Keeping Rhodes was critical for Raiders

The Oakland Raiders certainly took a novel approach when it came to dealing with running back Dominic Rhodes this week. They asked him to take a pay cut. It's a refreshing change to the offseason. The Oakland Raiders certainly took a novel approach when it came to dealing with running back Dominic Rhodes this week. Instead of paying Rhodes $30 million -- or some other excessive amount of money -- to stay with the team, they asked him to take a pay cut. Surprisingly, he did. It's a refreshing change to the offseason. The 29-year-old running back, due a $2 million roster bonus this week, restructured the two-year, $7.5 million deal he signed last offseason. Rhodes was scheduled to make $3 million in 2008, but he will now earn $1.75 million instead. The Raiders will save all of $1.25 million in '08 from the transaction. This comes just days after team owner Al Davis dished out $55 million to wide receiver Javon Walker, $50.5 million to defensive tackle Tommy Kelly and $16 million to ... (link)