Asomugha a free agent

Redsoxfan

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6004943&campaign=rss&source=twitter&ex_cid=Twitter_espn_6004943

Unrestricted too, according to ESPN.

I'm sure there will be a lot of interest-wonder what it will do to the draft (Peterson, Amukamara...)

I'd love to see my Browns take a run at him!

mikemac

This is huge news!

He's coming to the Ravens I tell ya, hands off.
CB is the Ravens biggest need

Love this guy and he is a real pro and role model off the field too

Chucky the tree

What a **** day.

eagle eye

Jeez thats the most ridiculous contract clause I've ever heard of. Cowboys is the first thought that jumps out at me.

Redsoxfan

Yeah, Cowboys sure need him-'Prime Time' without the drama.

Oat23

The bears NEED a cornerback BAD. I hope we make a run at him.

mikemac

A lot of teams will be struggling for cap space

The Bears gave a big contract to Peppers and signed other free agents.

The Ravens have a lot of players heading for free agency this offseason. We need to bring back Gaither or get another left tackle, Michael Oher isn't there yet.
Plus Ngata must get a contract and that's big money.

Vikings will probably make a run for him.

Asomugha is a top person though, he may take less money to sign for a competitive team and have a chance of a ring

Peyton Manning

The top 8 rule might not be part of the new CBA so technically every team in the league could be in for him (some more realistic than others of course).

Can't see it happening, but Asomugha + McCourty = Wet Dream

Oat23

feelingstressed wrote: »

The Bears gave a big contract to Peppers and signed other free agents.

We've still got around 55m in cap space but lots of players to re-sign/extend after this year. I still reckon we could make him a good offer.

It's highly unlikely though, it'd max out our cap space.

I'll continue to dream!

SantryRed

I honestly do not get that contract clause at all. Surely it's an incentive to get out of the franchise? That's an incentive for a player not to push himself.

Lirange

The people responsible for negotiating the clause in that contract for the Raiders should be sacked. The people in the organisation responsible for letting them do it should find a wall and apply their head.

Frisbee

What.

The.

Fúck.

Pyjamarama

feelingstressed wrote: »

Someone in the Raiders should be sacked over this

Al won't fire himself...

mikemac

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.

Someone in the Raiders should be heading for the dole queue over this

Not that 31 other teams are complaining!
Namdi is a winner and a great off the field guy, I bet he wants a ring and would temper his contract demands to get on a competitive team

Though if he wants to go down the bidding route, the Cowboys and Vikings would no doubt give big offers

TheHeadhunter

Bring on a losing season!

Max Power1

Heads should roll in the front office of the silver and black.

If that is not the definition of "epic fail" and "facepalm" all rolled into one i dont know what is.

We're heading for more seasons of mediocrity after all the promise shown this year.

frostie500

Max Power1 wrote: »

Heads should roll in the front office of the silver and black.

If that is not the definition of "epic fail" and "facepalm" all rolled into one i dont know what is.

We're heading for more seasons of mediocrity after all the promise shown this year.

In all fairness heads should have rolled for giving a conrnerback $16 million a year. He's a fantastic player but the contract numbers meant that something along these lines was always inevitable.

Prefab Sprouter

Was he really worth the contract that the Raiders gave him?

Max Power1

frostie500 wrote: »

In all fairness heads should have rolled for giving a conrnerback $16 million a year. He's a fantastic player but the contract numbers meant that something along these lines was always inevitable.

He is possibly the best shutdown corner of his generation, playing for a mediocre team. If they wanted to keep him they had to stump up the cash. I would have paid him that to keep him if I was Al Davis, but the release clause is ridiculous.

Prefab Sprouter wrote: »

Was he really worth the contract that the Raiders gave him?

As I said above, yes IMO.

frostie500

Max Power1 wrote: »

He is possibly the best shutdown corner of his generation, playing for a mediocre team. If they wanted to keep him they had to stump up the cash. I would have paid him that to keep him if I was Al Davis, but the release clause is ridiculous

He may be the best corner but paying him 16million puts him as earing more money than most QBs in the NFL. For example he earned more than Drew Brees got for taking the Saints to the Superbowl last season and Brett Farve got for taking the Vikings to the NFC title game.

