January 10th, 2011 
Adam Warwas 
Posted in I am continuing my campaign to fill up this offseason with fresh content, even when the news is slow, and I have added a completely new feature called “Monday’s Chaos Theory.”
Everybody loves to participate in some good old fashioned irresponsible speculation and I am no different. So, every Monday, I’ll explore some of those “theories” that are floating around regarding the Vikings.
This week, I’ll begin by talking about a player that is sure to hog a fair amount of attention this offseason, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.
Early in 2009, Asomugha signed a three year extension with the Raiders for which he was paid $28.5 million for playing in Oakland in 2009 and 2010. It was previously known that the Raiders had an option on the third season, in which they had two options. They could either let him leave or they could pay him $16.5 million or the amount of the quarterback (yes, quarterback) franchise tag, whichever was higher.
It appears that the Raiders never got a chance to make this decision, however, thanks to a previously unknown (to us) clause in his contract that voided the third year if Asomugha did not reach not-likely-to-be-earned contract incentives. He didn’t reach them, and the contract is void.
Asomugha will turn 30 in July and his production has decreased dramatically ever since his eight interception season in 2006. In fact, it is interesting to note that had Asomugha had a single interception, a single sack, or a single forced fumble in 2010 then the contract would not have voided. Asomugha’s statistics were so low in 2010, that he didn’t even register one meaningful stat other than his 19 tackles and six defended passes.
There were also playing-time incentives to be earned, but an ankle injury sidelined him for two games so the incentives were not triggered.
Despite the lack of production on paper, Asomugha remains one of the top cover corners in the league, and opposing teams have come to terms with the fact that they just cannot throw his way. In fact, he was only thrown at 33 times in 14 games (2.4 attempts per game) in 2010. Of those 33 attempts, Asomugha only allowed 13 completions for 205 yards and zero touchdowns. In 2009 we was thrown at only 28 times, and in 2008 it was 30 times.
In addition to Asomugha’s ability to shut down the league’s absolute best receivers he is known as an uber-professional team leader, a well spoken person, and a generous philanthropist. Having never missed more than two games in any of his eight seasons, he is also reliable and durable in a way that few cornerbacks can boast. While he carries the label “cover corner” with him, he is also a solid tackler.
You would be hard pressed to find a reason that any team in the NFL should not be interested when the career-Raider hits the open market, including the Vikings. The lack of reasons not to sign Asomugha is exactly what produces the biggest reason not to sign him… the cost.
Seldom does such a highly sought after talent become available with no loss of draft picks and he would easily make every team in the NFL better. The price tag will be quite high.
Prior to the 2010 season, the Jets gave Darrelle Revis a four year deal worth $32 million, all of which was guaranteed. That is $8 million guaranteed average per year. Way back in 2004, Champ Bailey received a seven year deal worth $63 million, meaning he averaged $9 million per year. In 2006, the Packers gave Charles Woodson a seven-year deal worth $52 million, a $7.4 million per year average.
Asomugha stands to shatter these high-water marks and will likely command a long term deal worth over $10 million per year. This is a major commitment that some team will dish out.
The Vikings stand to clear up around $45 million in cap space this year with the contracts they have expiring, but some of that will be eaten up by re-signing some of their own free agents such as Sidney Rice and Chad Greenway. They started out with one of the highest team salaries in the league, as their 2010 payroll exceeded $150 million. They also will have a new draft class to invest some cash into, need to keep money available to pour into the quarterback position, and have plenty of holes in their roster that need to be addressed in free agency.
Despite the Vikings having little room for error in dishing out such a gigantic contract, they do have a unique situation that could help ease the financial pain of signing a guy like Asomugha.
In 2009, the Vikings gave Antoine Winfield a unique contract extension which contains a de-escalator. If he is relegated to the third cornerback spot in 2011 and after, then his salary (roughly $7 million) gets cut roughly in half (about $3.5 million) which ensures his ability to retire as a Viking when the contract is up after the 2013 season.
So, by signing a guy like Asomugha the Vikings could put either Cedric Griffin or Chris Cook opposite him and leave Winfield in the slot for good. This would save them roughly $3.5 million per year until 2014 and that money can be considered a “savings” on the huge contract given to Asomugha.
Financially, the Vikings are at an advantage over the other 31 teams because of this mechanism built into Winfield’s contract. Besides, after the Philadelphia game, is there any doubt in anyone’s mind that Winfield should be playing close to the line of scrimmage and close to the quarterback as much as possible?
In the end, there are a lot of unanswered questions. Would Asomugha want to play in Minnesota? Can they afford him even with Winfield’s de-escalator? Is his age a concern? Is he willing to give the Jets a break for a chance to play across from Revis? When will free agency start?
These questions will be answered over time. Chances are that Asomugha ends up playing elsewhere as the Vikings aim to get younger.
However, I would not completely rule it out.
Cookie Gilchrist died from cancer at 75. He spent three seasons in Buffalo, two in Denver and one in Miami. Was the AFL’s player of the year in 1962 with 1,096 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns
Gilchrist was huge power FB with the Tiger Cat & Argonaut. CFL all-star and Offensive MVP. Always the points leader as he was FG kicker.
Broke in with AFL Bill before merger with NFL. Huge back with speed cuts. Later he became mainly blocking back with Bronco.
Gilchrist will be remembered as well for being an earlier black activist in pro football. In the days before player agents he
stood up for black players to team management of the day. He refused to accept induction to Canadian Football Hall of Fame on principle.
