Raiders Pare Special Teams Costs

The Raiders waived special teams ace Isaiah Ekejiuba today, he announced on his twitter page.

Ekejiuba was given a contract last season worth and was paid almost $2.5 million in 2009. He was set to make $1.45 million in 2010.

For a special teams only player, this cost ended up being too great.

The Raiders are already spending $5.6 million in 2010 on Shane Lechler, Seabatian Janikowski and long-snapper Jon Condo.

The only reasonable assumption is the Raiders determined the cost to be too great to retain Ekejiuba.

There are two logical scenarios that likely took place. The Raiders asked Ekejiuba to take a pay reduction, and he refused, so the team decided to put him on waivers. Or, the Raiders decided they no longer needed or wanted Ekejiuba.

If he clears waivers he will be free to negotiate contracts with other teams. In this case, Ekejiuba only returns to the Raiders if he can’t find a better offer. The Raiders probably would only consider him back for the veteran minimum, if at all.

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