The benefit of a shutdown is terrific, but you have to give them a comparable deal to other players at the position and understand the value of the position. The Raiders have made a series of downright ridiculous contract decisions in recent years with Asomugha one of them and Shane Lechler another. Both of these players are fantastic and at the top of their profession but offering them deals that dwarf what their peers earn is crazy and leads to a situation where you can not keep hold of them long term-it just isnt economically viable to pay these sorts of deals to players in these positions and build a team.

You are right to say that the Raiders needed to offer deals of this nature to keep their top players but going forward they need to offer responsible deals so that they can build their team and have more top tier talent on their roster. They need depth across the board more than they need a shutdown corner if they are to win on a consistent basis

Pyjamarama

16m for Nnamdi seems like a bargain compared to 24.5m garaunteed money for DeAngelo Hall!! Or giving Javon Walker 21m!! I could go on and on, Davis is loopers this is nothing new.

I really feel for Raiders fans. I whinge and whine about the tightarse we have at Philly but they've to put up with such incompetence.

HigginsJ

Would be great addition for the Giants. Our secondary improved this year but really need someone to play opposite terell thomas. GO get him now

Dodge

Would be a great addition to any team. If you think $16 million wasn’t value, we’ll see what the other 31 teams think now. As everyone of them wants him

Can’t think of another player this good to come on the FA market in a long time

My guess is the Saints see how bad their secondary was and instantly make it the best in their division with this signing

Pyjamarama

It's not that people think he isn't worth a ton of cash but having so much tied up in a corner is a serious issue cap wise. He's on similar cash to Franchise QB's, more than some. That's not particularly good financial management....

Chucky the tree

There's no cap though. It's impossible to call how much he will get until we get a new CBA. In saying that he will only go to a contender so will be happy enough to take a pay cut for it.

spiralism

apparently the former raiders beat writer, who is friends with aso, has stated that aso wants to go to either Green Bay or the Jets...

Pyjamarama

spiralism wrote: »

apparently the former raiders beat writer, who is friends with aso, has stated that aso wants to go to either Green Bay or the Jets...

Jebus him at the Jets would mean you may as well give up attempting to pass... Wouldn't be much different at GB.

Dohnny Jepp

i'd love for titans to cut finnegan and pick up aso. Won't happen casue titans dont like spending big money =[

spiralism

Pyjamarama wrote: »

Jebus him at the Jets would mean you may as well give up attempting to pass... Wouldn't be much different at GB.

it would be even worse at green bay, seeing as they're deeper at the safety positions...

Pyjamarama

spiralism wrote: »

it would be even worse at green bay, seeing as they're deeper at the safety positions...

Yeah but Revis is substantially better than th GB corners. Woodson is gonna be another year older and while I'm a huge fan of Williams Revis is substantially better.

jdivision

Mention today that Dallas might go after him.

bamboozling

Anyone think Detroit Lions might go after him. They're building an excellent defence.

Chucky the tree

bamboozling wrote: »

Anyone think Detroit Lions might go after him. They're building an excellent defence.

He wouldn't leave Raiders for the Lions. Why go to a worse team?

bamboozling

Depends how soon he wants to win the superbowl.

If he wants it immediatly then that rules the Lions out but if he can wait a couple of years the Lions could be a great shout considering the team they are building.

spiralism

he's said apparently he wants to go to a team thats already a contender, rather than a work in progress... hence Green Bay or the Jets

Dodge

Chucky the tree wrote: »

He wouldn't leave Raiders for the Lions. Why go to a worse team?

Lions aren't worse than the Raiders. Lions would've gone 10-6 in the AFC west (and are improving all the time)

spiralism

Dodge wrote: »

Lions aren't worse than the Raiders. Lions would've gone 10-6 in the AFC west (and are improving all the time)

The Lions of the last month probably would have, but up to that point, I doubt it.

Peyton Manning

Dodge wrote: »

Lions aren't worse than the Raiders. Lions would've gone 10-6 in the AFC west (and are improving all the time)

Until they start protecting their quarterback - yeah, they're worse.

themont85

spiralism wrote: »

The Lions of the last month probably would have, but up to that point, I doubt it.

