<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders and star cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha failed to agree on a long-term contract before Tuesday's deadline for franchised players. Asomugha The Raiders placed the exclusive franchise tag on Asomugha in February, which guaranteed Asomugha more than $9 million in 2008 and did not allow him to negotiate with any other team. Asomugha has not signed the tender and has been unable to practice with the team during offseason workouts. The two sides had up until Tuesday to sign a long-term contract. With no deal in place, Asomugha will be guaranteed $9.765 million for this season as soon as he signs. Asomugha has already informed the Raiders that he will not miss any regular-season games in a holdout, but it is uncertain whether he will report to training camp when it opens next week. Asomugha will be eligible for free agency again after the upcoming season. But the Raiders could try to sign him to a long-term deal after the season or choose to use the franchise tag again, which would guarantee Asomugha about $11.7 million in 2009. The Raiders already signed a big deal with a cornerback this offseason, giving DeAngelo Hall a $70 million, seven-year contract following a trade with Atlanta. Hall will be guaranteed about $24 million in that deal. The Raiders are counting on the duo of Hall and Asomugha to help improve a defense that struggled at times last season. Oakland plays predominantly man-to-man defense on the outside, putting more pressure on their cornerbacks than most teams. Coach Lane Kiffin has talked about how the presence of Hall and Asomugha on the outside could help a run defense that allowed a league-worst 4.8 yards per carry last season. A first-round pick out of California in 2003, Asomugha struggled early in his career. He didn't intercept a single pass in his first three seasons, getting a reputation for his poor hands. But he had a breakthrough season in 2006, intercepting eight passes and becoming one of the top cover cornerbacks in the league. Asomugha had only one interception last season as teams often shied away from throwing to his side of the field.</div> http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3490995 This.... I don't get. You mean to tell me, you can hand over a $70M contract to DeAngelo Hall, who's clearly struggled since coming into the league and may be better suited to be a #2 CB than a #1 CB (like he'll be in Oakland)....but when it comes to paying a CB who's improved every year, been elite for 3 years, and is one of the top CBs in the league, you can't hammer out a deal? Odd. Perhaps ROTR can explain this to me. Because I am not sure how you don't pay one of the best defensive players in the league.
I personally think they traded for Hall because they felt that they might not be able to keep him past this one-year tag. They certainly couldn't have tied kept this CB duo for more than one season.
That's been my feeling too (that would be a lot of money tied up in your CBs) But I don't get why you'd go out and acquire Hall if it means letting Aso go. Its not hard to determine whom the better CB is. At any rate, he'll catch a niiiiiiiiiice payday when he gets a new contract. It will put Clement's to shame.
The Raiders have him tagged this year, and it will be real difficult for "Awesomewa" to complain about getting close to $10 million dollars *this* season alone. Come on, do you really think that $10 million is anything to sneeze at? Technically, the Raiders don't have to make any moves until the end of this season. They were just attempting to get an early jump on it during this offseason. It didn't get done, but it's not to say that it won't ever get done. Namdi has already promised the team that despite whatever happens, he will not miss any games over this. He might miss some training camp days, but that's ok. It's not like he is joining a brand new defensive scheme or has different assignments than he had last year. I'm not worried at all. I think he remains a Raider for the next 4 years.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vintage @ Jul 16 2008, 07:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Because I am not sure how you don't pay one of the best defensive players in the league.</div> The most ironic thing about this to me is that when Al drafted Nnamdi in the first round a few years ago, everyone was bashing him for the pick. They ripped him mercilessly all over the place for taking this guy. Nobody even knew who he was coming out of school. Now, everyone is "Oh my god, Al, pay this guy already!!!!". LOL
Like the great guy that he is, he signs his tender, and reports to camp...on time. By the way, you guys need to refer to him by his nickname - "Scrabble". The Raiders could franchise tag him one more time next season if they choose to. If they get the deal done, he will be the highest paid corner in the NFL. He is <u>that</u> good too. Don't let his interception numbers last year fool you. They only threw the ball toward him 30 times last season in 16 games. http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8...mp;confirm=true
"Scrabble" at training camp: Asomugha conceded some players he were surprised he would risk injury and future millions by reporting to camp. “When I was talking to a lot of the players, that they were surprised that I came,” Asomugha said. “ But at the same time they weren’t because they know it’s not about money for me. I really want to win games. That’s a big part of why I’m here. It’s putting that on the line, that you could get hurt, and those types of things. But it’s in the name of being a cohesive unit and coming together and trying to win football games.” I love his attitude. One of the classiest people in the whole league, and possibly the best CB.
