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Post by Sideshow Bob on Jan 9, 2011 17:06:54 GMT -6
This could be the magic bullet needed to fix our defense! sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6004943Pro Bowl cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha's contract voided and he will be allowed to become a free agent without the Oakland Raiders being able to use their franchise tag on him, Raiders senior executive John Herrera confirmed Sunday.
Asomugha’s deal included a little-known clause that said his contract would void if he didn’t achieve his not-likely-to-be-earned incentives in 2010 -- and he didn'’t.
His contract also contained a stipulation that if he didn’t achieve his incentives, the Raiders would agree not to designate him their franchise or transition player.
"We have to wait on the ramifications of the new CBA to be able to move on," Herrera said.
To achieve his incentives, Asomugha had to play in a greater number of defensive plays in 2010 than he did in 2009, and this season Asomugha played in only 14 games whereas he played in all 16 in 2009.
He also could have achieved his incentives by improving upon on his interceptions, fumble recoveries or sacks this season -- but he didn't have any interceptions, fumble recoveries or sacks this season.
Asomugha will be the top defensive player available whenever free agency begins.
Oakland could have many other key free agents this offseason depending on the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Richard Seymour, safety Michael Huff, cornerback Stanford Routt, tight end Zach Miller, left guard Robert Gallery and running back Michael Bush are among the Raiders' other potential free agents.
Asomugha is one of the league's best man-to-man cornerbacks, with most teams choosing not to throw to his side of the field. According to STATS LLC, Asomugha was targeted on just 33 pass attempts this season. He allowed 13 completions for 205 yards and no touchdowns, burnishing his reputation as a shutdown cornerback.
Asomugha was a first-round pick by the Raiders in 2003. After some struggles early in career as he moved from safety to cornerback, Asomugha has emerged as one of the league's top cornerbacks the past five years. He was recently selected to his third straight Pro Bowl.
But despite the strong play from Asomugha, the Raiders have been unable to put a winning team on the field in his eight years in Oakland. The team lost at least 11 games for an NFL worst seven straight years in Asomugha's first eight seasons before improving to 8-8 this year.
That improvement did not satisfy owner Al Davis, who announced last week that he would not pick up the option on coach Tom Cable's contract. The Raiders are now searching for their sixth coach since 2003, with offensive coordinator Hue Jackson the leading contender. |
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Jan 9, 2011 17:27:56 GMT -6
Must check on this. Free agency is a long time away.
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Post by Sideshow Bob on Jan 9, 2011 17:29:27 GMT -6
Must check on this. Free agency is a long time away. so he can't be signed until a specific date, even though his contract is voided? |
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Jan 9, 2011 17:33:20 GMT -6
I think it just makes him a free agent his rights are still Oaklands. It isn't like they cut him. Cut players can sign but free agents can't sign until free agency begins. Not sure how that will work with the CBA.
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Jan 9, 2011 17:42:18 GMT -6
www.ninersnation.com/2011/1/9/1924887/nnamdi-asomugha-to-become-a-free-agent-let-the-49ers-chatter-beginNeedless to say Raider Nation is not pleased with this development. When Nnamdi hits the market he'll be the most sought after defensive free agent, and possible overall free agent. I'd imagine the 49ers will be in the mix in some form or fashion. However, there are a couple things to consider. First is when free agency will actually start. Free agency is set to start I believe the first week/weekend in March. However, if a CBA has not been signed at that point, free agency will be delayed indefinitely. While the NFL Draft will happen even without a CBA (the picks just won't be able to sign), free agency could be pushed well into the summer depending on how negotiations move along. If that's the case it will impact a lot of decisions because then teams will be drafting ahead of signing big name free agents, which is the opposite of the normal process. A guy like Nnamdi will still be pursued, but with a high pick in the upcoming draft, do the 49ers go with a cornerback anyway? The other issue is of course the money. What's it going to cost to sign arguably the best cornerback in the NFL? Maybe it won't be a record-breaking contract like his previous deal, but it's going to be pricey. Much of this will depend on the cap numbers after a new CBA is announced. A big issue has been the percentage distribution of revenues between players and owners, which affects the salary cap. Does the team want to invest a big chunk of money in one player at this point? It's a hard point to argue at this point given the labor uncertainty, but it's something that will have to be considered at some point down the road.