They were playing pretty well upto that point as well even though results didn't go their way.

Dodge

Yep, losing Stafford was a blow. They'd have beaten the Bears too if it wasn't for the worst refereeing decision of the year early in the season too.

BTW I thought the Raiders were a fine team this year. I just think that over the next few years the Lions could develop into a contender

Frisbee

If the Lions can get their O-Line sorted so Stafford isn't treated like a human tackle bag every game I think they'll grow into genuine contenders over the next 2-3 years. They have enough playmakers in that team to start winning big games.

minstrel_boy

feelingstressed wrote: »

A lot of teams will be struggling for cap space

The Bears gave a big contract to Peppers and signed other free agents.

The Ravens have a lot of players heading for free agency this offseason. We need to bring back Gaither or get another left tackle, Michael Oher isn't there yet.
Plus Ngata must get a contract and that's big money.

Vikings will probably make a run for him.

Asomugha is a top person though, he may take less money to sign for a competitive team and have a chance of a ring

Sorry bout going off topic, but I read the book about michael Oher and Lawrence Taylor and the evolution of the game. Is it the case that the LT is usually the most agile/powerful/skillful offensive Lineman? Are they one of the highest paid positions as claimed in the book?

After reading the book, I have taken an interest in the ravens and Oher in particular. I'm no expert but I thought he seemed to be pretty solid in the 3/4 ravens games that have been covered by Sky this season. ( I know he had a couple of dodgy moments against the chiefs last week, but he was still doing a decent job, and he was aggressive when it came to backing up team mates which I liked)

What do you think are his weaknesses at the moment and do you think he has the potential to improve? Right now, would you move him to another lineman position, bench him or trade him?

One left tackle who looks very good is dbrickshaw ferguson! Is he the benchmark right now?

Hazys

minstrel_boy wrote: »

Sorry bout going off topic, but I read the book about michael Oher and Lawrence Taylor and the evolution of the game. Is it the case that the LT is usually the most agile/powerful/skillful offensive Lineman? Are they one of the highest paid positions as claimed in the book?

After reading the book, I have taken an interest in the ravens and Oher in particular. I'm no expert but I thought he seemed to be pretty solid in the 3/4 ravens games that have been covered by Sky this season. ( I know he had a couple of dodgy moments against the chiefs last week, but he was still doing a decent job, and he was aggressive when it came to backing up team mates which I liked)

What do you think are his weaknesses at the moment and do you think he has the potential to improve? Right now, would you move him to another lineman position, bench him or trade him?

One left tackle who looks very good is dbrickshaw ferguson! Is he the benchmark right now?

You could probably post this in the general banter thread: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055759462&page=80 which is for all random questions and stories.

As for Oher he looks like he could be the real deal. The has the right size and has the ablilty to be an elite LT in the game for years to come. The only weakness i can see in Oher is lack of experience which will come in time.

The Ravens think very highly of him, so much so he started his rookie season at RT because they have a very good LT in Gaither already. But as the season went on he took over the LT position (partly because Gaither was injured) and pushed Gaither to RT. He was a contender for rookie of the year last year, which says a lot for an OLineman.

They are letting Gaither go at the end of the season because they dont want to pay two offensive linemen top LT wages and they are choosing Oher over Gaither. Oher wont be going anywhere. The Ravens will keep him as long as they can afford to pay him. Before Oher the Ravens had one of the greatest LTs of all time playing for them for all his career Jonathon Ogden. Gaither will be a big FA target this off season.

