Oakland Raiders Keep Seymour With Franchise Tag

NFL News - February 24th, 2010 - Written by John Ritter

Defensive end Richard Seymour wasn't thrilled about being traded to the Oakland Raiders last season, but he's far more comfortable these days. And that's good because he's going to be there a while.

In hopes of securing him in a long-term deal, the Raiders used their franchise tag on him for the 2010 season. The one-year guaranteed contract will pay him $12.34 million this year.

Oakland will now starting talking a multi-year deal with the end this summer in hopes of avoiding a decision to franchise him again next year.

The team traded a 2011 first-round pick to the New England Patriots for his services in September and was set on either franchising him or extending his deal to avoid losing him after one season.

Seymour, although initially unhappy with the swap, told the Boston Herald the he would be "happy to stay with the Raiders and be a part of bringing them back to the playoffs."

That hasn't been done since their Super Bowl run in 2002. Oakland has since gone 29-84, and ranked among the worst in total offense and defense nearly every season.

Seymour is a five-time Pro Bowler who has made four All-Pro teams, and had four sacks in the 2009 NFL Season. His best season came in 2003 when he totaled 56 tackles and eight sacks. He matched that sack total in 2008, but only had 51 tackles.