Oakland Raiders tender contracts to Michael Bush, Zach Miller – NFL news
The Oakland Raiders have tendered contracts to running back Michael Bush and tight end Zach Miller.
This means that although they will become free agents, the Raiders have the right to match an offer for the players by other teams if they wish to.
The Raiders have not officially announced the news but a source said that Bush received his tender on Thursday while Miller said in a phone interview that he received his on the same day.
Under the rules of 2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement, Bush and Miller would both have become restricted free agents. If this is still the case after a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is reached, then the Raiders will have seven days to match an offer
by another team to acquire the players. Since Bush and Miller are both first and third tenders, the Raiders will receive a first and third round draft pick if they decided to forego the chance to match an offer by another team.
In 2011, Bush and Miller would have both received $3.3 million each. Miller hopes that he will be given a long-term contract by the team that drafted him in the second round of the 2007 National Football League Draft.
“We had preliminary discussions before the deadline,” he said. “Once all the CBA stuff is sorted out and free agency starts, I'm sure we'll pick those up again. I'd like to be back in Oakland. I feel like our team is getting better and better, and I think
Hue Jackson will be a great head coach.”
Miller is also the Raiders’ representative in the NFL Players Association and is keeping his teammates updated with the goings-on about the current labour talks. The League and players union have agreed to extend the deal to next Friday in hopes that they
can reach an agreement before a lockout. Miller would not go into details about what negotiations are taking place due to a media blackout about the proceedings, but says that the extension is an encouragement that a new agreement will be inked soon.
Bush was picked in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft but did not play in his rookie season because he was recovering from a broken leg which he sustained in his senior year at the University of Louisville.
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