reel in Asomugha, it would be hard to find fault with their approach after some of the disasterous decisions they made last year.
There was the Tommy Kelly deal, with its $18.125 guarantee for a player who played considerably below that standard in 2008. Davis conceded as much, but is hopeful Year 2 following ACL surgery will be much better.
There was the new contract for DeAngelo Hall, who ended up getting $8 million for eight games as he got the money the Raiders should have been putting toward a long-term deal for Asomugha.
There was the Javon Walker deal . . . the less said, the better.
In the cases of Lechler and Asomugha, the Raiders aren’t on a fishing expedition, gambling on Kelly’s potential or taking on other team’s problems as was the case with Hall and Walker. They’re dealing with known commodities under their own roof.
If you’re going to write a huge check, you try and make it a sure thing. Barring injury, it’s hard to imagine Lechler and Asomugha not being at the top of their profession for at least the next five years. If neither player got any better, it’s still a worthwhile investment.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 at 8:06 pm in Oakland Raiders.
With Shane Lechler in the bag, the Raiders can focus their attention on getting Nnamdi Asomugha signed to a long-term contract.
The Raiders would love to lower the cap figure of $11.7 million that would accompany a franchise tag, possibly even more if it is an exclusive tag. The deadline for designating franchise players is Thursday, and the only way that doesn’t happen with Asomugha is if the two sides agree on a long-term contract.
The question is whether Asomugha, who has been on only one winning team in his life in any sport (including high school), believes he can get that done in Oakland and if there is a dollar figure that is so substantial he simply could not turn it down.
Even if it meant a chance to join a perennial winner, like, say, New England.
Making Lechler the highest paid punter in history is one thing. His reported deal is for $12 million over four years, with $9 million guaranteed.
Making Asomugha the highest paid cornerback in the NFL will cost considerably more.
Last year’s premiere cornerback, Asante Samuel, got $20 million in guaranteed money from the Philadelphia Eagles. His six-year deal was reportedly worth $57 million.
You wonder what agent Tom Condon (coincidentally, the same man who represents Lechler) is asking for as he trades numbers through front office members with Al Davis. His starting point in terms of guaranteed money is probably in excess of $25 million.
A lot of money, to be sure, but if the Raiders could reel in Asomugha, it would be hard to find fault with their approach after some of the disasterous decisions they made last year.
There was the Tommy Kelly deal, with its $18.125 guarantee for a player who played considerably below that standard in 2008. Davis conceded as much, but is hopeful Year 2 following ACL surgery will be much better.
There was the new contract for DeAngelo Hall, who ended up getting $8 million for eight games as he got the money the Raiders should have been putting toward a long-term deal for Asomugha.
There was the Javon Walker deal . . . the less said, the better.
In the cases of Lechler and Asomugha, the Raiders aren’t on a fishing expedition, gambling on Kelly’s potential or taking on other team’s problems as was the case with Hall and Walker. They’re dealing with known commodities under their own roof.
If you’re going to write a huge check, you try and make it a sure thing. Barring injury, it’s hard to imagine Lechler and Asomugha not being at the top of their profession for at least the next five years. If neither player got any better, it’s still a worthwhile investment.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3919067
The Oakland Raiders reached agreement with cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha on a $45.3 million, three-year contract that makes him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history.
Sources said Asomugha is guaranteed $28.5 million in a complicated deal that features a provision in which the entire contract can be guaranteed if the Raiders decide to keep the 27-year-old for the third season.
This was the second major re-signing by the Raiders in two days; on Wednesday, Shane Lechler agreed to a four-year, $16 million contract, the richest ever for a punter.
Both deals were negotiated by agent Tom Condon, with Raiders owner Al Davis having significant involvement in brokering the agreements.
The Oakland Raiders reached agreement with cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha on a $45.3 million, three-year contract that makes him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history.
Sources said Asomugha is guaranteed $28.5 million in a complicated deal that features a provision in which the entire contract can be guaranteed if the Raiders decide to keep the 27-year-old for the third season.
This was the second major re-signing by the Raiders in two days; on Wednesday, Shane Lechler agreed to a four-year, $16 million contract, the richest ever for a punter.
Both deals were negotiated by agent Tom Condon, with Raiders owner Al Davis having significant involvement in brokering the agreements.
Under the language of the contract, Asomugha is slated to make $28.5 million during the first two years of the deal. That money is all guaranteed.
There’s an option in Year 3 of the deal where the Raiders would have to pay Asomugha either the average of the top five quarterback salaries or $16.875 million. Asomugha would be compensated with whichever is the higher figure.
lol Al had to pay QB money to keep him.....
There’s an option in Year 3 of the deal where the Raiders would have to pay Asomugha either the average of the top five quarterback salaries or $16.875 million. Asomugha would be compensated with whichever is the higher figure.
lol Al had to pay QB money to keep him.....