hagan714

HALL DENIES THAT TRADE IS CLOSE

Posted by Mike Florio on March 15, 2008, 11:09 p.m.
Amid reports that the Atlanta Falcons are close to trading cornerback DeAngelo Hall to the Oakland Raiders, Hall respectfully disagrees — and identifies the other teams at are or were in the hunt for services.
“As of right now, we’re still at the same stages that I was at with every other team,” Hall said, according to 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.”
Hall declined to confirm or deny that he was in Oakland on Friday to meet with Raiders officials.
Per the AJC and others, the deal is indeed close. And the AJC says that the Falcons will get a second-round pick and a sixth-round pick in the 2008 draft.
Since Hall is signed only through 2008, it’s likely that any team that acquires his services via trade will want to simultaneously extend his contract. Previously, there were rumors that Hall wanted a deal worth at least $10 million per year; the contract given by the Eagles to cornerback Asante Samuel on the first day of free agency averages $9.5 million annually.


Ok we get rid of hall from the NFC south, thats a good thing. If this trade goes through it could make the draft on day one a terrible experience for the saints. The Falcons could move up in round 1 already and trade with Miami having two 2nd round picks already. I think DE Long would be the wise move here because they can then dump John Abraham who has been nothing short of a bust and a drain on the cap.

The other problem is by adding a third pick in the second round and adding a CB to the Falcons draft day needs, they could take away from our choices in the secondary at our pick. This deal would give the Falcons two picks in the second round ahead of us.

Now the fact that this is happening might bring a ray of hope to the saints at the CB postion.

FREE ADVICE TO ASOMUGHA: SIGN YOUR TENDER

Posted by Mike Florio on March 15, 2008, 11:16 p.m.
With the Oakland Raiders closing in on a trade for cornerback DeAngelo Hall, which likely would also entail a big-money contract for the disgruntled Falcons, our guess is that the Raiders would then strip the exclusive franchise tag from cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.
But if Asomugha signs the one-year tender offer in an amount equal to the average of the five highest 2008 cap numbers for NFL cornerbacks, the tag is irrevocable — and the salary is fully guaranteed.
So our free, unsolicited, and likely unwanted advice to Asomugha is to sign the tender. Right now.
Three years ago, cornerback Charles Woodson http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2000108 from the Raiders by signing his franchise tender, presumably at a time when the team was thinking about removing it.
If the franchise tag is rescinded, the player immediately becomes an unrestricted free agent. But since most of the big money already has flowed in free agency, Asomugha might be better off taking the one-year guarantee in 2008, and then hitting the open market in 2009.

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If Asomugha does not act out the option of signing and goes the FA route that could be great news for the Saints. We are one of the few teams with cap room left to sign him. Who knows maybe he signs and Al puts him on the trading block.

This is a move worth watching for all saints fans. Draft day is a month away and this could effect us greatly.

All of this comes from
ProFootballTalk.com - Rumor Mill

Which as you know is not the greatest source but it does bring up thoughts on how this move will damage the saints in the draft.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

cajunasian61

If that is true, and the Franchise tag is removed I would be shocked if the Saints didn't jump all over signing this guy. He would be the best free agent to have hit the market this offseason (better than Asante Samuel and Briggs) and he is proven in man to man. Now that would be signing that would immediately vault us into being one of the elite teams, and allow us to definitely draft BPA. Lets cross our fingers.

By the way I hate all this theoretical stuff because it just gets my hopes up and then it never works out. But thanks for the post. Good find. Its definitely got me excited about the possibility

FireVenturi

I would be surprised if we did sign him, they hardly ever do what we think should be done. NA would be a nice pick up tho.

foreverfan

I really think we sign the guy. Then hope Dorsey or Ellis falls to us or draft Mendenhall.

pakowitz

we would certianly have the money to spend but so would a few other teams as well

Champ Kind

Asomugha has had one good year (2006) and throwing a big deal might not be the best decision. I'm all for bringing in a dominant CB, but I hope the FO is smart about this. Don't let let CB situation cloud our judgment.
He has 9 int in the 54 games started. That's not exactly dominating numbers.

ScottF

You have to look at a lot more than Int's.
First, it means the opposition is not throwing your way. Second, every one of your teammates flat out suck, so the opposition isn't throwing much, period.

We were very aggressive with Samuel, so I would not be at all surprised to see us pursue Asomugha. As Hagan said, with this scenario our draft picks are worth a little less if we are picking after Atlanta.

If Oakland plays sign and trade, what will he cost us, a second ?

lsutigerfan

I watched a few Raider game because I live in California and they didn't throw his way very much.

QBREES9

I would have to agree

gandhi1007

If we aggressively go after Asomugha & not DeAngelo Hall, I would have to lose faith in our scouting. Hall has put up Pro Bowl numbers year in & year out & has put himself in the top 5 CB's in the league playing man to man......Asomugha has not put up those numbers consistently. Granted....Oakland's defense is porous, but Atlanta's is no Super Bowl defense either.