Oakland Raiders: Why the Silver and Black are in a Great Spot for 2011

Some in Raider Nation are in a frenzied panic.

"What the hell is Al Davis doing?!" they're thinking.

The fact of the matter is, Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis knows exactly what he's doing.

The Raiders have poured a lot of money into their players this offseason. They've given Richard Seymour $22.5 million for the next two years, Stanford Routt $10 million guaranteed this year and now have placed the franchise tag on Kamerion Wimbley, paying him $10 million in 2011.

Ouch, right?

Wrong.

The truth is, Stanford Routt played just as well as Nnamdi Asomugha for the Oakland Raiders. That's not opinion; it's fact. Routt was targeted 99 times in 2010 and gave up a 39.4 completion percentage.

Asomugha? Targeted 33 times, yet gave up 39.4 percent.

Am I saying Routt deserves as much money as Asomugha? Not at all.

Many Raider fans are stressing that this spent money will make it impossible for the Raiders to re-sign Asomugha. I beg to differ.

Remember, Nation, we don't have a first-round draft pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. That means no first-round salary we have to pay.

Also, I know for a fact that the Raiders will reach a long-term deal with Kamerion Wimbley within the next 48 hours. And it'll pay him something for much less than $10 million. Maybe even half of that.

If the Raiders don't retain Asomugha? Fine. It'd take around $15 million to keep him, anyway. Let's sign Antonio Cromartie, who reportedly won't be back with the New York Jets, for half of that.

Problem solved.

Some are also worried about tight end Zach Miller leaving Oakland. There's about a 99 percent probability that Miller will be a Raider in 2011.

Reportedly, his agent and Al Davis have been in contact and are probably working on a deal as we speak.

And what about the others?

Listen, Robert Gallery leaving is ...

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