Oakland Raiders Defensive Lineman Richard Seymour must see something lucrative in the Silver & Black organization besides dollar signs to cause him to jog back to the huddle for another tour-of-duty. Then again, maybe not.
The purported 2-year $30 million, of which $22.5 million is guaranteed, he'll get for staying the course with a rebuilding Raiders team is said to be the highest for any defensive player, annually, in the league. Is he worth it?
Richard Seymour has brought more to the Raiders defense than any player not named Asomugha in the past seven seasons. Al Davis said it last month when reitterating that the 2009 trade with the New England Patriots which landed Seymour in Oaktown was "a great trade." The Pats will cash in on that trade chip this season with the 17th pick in the draft.
No Franchise Tag for the big boy this season. He's willingly returning to anchor the Raiders defensive line. Here's what SF Chronicle writer Vittorio Tafur reported just one week ago, when he and the rest of the league thought Seymour would wear the franchise tag another year:
As for Seymour, he is happy in Oakland.
He moved from end to tackle last season, and the defensive line was one of the driving forces behind an 8-8 season - a three-game improvement from 2009. He took on a leadership role with the younger players, and late in the season he said, "I see myself retiring as a Raider."
It seems that Al Davis is still working his magic on the set of the Oakland Raiders organization. Just don't put him on a national stage in front of reporters with cameras and a projector after he's fired someone.
