Source: Asomugha to become highest-paid player
The Oakland Raiders made cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha the NFL's highest-paid player by average salary per year when the two sides agreed to a three-year deal worth just over $45 million, a source close to the negotiations said Thursday. The agreement was initially reported by SI.com.
The deal is fully guaranteed for the first two years at $28.5 million and the third year becomes fully guaranteed if the Raiders choose to keep Asomugha by the beginning of the 2011 league year, according to the aforementioned source.
"He's going to get every dime of it if it's two or three years," the source said.
As part of the agreement, the Raiders can not place their franchise tag on Asomugha if the option is not picked up or following the completion of the three-year deal, according to the source.
The landmark deal was negotiated over the span of three days this week between the team and Asomugha's agents, Ben Dogra and Tom Condon. On Wednesday, the Raiders signed punter Shane Lechler to a four-year, $16 million contract, the highest contract ever for a punter, after talks with Dogra and Condon.
The deal keeps Asomugha from going to free agency or having to be tagged as the team's franchise player again this year. Asomugha was the franchise player last year for Oakland and had expressed frustration with the possibility of being franchised again this year.
Asomugha's deal exceeds the $14 million average per year of Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning, who is also represented by Condon and Dogra.
