Day: February 19, 2009

For a change, the Oakland Raiders intercepted CB Nnamdi Asomugha on his way to the free-agent market.

Asomugha signed a three-year deal that is worth a minimum of $45 million and could reach $50 million, a league source said.

It’s a complex contract that the NFL had to sift through and approve, and it has. The deal works like this:

The first two years, worth $28.5 million, are fully guaranteed. In the third year of the contract, if Oakland wants to keep Asomugha, it must pay him the average of the top five highest-paid quarterbacks (not to be confused with cornerbacks) or $16.875 million — whichever is greater. If the Raiders fail to pick up the option, Asomugha will become a free agent, with Oakland not having the ability to tag him again.

It’s a complex deal, but the bottom line is it’s done. The Raiders kept Asomugha and punter Shane Lechler without having to use a franchise tag.

via NFL.com’s Adam Schefter

This is a dream deal for any player. Get loads of cash, and they can’t dick you (pause). man oh man. Nnamdi you won.