Tuesday was the National Football League’s deadline for signing franchise players to multiyear deals. For the Oakland Raiders and cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, it meant another day without a long-term deal and more indication that the 27-year old will likely play for the tendered one-year $9.765 million offer that the exclusive-rights cornerback tag comes with for 2008.

Asomugha has not signed the tender and has not practiced with the team during their off-season organized activities, but per reports, the former first round draft choice in 2003 has stated that he will not miss any regular season games.

The Silver & Black will open their training camp on July 23rd at their Napa Valley Complex, and at this moment, because there has been no resolution, Asomugha could miss some time in camp. No multi-year deal can be reached at this point and if Oakland wants to lock him, it will have to occur after the 2008 season. It appears that there is no resentment by either party, and that all Asomugha is looking for is reassurance that in 2009, when he becomes a free-agent once again, that the Raiders will not use the franchise tag on him again as they did with Charles Woodson during the 2004 and 2005 off-seasons.

When the Raiders took a similar approach with Woodson, it netted him a total of $19.32 million. Their return on that investment was 103 tackles, two interceptions, 11 passes defended and a departure to Green Bay.

Unlike Woodson, Asomugha does not appear disenchanted with the organization, they are no hints of unhappiness with the direction of the team and maybe more importantly, his agents are not named Poston.

What could throw a wrench into the situation is the eight-year, $80 million deal Nate Clements inked with San Francisco in 2007. Asomugha has established himself as a legit cover corner and could make the argument that he is deserving of a similar deal.

The Raiders also acquired DeAngelo Hall this off-season and immediately rewarded him with an extension worth $8 million this season as part of a seven-year, $66 million contract.

Asomugha is deserving of the raise and more importantly, locking up a fan favorite who has develop into a legitimate star since being drafted can only help the building process Oakland has been undertaking in recent years.

Oakland got all-pro caliber back-to-back seasons out of Asomugha. And with the option to opt of his deal, it was no surprise that Asomugha would bypass playing for the $820,000 he was expected to earn in 2008.

Unlike other players that are in similar situations when tagged, Asomugha wants to stay. He has all the skills and attitude needed to help this team turn the page on their worst stretch in modern day history. If they cannot ink him to a long-term deal, it won’t sit well with the fan base and moreover, it will open them up for critique if Hall remains and does not perform at the level Asomugha has, for an organization that has been floundering since 2003.

The Raiders will also have other players to contend with looking for new deals. Derrick Burgess by league standards is underpaid and if he has a bounce back season, he’ll be one player looking to augment his salary.

With an already bloated cap number after a free agent shopping spree this winter on defense, Oakland will not be able to afford another franchise tag for Asomugha in 2009, which could land him an estimated $11.718 million, representing a 20 percent raise on his 2008 salary.