When it comes to Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders, no news should really come as a surprise. The Raiders have done far crazier things than void the contract of their best defensive player. They may have included a clause in Nnamdi Asomugha’s contract that forces him to become a free agent if he fails to achieve some strange incentives but, hey, at least they didn’t just give him to the Patriots, right?
ESPN’s Adam Schefter called our attention to an NFLPA document on Sunday morning which states that Asomugha will become a free agent after this season since he failed to play a greater number of defensive snaps in 2010 than 2009, and also did not improve upon his fumble recovery, interception and sack numbers. More importantly, the clause also states that the Raiders cannot use the franchise or transition tag on Asomugha.
If not for the unusual clause, Oakland would have had Asomugha signed through 2011 with a team option for $16.8 million in 2012. Now, the NFL free agent list has a new top dog on the defensive side of the ball. At only 30 years old, Asomugha will be highly-coveted and likely demand one of the most lucrative contracts in NFL history.