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Post by Sideshow Bob on Jan 9, 2011 17:53:09 GMT -6
www.ninersnation.com/2011/1/9/1924887/nnamdi-asomugha-to-become-a-free-agent-let-the-49ers-chatter-beginNeedless to say Raider Nation is not pleased with this development. When Nnamdi hits the market he'll be the most sought after defensive free agent, and possible overall free agent. I'd imagine the 49ers will be in the mix in some form or fashion. However, there are a couple things to consider. First is when free agency will actually start. Free agency is set to start I believe the first week/weekend in March. However, if a CBA has not been signed at that point, free agency will be delayed indefinitely. While the NFL Draft will happen even without a CBA (the picks just won't be able to sign), free agency could be pushed well into the summer depending on how negotiations move along. If that's the case it will impact a lot of decisions because then teams will be drafting ahead of signing big name free agents, which is the opposite of the normal process. A guy like Nnamdi will still be pursued, but with a high pick in the upcoming draft, do the 49ers go with a cornerback anyway? The other issue is of course the money. What's it going to cost to sign arguably the best cornerback in the NFL? Maybe it won't be a record-breaking contract like his previous deal, but it's going to be pricey. Much of this will depend on the cap numbers after a new CBA is announced. A big issue has been the percentage distribution of revenues between players and owners, which affects the salary cap. Does the team want to invest a big chunk of money in one player at this point? It's a hard point to argue at this point given the labor uncertainty, but it's something that will have to be considered at some point down the road. damn, what a clusterfuck |
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Jan 9, 2011 19:33:03 GMT -6
Except I think he (Asomugha) is friends with Deion. Jerry should have Deion recruiting for him.
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Post by Sideshow Bob on Jan 10, 2011 11:18:16 GMT -6
Peter King claims that with the salary cap that will result from the new CBA, the Cowboys won't have the cash to sign Asomugha...D'OH!
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Jan 10, 2011 12:24:20 GMT -6
Peter King claims he knows what the new cap will be and where the Cowboys will be in relation to that cap, cut players, restructures, and everything else?
Did he think Washington could go on a spending spree every day and still give Haynesworth $100M?
Anything is possible. Maybe not likely, but possible.
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Post by Sideshow Bob on Jan 10, 2011 13:24:45 GMT -6
espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4677053/could-asomugha-be-11-version-of-deionWhenever free agency begins in 2011, the name of Oakland cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha will be at the top of every team’s list now that he has voided the final year of his contract with the Raiders.
He plays a premier position. He is young enough, turning 30 in July. He does not have a track record of injuries. And he can play a little bit. Actually he can play a lot. He has only 11 interceptions to his credit but in large part that’s because teams do not look his way often.
Could Asomugha be the 2011 version of Deion Sanders for the Cowboys?
The Cowboys broke the bank for Sanders in 1995 and he should be selected for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame next month.
The Cowboys need secondary help. Terence Newman is getting up there in age. Mike Jenkins did not progress in 2010. Now, free agency is not a sure thing. Teams take too many gambles by paying for past production instead of future production.
Asomugha has plenty left.
The tricky part is figuring out how much it would take to get him. A salary cap is all but certain to return in 2011, so teams like the Cowboys will have to make some moves just to get under the cap and even more moves to make room.
Veterans like Marion Barber, Leonard Davis, Keith Brooking, Marc Colombo and Newman could be on the cap-casualty list, which would free up cap space. The Cowboys can re-work the contracts of Tony Romo, DeMarcus Ware and Miles Austin and add more space.
Asomugha made $28.5 million over the last two years in Oakland. The Cowboys guaranteed Ware $40 million in his deal a couple of years ago. I would think they would have to be in a higher neighborhood than that to get Asomugha.
Would it be worth it?
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