Nnamdi Asomugha: Why the Raiders Need To Lose Him

At the NFL Pro Bowl on Sunday, Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha commented on the potential future pairing of him and fellow Pro Bowl CB Darrelle Revis.

"Me and Revis have been talking to Rex to try to do something," Asomugha said. "You may see us in the future. There's a little bit of talk going on. Either he's coming to Oakland or something else will happen."

That statement by Asomugha sparks several implications, including that of tampering on the part of Rex Ryan and the Jets.

Regardless of what actions, if any, are taken as a result of communications between Asomugha and Ryan, the Raiders franchise would benefit from losing their star player.

With an infrastructure designed to achieve nothing greater than mediocrity, the Raiders need to bottom out.

The minor victory of resigning Asomugha last year didn’t inspire any significant changes in the organization. Plus, players like Asomugha, Shane Lechler, and Kirk Morrison provide enough visible talent to mask the limited potential of the team as a whole.

Four and five wins per season obviously isn’t enough pain to initiate the dramatic overhaul the Raiders need. A single two-win season wasn’t enough.

Al Davis needs to lose his star players. Money needs to be an insufficient compensation for being a member of the Oakland Raiders.

When a guy signs a big money contract, knowing he’ll be playing for a team that's handcuffed the way Davis has handcuffed the Raiders, you get a guy who is playing for his paycheck and not to win.

Eventually, players and staff alike will want more than a comfortable paycheck. They will want to see their efforts accomplish something: a winning season.

Other than speculation based on an off-the-cuff comment, there’s no reason to believe that Asomugha wants out of Oakland. He’s been as professional as they come, always gives his all on the field, and is very involved in the community.

He is, however, a competitor who will want the opportunity to compete at a higher level. With two years left on his contact, he’s going to be looking at the options he’ll soon have to pursue.

Kirk Morrison and Sebastian Janikowski are currently unrestricted free agents. They are in the same position—considering the remainder of their careers and whether a paycheck is enough. Perhaps the greatest favor they could do for the Raiders is to leave.

When Al Davis is sick and tired of being sick and tired, he’ll resign his position and the Raiders can begin their recovery from this terrible downward spiral.