Report: Seymour, Raiders ink two-year, 30M deal

Feb. 16, 2011RAIDERS NEWSRAIDERS VIDEO

Paul Gutierrez
CSNCalifornia.com

With a mere 16 days remaining until the collective bargaining agreement expires and the wheels of doing business in the NFL come to a screeching halt, the Raiders have come to a contract agreement with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Richard Seymour, Sports Illustrated has reported.The two-year deal is worth a potential 30 million, with 22.5-million guaranteed.RELATED: Richard Seymour statssplitsgame logsSeymour maintained he wanted to remain a Raider throughout last season and was asked if hed spread the word to other potential free agents about coming to Oakland.I definitely invite anybody to come in, Seymour said on Dec. 29, when he was announced as a Pro Bowler. Its a great place to play. The fans are unlike any others in the league. Theyre definitely committed, and they want the same type (of) players to play in this organization. The history of being here, the mystique of putting that silver and black on and representing the Raiders, its been a lifelong dream for me and, hopefully, it continues. Obviously, you always want to be where youre wanted. If Im wanted, Im definitely open for anything.
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Seymour, obtained in a September, 2009 trade with New England for a first-round pick in the 2011 upcoming draft (the Patriots will select 17th overall; the Raiders second-rounder is No. 48 overall), had perhaps his finest overall season, what with his combination of production and leadership after moving from end to right tackle exclusively in the Raiders 4-3 scheme. Despite missing three games with a strained hamstring, he had 5sacks, the second-highest total of his career, added 11 quarterback hurries and a posted career-high 36 solo tackles, all while constantly fighting off double teams. You may not think it was a good trade, Raiders owner Al Davis said of acquiring Seymour for a first-round selection. I thought it was a great trade. Still do.
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He played this past season under Oaklands franchise tag designation and was paid 12.4 million. With his combination of agehell be 32 next seasonand valuenot only to the defense in particular, but to the locker room as a whole, making him an attractive target on the open markethe was a prime candidate to be tagged again. Unless the Raiders could lock him up to a multi-year deal. Had he been slapped with the tag again, Seymour would have been due a 120 pay raise, up to 14.88 million, or the new franchise number, whichever would be higher. According to Macs Football blog, Seymour would have received between 14.273 million and 15.57 million, depending upon whether Oakland used the exclusive or non-exclusive tag on him.RELATED: Zach Miller stats
Instead, now the Raiders can purportedly use the tag on Zach Miller to keep the Pro Bowl tight end from hitting the open market, whenever a new CBA is agreed upon. With current CBA rules in effect, Miller would be a restricted free agent, meaning the Raiders would be able to match any contract offers coming Millers way. That could be expensive, though, and the expected franchise number for tight ends for 2011 is 7.285 million.
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As far as Seymour is concerned, he now has at least two years of security and could make twice the amount he would have as a one-year franchise tag. Plus, he was already talking about the future in Oakland back in the regular seasons final week. More importantly, we would like to play in the postseason than playing in this game, Seymour said of the Pro Bowl, which he pulled out of due to his hamstring. Thats really going to be the next step for usgetting over the hump, having a great offseason, a great draft, a great workout and really, just taking the next step as a football team and (getting) everybody on board to take that step together.