RIP Cookie.
What was the principle?
Huh?
“He refused to accept induction to Canadian Football Hall of Fame on principle.”
Based on what principal did he refuse induction?
1) Did he hate Canadian football?
2) He was forced to be a kicker and hates kickers?
Based on what principal did he stand on?
Oh, sorry. I thought you were referring to the Asomugha article.
I’ll leave those details up to Lost, but I imagine it had something to do with the CFL’s mistreatment, perceived or otherwise, of the league’s black players.
Freds doubts that.
Probably a French Canadian thing. Damn cowards.
“He is the only athlete to turn down being enshrined into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum, because of what he described as racism and exploitation by management. Gilchrist frequently was at odds with team management. He told a reporter from the London Free Press that most of the problems he encountered were a result of his standing up for principles at a time when black athletes were expected to remain silent”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cookie_Gilchrist
Cookie should have had a twitter account. Dude could have been much more public about the issue.
but freds, then he would’ve been taking the ‘Cookie-Twitter’ approach, and he just wasn’t cut out for that
ok, ok, i’ll shut up
Regarding your fine article.
If spending the money on a proven corner precludes the Vikes from spending like money (or less) on offensive lineman, Freds says let’s not sign this guy to massive money.
Cedric on one corner, Chris Cook on the other. Tony at safety. Let’s try to sign a lower end free agent, like maybe Benny Sapp. Not that Benny is a free agent, put dang, that didn’t turn out so well did it?
Freds realizes we have alot of questions at corner. For example, will Cedric be effective and will Cook be a good corner? Don’t know.
Many hack bloggers have a very quick hook in naming Chris Cook a failure this early in his career. If we look back at Cedric’s first couple years, this dude was TERRIBLE. Turns out after a couple years, the guy is capable. We may have the same issue with Cook. Two knee surgeries in this rookie year did nothing to get him off to a good start.
If Ziggy has unlimited funds and he intends to also bolster the offensive line, Freds says pay 5 zillion dollars for the guy, what the hell does Fred care? If he’s on a limited budget, please spend it wisely and let’s get back to a run game that is more consistent. It really is shocking to see some of the holes that other running backs run through compared to the one AP runs through.
So AK if you could sign Vinny Young for the league minimum….would you do it?
I hope I didn’t give the impression that I am calling Cook a failed pick. After all, I said in this scenario that either he or Griffin should start opposite of Nnamdi.
Winfield won’t be moving to safety.
VY for the league minimum? Sure, I’d sign him. Too low-risk not to.
I will bet you the dinner and beers I already owe you that if not this coming year, the next year Tony will be playing safety.
So, you want to go double-or-nothing that the Vikings make their cornerback depth even slimmer by putting a guy who has never played safety in his life at the back of the defense even though they could save over $10 million in three years by putting him in the slot?
Had there been major coaching changes on defense I might give it some thought but, without pause, I’ll take that bet.
They will still save the $$$$ by putting him at safety. My man Tony is looking worse and worse as a cover man. Great tackler, smart and one can still bring him up to the line of scrimmage as a safety. Guy has old legs and is getting shorter by the year. The only reason he doesn’t get picked on now is something called Ashley Allen.
This year or next it will happen.
They don’t save the money by putting him at safety.
Good bet. Look forward to two more years of arguing with ya, freds
By the way Freds, thought you might like to know this little milestone… it has been exactly one week to the day that I have typed the name of a certain banjo playing QB in one of these articles. Oh, how I love that he’s gone.
Cmon guys keep the arguement going. lol! I dont see the Vikes getting this guy he’s just too expensive. Fred is right we need to spend alot of dough for o-line. Believe it or not o-line is a much bigger need than cb and that’s saying something.
Agree Freds and Johnny, O-Line is most important. Need some quality fat men.
But hafta go with Adam on Toine, he stays at corner/ nickle. Cmon Freds, Mighty Mouse has 2-3 good years left in those legs. What is he, 32? Shoot, I got a good ten years on him and Im still runnin pretty well.
Time for the vikes to cut Berrian while they can. Too much money for a glorified runner.
[...] [NOTE: Here is the second installment of my weekly offseason feature “Monday’s Chaos Theory” in which I plan to address certain irresponsible speculation by offering up my own irresponsible speculation. For those of you who may have missed last week’s premiere of this feature, regarding the possibility of signing Nnamdi Asomugha, you can read it by clicking here.] [...]
[...] best speculation surrounding the Vikings, then please click the links and give them a read. The first explores the possibility of the Vikings nabbing Nnamdi Asomugha in free agency and the second is an [...]
[...] You know it is a fairly exciting free agent group when a corner like Asomugha is fourth on your list. At 30 years of age, Asomugha is still one of the best at what he does. Offenses around the NFL have opted to simply stop throwing the ball towards his half of the field. Imagine this defense with that type of threat on the outside. For a more detailed explanation as to why Asomugha makes sense for the Vikings, click here. [...]
[...] You know it is a fairly exciting free agent group when a corner like Asomugha is allowed to hit the market. At 30 years of age, Asomugha is still one of the best at what he does. Offenses around the NFL have opted to simply stop throwing the ball towards his half of the field. Imagine this defense with that type of threat on the outside. For a more detailed explanation as to why Asomugha makes sense for the Vikings, click here. [...]
[...] on the outside. For a more detailed explanation as to why Asomugha makes sense for the Vikings, click here. The drafting of two third day quarterbacks (Burton and Raymond) does not change my opinion of a [...]