Hall to Oakland? They’d better reach a new deal first

By Anthony Carroll  |   Monday, March 17, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Oakland Raiders
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Exactly one week ago, I forecasted that the Oakland Raiders would get their hands on “at least one hooligan.” The options were one of two cornerbacks: DeAngelo Hall of the Atlanta Falcons or suspended Tennessee Titan Adam “Pacman” Jones.

Let’s just say Oakland chose the lesser of two evils. And the better of two players.

Over the weekend, the Raiders unofficially negotiated a trade with Atlanta that will send the 24-year-old Hall to the Bay Area in exchange for the team’s second-round pick (34th overall) in this year’s draft. It was also later reported that the Raiders would likely throw a sixth-round draft choice into the deal.

Hall visited with Oakland on Friday, and “a person familiar with the situation” told the Associated Press that the two parties had reached a deal. There has been no official statement released from either Atlanta or Oakland yet, however.

According to the source himself no deal has been set in stone.

“As of right now, we’re still at the same stages that I was at with every other team,” Hall told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “New York, Washington, Dallas and Jacksonville. Nothing has been OK’d on my end. Unless they agreed to something that I don’t know about, but I don’t think no team is going to sign me without talking to me and getting everything right on my end.”

The 5-foot-10, 201-pounder has two years remaining on the five-year, $25 million contract he signed with Atlanta as a rookie in August of 2004. He’s slated to make $4.22 million next season and $957,500 in 2009; however, ‘09 is a voidable year, and Hall would almost definitely exercise that clause.

That means if and when Oakland finally executes a deal with Atlanta they’d have to negotiate a new contract with the soon-to-be-fifth-year defensive back. If not, they’re in some serious trouble at the end of the season.

Team owner Al Davis already franchise tagged 26-year-old CB Nnamdi Asomugha this offseason, meaning he’ll earn $9.465 million in ‘08 and then become a free agent at the end of the year. If Hall isn’t given a new contract, they’ll have two headaches to deal with heading into the 2009 season.

There’s no doubt, however, that Hall and Asomugha would make up perhaps the most formidable starting cornerback tandem in the NFL.

After registering eight interceptions in 2006, Asomugha allowed only 10 catches in 15 starts all last season. In Atlanta, Hall -- a two-time Pro Bowler -- has picked off 17 balls over the past four seasons to go along with 228 tackles and 36 pass deflections.

If the reports hold true and Hall becomes a Raider, there’s no question it will benefit the team’s defense.

The question is whether the outspoken cornerback can keep his attitude in check, and if Al Davis has a checkbook to keep both of his high-profile cornerbacks happy.

Anthony Carroll can be contacted at acarroll@realfootball365.com
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About Anthony Carroll

Anthony Carroll began writing for RealFootball365.com on Sept. 26, 2005, making him one of the longest tenured contributors to the “365” team. As a senior writer, Anthony has taken on the task of delivering original content to the silver and black faithful year round, despite having to deal...
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