Oakland Raiders: Aaron Curry Latest Raider to Restructure Contract

After a week that has seen defensive lineman Richard Seymour, quarterback Carson Palmer, and safety Michael Huff all restructure their contracts in an effort to create some wiggle room for the salary cap-strapped Oakland Raiders, yet another Oakland player has re-done his deal in an effort to help the team erase what began as a cap overage in excess of $20 million, as linebacker Aaron Curry has joined his teammates in "taking one for the team" by agreeing to renegotiate his contract late Friday.

The 25-year-old Curry was the fourth-overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks, but after two-plus disappointing seasons in the Emerald City where Curry was miscast as a strong-side linebacker in the Seahawks 4-3 defense Curry was traded to the Raiders last October in exchange for a seventh=round pick in the 2012 draft and a conditional draft choice in 2013.

According to reports Curry, who had 46 tackles in nine starts last season after joining the Silver and Black, agreed to convert much of his $5.8 million base salary in 2012 to incentives, affording the Raiders some cap relief while ensuring that Curry can still make the same money he would have before restructuring his contract—if the former Wake Forest standout plays well as Oakland's weak-side linebacker this season (either outside in a 4-3 front or potentially inside at WILB should the Raiders feature more 3-4 looks as was speculated earlier this year), which is the position Curry played in college and the one to which he's more naturally suited.

Curry, who is a devout Christian and avid tweeter, took to his favorite forum Friday night to express his satisfaction with the "new" contract that will keep him with the Raiders at least through the end of this season, after which time Curry will hit free agency.

 

I restructured my contract because I was born a Christfilled Raider! I'm excited to be able to   Glorify God and ... tmi...