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WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18
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[center]Well, here's the first big surprising move of the offseason.[/center][/font][/font][center]
[/center][font="Georgia][center]Oakland [url="https://twitter.com/#!/RAIDERS/status/167736228068851712"]released cornerback Stanford Routt[/url] on Thursday, less than a year after the team gave him a "five-year, $54.5 million" contract. (It was originally a three-year, $31.5 million deal, then the team restructured the deal.)[/center][/font]
Of course, Al Davis was the one who gave Routt that contract in 2011. G.M. Reggie McKenzie has since arrived and clearly doesn't see Routt as a cornerback worth more than $10 million-per-season.
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It's a surprising move because it was reported last year that Routt's $5 million 2012 base salary was guaranteed. It's possible it was only guaranteed if Routt was on the roster past a certain date. (Once again, even "guaranteed" money isn't always guaranteed.)
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Routt started last season well and enjoyed a fine 2010 season, but he struggled badly down the stretch. He got picked on often despite having the tag as Oakland's top cornerback.
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As a 28-year-old with a lot of starting experience, Routt figures to attract plenty of free agent interest. For Routt, free agency starts Friday.
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