RAIDERS HINT AT WOODSON TAMPERING
In a surprising move, even for owners Al Davis, the Raiders have posted the following message on the front page of their web site, next to a photo of cornerback Charles Woodson:
"THE ACTIONS OF AGENT CARL POSTON AND CHARLES WOODSON TELL US THAT THEY MUST HAVE REACHED A LONG-TERM DEAL WITH A TEAM AND WE EXPECT A TRADE VERY SOON."
On Friday, Woodson stunned the Raiders by signing his one-year free agency tender of $10.5 million, which is fully guaranteed. The move forces the Raiders to carry Woodson's full $10.5 million salary under its 2005 salary cap.
Since the free agency period has not yet commenced, any contact between Woodson/Poston and any other team would constitute tampering. And if any team were to make a fuss about tampering, it will be the litigasmic Davis.
Since the $10.5 million tender offer likewise would have counted against the Raiders 2005 cap as of Tuesday even if Woodson hadn't signed it, Woodson and Poston likely believed that the tag might be removed if Woodson hadn't signed it.
So now that Woodson has signed the tender, he can have his cake and look for more, too -- since he retains the ability to field other offers on a long-term contract.
All of this apparently has prompted the Raiders to conclude that Poston has found up a team that will come along early in free agency and offer the Raiders a trade in order to clear that $10.5 million bulge out of their 2005 cap. And, again, this means that there has been improper contact between one or more teams and Poston.
Stay tuned. Now that the Raider's billion-dollar lawsuit against the NFL is for all intents and purposes over, Al's lawyers need something to do. Why not sue another team for tortious interference with contractual relations?
