Asomugha was due $16 million next season, or the average between the top five paid quarterbacks in the NFL. The Raiders will not be able to franchise tag him because of a clause in his contract.
This should have the majority of the Raider Nation very upset. This is the second move in about a week that has left many fans scratching their heads.
Al Davis decided not to pick up Tom Cable's two year option last week. Cable and Asomugha were two very popular figures within the Raider Nation.
Now the question is: what happens now?
While most will disagree, this move was the right one. No cornerback in the NFL is worth $16 million a year, not even Asomugha.
The Raiders have not had a winning season with Asomugha on the team. Of course, that is not Asomugha's fault since he has been one of the best cornerbacks in the league for years now.
The Raiders voiding his contract doesn't mean that he is done in Oakland either. There still is a chance that the Raiders and Asomugha will work out another contract that is more cap friendly to the team.
This may remind Raider fans of 2006, when Oakland lost Charles Woodson to free agency. Woodson was a great player for the Raiders, but he's been even better with Green Bay.
Asomugha will most likely test the market, since this is the first time he's ever been a free agent.
This leaves the Raiders defense with a lot of questions. Michael Huff, Stanford Routt, Nnamdi Asomugha and Richard Seymour are all free agents this offseason.
It is important that the Raiders sign all these players, but it is possible they lose half of them.
Odds are if Davis wants them back, he will outbid any team to keep them. But it may not be about money.
Pun...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