Ferguson is a very good LT but i'd say the top ones at the moment are Jake Long of the Dolphins and Joe Thomas of the Browns...all young guys suprisingly, because it used to be guys like Orlando Pace (Rams), Walter Jones (Seahawks) and Ogden (Ravens) who were the marque guys and they were around for ages who only recently retired.

mikemac

Let's give this a bump

Definitely the prize free agent when free agency rolls around

In an NFL.com chat Wednesday, NFL Network's Jason La Canfora suggested that Nnamdi Asomugha could command a contract in free agency that approaches $19 million a year.
It'd make him the highest paid player in NFL history. Our projection in the spring was $72 million over five years ($14.4 million annually), but it appears we were too conservative. It's worth noting that Asomugha's last contract was for $45.3 million across three seasons, with $28.5 million guaranteed. La Canfora believes the Bucs could be serious bidders for Asomugha, pointing to their "pretty massive" proposal to Albert Haynesworth in February of 2009, and need to reach the salary cap "floor" in the new CBA

I like Bucky Brooks from NFL.com and this article is a good read too
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d820a2895/article/asomugha-is-a-star-but-suitors-have-reason-to-be-worried%3Fmodule%3DHP_headlines

Now Nnamdi isn't an Albert Haynseworth. He's a top class individual and would be a great professional for any team

There was speculation, more like wishful thinking from contending teams like the Ravens fans that he would setlle for a lower salary to play for a contender.

But $19 million is an incredible number and just not possible and we don't even know the cap figure for next season if there is one.

Even if he settled for a lower salary, where do you think he'll end up?
Eagles, Lions, Texans and possibly the Cowboys are the teams most mentioned
Also the Bucs have one of the lowest payrolls in the league and have room to sign him. A veteran would be welcome on that young team

Chucky the tree

As much as I love him, it's crazy money for a cornerback. Props to him if he gets it though, no one would be more desrving of it and I think the Bucs could be serious contenders in a year or two.

Amirani

Texans and Lions are the teams most in need of some big help at corner. Throw Nmandi into either team and it's just going to change your defence.

vinny chase

Would love to see him come to the Buccaneers. They'll need help at corner given the fact that Ronde surely hasn't much left in the tank, they're very inexperienced at safety, and Talib will inevitably be suspended for a long time. Talib is so much trouble anyway, even without the current felony charge, which is a shame because he has elite talent.

Biggers and Myron Lewis look like good prospects, but not starters right now.

I know the Buccs will probably look to rework Josh Freeman's contract in the near future, and he'll want big money, but they should still have loads of cap room to make a good play at Nnamdi, and he would be a huge asset to that defence.

Don't know if it's the style of the team to do it though.

neilster

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Yeah, Cowboys sure need him-'Prime Time' without the drama.

The Lions probably have the biggest need but the Cowboys would be attractive for him and they can outbid anyone but i think like Anquan Boldin before him the Ravens will make a run for Asomugha ....they have made big splashes on Cornerbacks before and in light of getting the excellent Jimmy Smith this could definitely put them across the hump against the Steelers ....if they had a full season from Ed Reed and upgrade their other safety they could go from a relatively weak secondary to a real strength

mikemac

This is from last February from ESPN

Last seasons cap figures

Arizona $83 million
Atlanta $102.1 million
Baltimore $101.3 million
Buffalo $96.4 million
Carolina $73 million
Chicago $104.9 million
Cincinnati $90.7 million
Cleveland $99.2 million
Dallas $136.6 million
Denver $125 million
Detroit $113.8 million
Green Bay $129.8 million
Houston $118.4 million
Indianapolis $115.5 million
Jacksonville $78.1 million
Kansas City $74.7 million
Miami $103.1 million
Minnesota $108.4 million
New England $102.3 million
New Orleans $105.2 million
New York Giants $126.3 million
New York Jets $128.5 million
Oakland $85.8 million
Philadelphia $80.8 million
Pittsburgh $116 million
San Diego $85.8 million
San Francisco $100.9 million
Seattle $81.1 million
St. Louis $102.4 million
Tampa Bay $59.7 million
Tennessee $107.4 million
Washington $115.2 million

Yahoo Sports report a cap of €120 million this year but this is not confirmed
And there will be a floor so the lowest spending teams must spend

For example Bucs would be wise to lock up Josh Freeman and give a front loaded contract to avoid issues in the future.

I think this is relevant for this thread, Nnamdi will affect the cap space for any team

Note these figures don't show franchised players. Haloti Ngata for the Ravens in line for over 12 million and Logan Mankins in line for a huge sum too. There are other examples. So not everyone is in the running here