Junior Report and Lester's League Notes

Junior Report
by JD of The Sports Report with J.D.

The Raiders have done it!

They didn’t have to use a franchise tag on All-Pro Nnamdi Asomugha, signing him to a three-year, $45 million deal, with two years guaranteed at $28 million.  The contract worked out perfectly with Asomugha.

If the Raiders want to keep Asomugha in the third year of the deal, which they most likely will, they will have make him one of the top five highest paid cornerbacks in the NFL.

The Raiders could also sign Asomugha to a range of $14 to $17 million.  Whichever fits best with the Raiders will be fine with me!

Now those of you people who will be doing Fantasy Football next year, like me, you need to get Asomugha.  Asomugha has been productive from 2006-2008. Expect him to shine in 2009.

The Raiders are almost looking like a playoff team. With JaMarcus Russell improving; Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas, and Michael Bush looking like the Earth, Wind, and Fire for the Giants; and the Raiders possessing weapons like Johnnie Lee Higgins, Zach Miller, and probably a draft pick like Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin; the Raiders can actually make the playoffs!

Good luck, Raiders. Asomugha is a big start to their hopefully helpful off-season.

Hey Kenny, this article was for you, man! Peace!

Lester’s League Notes

Carolina signed LT Jordan Gross to a six-year deal.  Fantasy owners of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart can relax knowing the 6′4″, 305 lb. Gross will be opening running lanes for years to come. 

With Gross out of the way, the Panthers decided to slap the franchise tag on Julius Peppers.  The move will pay Peppers $16.7 million. 

He made it clear he wants to go play in a 3-4 system and switch to Outside Linebacker.  Any team interested in landing Peppers will have to send Carolina two first round picks.
 
Houston also made use of the Franchise tag on CB Dunta Robinson.  His tag will cost them close to $10 million if they can’t get something worked out long-term.  Robinson had 38 Tackles and 2 INTs last year after missing the first five games.
 
Seattle tagged LB Leroy Hill to buy them some time to work out a long-term deal. His tag cost $8.3 million.  Hill had 84 Tackles last year for the Seahawks.  He has 329 career tackles in his four seasons in the league.
 
Finally, Tennessee tagged Bo Scaife, who led the Titans with 58 receptions last year.  Scaife’s tag was for $4.46 million.
 
As you saw in the Junior Report, the Raiders signed shutdown CB Nnamdi Asomugha to a three-year deal.  Asomugha got $45.3 million.  That’s QB money.  He’s not the best CB to target in IDP leagues since he rarely gets thrown at. 

After picking off eight passes in 2006 he managed just one in each of the past two years.  He’s more a guy that makes fantasy players look for alternatives. 

If you have the #1 WR that’s facing Oakland, you’re probably better starting someone else.  There are exceptions.

 I wouldn’t sit Larry Fitzgerald against him, but Andre Johnson, for example, was held to two catches for 19 yards when he faced Oakland last year.