Big Moves, Right Direction for The Blackhole

Losing season after losing season has finally forced long-time Oakland Raiders owner and Them Sports Mascot, Al Davis, to step up his off-season spending. So, over the past few days, the infamous owner and general manager has made, undoubtedly, the biggest moves of the year.

On Wednesday, Davis re-signed soon-to-be free agent punter, Shane Lechler, to a 4-year, $16 million deal. This makes him the highest paid nobody in NFL history. If the Raiders offense this year looks anything like it did last year, then Lechler will make more than $44,000 per boot. Or, if Lechler continues to break his own punting averages, he'll get more than $900 per yard that the ball travels in '09. Ha.

To assure Raider Nation that he means business this off-season, Davis locked up the only person in the NFL to have his first name start with two N's. CB Nnamdi Asomugha (NAM-Dee Aso-MU-Wah) signed a 3-year, $45.3 million contract, making him the highest paid defensive back in NFL history. Now that's a good move, having the cornerstone of your defense be someone who commentators want to avoid mentioning as much as quarterbacks want to avoid throwing to.

The always demonstrative Davis (note the bourbon & coke in the picture) has his once prominent franchise going in the right direction. After this two day spending spree, who wouldn't want to be in Oakland? Not every NFL team can boast that they have two of the highest paid players at their respective positions, even if one of their positions isn't respected.