Raiders keep CB Asomugha with hefty contract

[February 20, 2009]  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha re-signed with the Oakland Raiders on Thursday, agreeing to a three-year, $45.3 million contract that gives him the highest salary in NFL history for a defensive back.

Asomugha, who's heading into his seventh NFL season, is one of the league's elite cover defenders. He was selected for the Pro Bowl and chosen to the AP All-Pro team last season despite getting just one interception because Oakland's opponents rarely even dared to throw to his side of the field.

Asomugha is guaranteed $28.5 million in the first two years of the contract. The Raiders have an option for a third year in 2011, which would be worth either $16.8 million or the amount of the quarterback franchise tag, whichever is greater.

The Raiders made two dramatic moves in the past two days to answer their biggest questions in free agency, locking up possibly their two best players with lucrative deals. On Wednesday, Oakland re-signed All-Pro Shane Lechler to a four-year contract that was the biggest ever given to a punter in NFL history.

Raiders owner Al Davis had been unsure whether to use his franchise player tag on Lechler or Asomugha, who got it last season. Instead, he paid top dollar to keep both players.

Asomugha, a former first-round draft pick from the University of California, has 10 career interceptions. He picked off eight passes and was a late Pro Bowl selection in 2006, when he emerged as an elite cornerback and struck fear into offensive coordinators over the next two seasons.

Asomugha made critical statements about the Raiders' direction late in their sixth consecutive losing season, but acknowledged he probably would remain with the club because of the franchise tag. His new contract and the Raiders' new coaching staff likely made the decision much easier.

After the Raiders' big free-agent signings in the last offseason didn't work out particularly well, Davis is spending freely on his own proven players before the free agency period even opens. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall, given a $70 million deal to be Asomugha's bookend, lasted just eight terrible games before being cut, while $55 million receiver Javon Walker made just 15 catches before going on injured reserve.

Asomugha will return to a revamped Raiders staff under new defensive coordinator John Marshall and new defensive backs coach Lionel Washington. Oakland retained Tom Cable as its head coach earlier in the month after he led the Raiders to a 4-8 record while taking over for Lane Kiffin.

[Associated Press; By GREG BEACHAM]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.