Raiders, Russell agree in principle to deal (Merged)

[Redskins432]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3013493

Ending months of negotiations and a holdout that stretched to more than six weeks, the Oakland Raiders reached a contract agreement in principle with JaMarcus Russell, the former LSU quarterback who was the first overall selection in the 2007 draft, on Monday.

Barring any glitches, and contingent on formalities like him passing a physical exam, ESPN.com has confirmed that Russell will officially sign a six-year contract on Tuesday and should be on the field for the team's Wednesday practice.

There is still considerable work to be done, however, in terms of drawing up the contract, and a source close to the negotiations said late Monday that the two sides could still be working "very late into the night and maybe into [Tuesday] morning" to craft the precise language of the deal. ESPN.com has learned that Russell is still not in the Bay Area, and will not fly to Oakland until his representatives feel comfortable with all the details of the contract.

Sources said the contract, hammered out in four days of marathon face-to-face negotiations in the Bay Area, has a maximum value of $68 million.

The deal also includes $34.5 million in the first three years, an increase of about 65 percent over the first three seasons of the deal that Houston Texans defensive end Mario Williams, the top overall selection in the 2006 draft, will bank in his first three years.

There is a $3 million guarantee in the fourth season of Russell's deal, essentially creating $37.5 million in guarantees.

So, while it appears that the Raiders were able to hold the guarantees in the range that they had been proposing in recent discussions, the long holdout seems to have garnered Russell a very advantageous payout structure.

Of course, it also cost him any opportunity to win the starting job in training camp.

The Raiders' staff chose Josh McCown as the starter after a preseason competition with Daunte Culpepper, who was signed as a free agent during camp.

Russell, 22, staged one of the longest holdouts by a rookie in recent history. In 2002, offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie, the first-round choice of the Minnesota Vikings that year, missed the first eight games of the regular season. In terms of top overall picks, no one has held out longer than Russell since tailback Bo Jackson declined to sign with Tampa Bay altogether in 1986.

During his three seasons as the LSU starter, Russell completed 493 of 797 passes for 6,625 yards, with 52 touchdown passes and 21 interceptions.

After weeks of inertia, the parties met for much of the day Friday at an undisclosed Bay Area site, and drew close to an accord. The talks moved in reverse for a while when they resumed Saturday.

Because the Raiders opened the season Sunday against the Detroit Lions, there was not much bargaining.

The weekend negotiations represented the first face-to-face bargaining since the parties met in Los Angeles on Aug. 20 and there was a ramped-up sense of urgency.

The two sides then got back to work Monday and spent much of the day fine-tuning the proposal and committing it to contract language.

[DWinzit]

Raiders, Russell agree in principle to deal

Sources say team will pay the No. 1 pick $31 million guaranteed

BY STEVE CORKRAN, Staff writer

ALAMEDA — The Raiders have agreed to pay No. 1 draft pick JaMarcus Russell at least $31 million guaranteed after lengthy negotiations with the quarterback's agents the past four days, according to two people familiar with the situation.

Reaching that figure clears the way for Russell's signing a contract at any time, perhaps as soon as today. Raiders coach Lane Kiffin confirmed as much.

"It just continues to sound like they are getting closer and closer," Kiffin said at his weekly news conference Monday. "It could be (Monday). You just never know. I know that the sides are as close as they've ever been."

The proposed deal is expected to be for six years and make it possible for Russell to earn as much as $60 million over the life of the contract.

isn't ruling out the possibility of Russell's being signed and with the Raiders before Sunday's game against he Denver Broncos.

"I wouldn't say I expect that, but I definitely wouldn't be surprised," Kiffin said.

The Raiders likely would receive a two-week roster exemption once Russell signs. Therefore, they wouldn't have to make a move on their 53-man active roster until the exemption is lifted. At that point, Kiffin would be forced to decide if he wants to carry four quarterbacks or jettison one of the three on the active roster — Josh McCown, Daunte Culpepper and Andrew Walter.

http://www.mercurynews.com/raidersheadlines/ci_6854458?nclick_check=1

[DWinzit]

The Raiders should have had the parameters of a deal in place prior to the draft!:doh:

[spjunkies]

The Raiders should have had the parameters of a deal in place prior to the draft!:doh:

The people in the Raiders front office had to remind Al Davis that this isn't 1964 and Russell would not accept a contract worth $27,000.

[DWinzit]

So who do they get rid of Culpepper, McCown or Walter?

[TheDoyler23]

Took them long enough. NFL needs to get a slotting system for the draft and be done with all this holdout garbage year in, year out.

[kevinklein]

Culepper, surprisingly, looked good during the preseason. I think they'll ditch Walter, who has shown signs of promise, but obviously nothing impressive enough ergo the drafting of Russel.

[NewBlood81]

Hope we never EVER get the number one pick in the draft unless there some fixed numbers for draft picks implanted.

[Fred Jones]

It is too late. The team will be preparing for the third game when he finally arrives. He won't have much of an idea until the second half of the seson if at all. He is a rookie QB. What a waste.