Can Seymour Get an Extension, Too?

Jason La Confora of NFL.com reports:

Given what I have heard today, I’d be very surprised to see Richard Seymour in Oakland without a new contract. Seymour has one year left on his existing deal and is less than thrilled about being dealt from New England to Oakland yesterday.Short of agreeing to a long-term deal, this situation remains sticky. The sides have a few days to figure things out, and contrary to what Raiders coach Tom Cable said today, there are no issues between Seymour and the Patriots to resolve, according to New England and league sources.

Perhaps Seymour has resigned himself to going to Oakland, but is worried the Raiders will use their franchise tag on him for as long as he is productive. In that scenario, Seymour would receive very handsome yearly salaries, but they would only be single-year deals. If he got hurt or his play began to decline, he would have no guarantee of a big money deal. Better to sign a long-term deal with a massive signing bonus and give himself some more security than operate on year-to-year contracts.

In any case, the Raiders will end up paying a doubly high price - giving up a first rounder and giving Seymour big money either with a lucrative extension or by franchising him - for a 30 year-old player on the downside of his career.