"The Raiders' Tyvon Branch doesn't compare himself to other safeties. "I focus on my team. Different safeties have different roles in different defenses," he said Wednesday. But the 25-year-old Branch will now be expected to be one of the league's best and an impact player, taking a lead role in Dennis Allen's new aggressive defense. On Saturday, the Raiders signed Branch - on whom they had put the franchise tag this spring - to a four-year deal worth $26.6 million (with $17.6 million guaranteed). The new contract freed up $3.8 million in cap space for the Raiders, who now are about $4.7 million under the salary cap. (If they want to add free-agent running backs Cedric Benson or Ryan Grant or a linebacker, they now can.) Branch's cap numbers the next few seasons, according to NFL.com, are $2.4 million (2012), $10.9 million (2013), $5.4 million (2014) and $7.9 million (2015). "It gives you (comfort) that you're going to be around for the next couple of years," Branch said. "It definitely gives you a little more peace of mind. It's just one of those things that you don't have to worry about anymore. You know where you're going to be."" Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/raiders/article/Raiders-safety-Tyvon-Branch-s-new-deal-3721610.php
