Oakland Raiders Trying to Avoid an Offseason Recession

On Feb. 27, the preseason begins. That is the date of the free agency signing period. It’s a time when drama reigns in the NFL. Some players will re-sign, others will change teams, and some will be cut unceremoniously. Every week there will be a new mock draft, and sports beat writers will be in a frenzy trying to keep up with the rapid changes that are the NFL offseason. Now that Tom Cable has shaken the interim tag and has earned the right to coach the 2009 Oakland Raiders, he will immediately face the huge challenge of re-signing or replacing players that have become icons of the Raiders locker room. Losing these players would change the team’s dynamics and will certainly affect the concepts and play design that would be in place if they stayed in Oakland. When the conversation of free agency in Oakland is mentioned, there is not one, but two huge elephants in the room: cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and punter Shane Lechler. Both players are going to the Pro Bowl. Both are the best in ... (link)