Asomugha lands richest contract for DB
A day after agreeing to a four year deal with Pro Bowl punter Shane Lechler, the Oakland Raiders rewarded their other stand out player with the richest contract ever paid to a defensive back in league history.
Many reports indicate that Nnamdi Asomugha has inked a three-year deal worth $45.3 million with $28.5 million in guarantees.
Per a ESPN report, the deal features a provision in which the entire contract can be guaranteed if the Silver & Black decide to keep the cornerback throughout the entirety of the deal.
Asomugha, 27, is coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance and his second All-Pro designation (2006, 2008). A first round pick in the 2003 draft, the former California product has developed into one of the elite defensive backs in the NFL. Entering the 2006 campaign, Asomugha had no career interceptions, but that season, he tallied 8, as well as his first career touchdown on a 24-yard interception return versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. Being on a 2-win club, not having enough notoriety and complications with arranging a flight after being chosen as an alternate several hours before the game, obstructed the former first round draft pick’s path to his first NFL all-star game.
In 2007, opponents started neglecting his side of the field; earning the respect of quarterbacks with his crafty cover skills. But again, he was bypassed in the selection process for the Pro-Bowl – named only an alternate – despite being thrown at a meager 31 times with only 10 receptions completed to the receiver he was covering.
Before the 2008 campaign, he signed a $9.765 million tender after being tagged by the Raiders as their exclusive franchise player. That tag kept him off the market, and this off-season, it was believed that Oakland would tag him again even after he openly showed displeasure for the first time in his career regarding the state of the organization.
“Last year, Al (Davis) called me the day before just to let me know he’s going to do it, and then they waited until the very last possible second,” Asomugha said a few weeks ago. “I don’t know how they’ll do it this year, but the expectation from my agent is that the tag will happen.”
Asomugha outwardly critiqued moves by the organization during the season and his comments regarding his future with the team left many doubting whether he wanted to remain in Silver & Black.
“Yeah, uh, I won’t comment on that on what will happen next year, what will happen with me as far as the contract. I would say all those types of questions I’ll just say no comment.”
Agent Tom Condon represented both Asomugha and Lechler, with Raiders owner Al Davis being an active participant during the negotiations.
Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist
