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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 11:56 a.m., Thursday, July 24, 2008

NFL: Asomugha signs with Raiders, Jordan told to stay away

By JOSH DUBOW
Associated Press

NAPA, Calif. — Star cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha officially signed his $9.765 million franchise player tender offer today and joined the Oakland Raiders in time for their first training camp practice, while running back LaMont Jordan has been told to stay away from the team.

Jordan is scheduled to make $4.7 million this year and $5 million next season, but has no role with the Raiders after the team drafted Darren McFadden.

Coach Lane Kiffin said owner Al Davis is dealing with Jordan's agent, Alvin Keels, to resolve the situation. Jordan visited the Detroit Lions earlier this month but has not found a new team willing to trade for him. The Raiders might be forced to release Jordan if they can't make a deal.

"That's Al and LaMont's agent on that and I'm out of that," Kiffin said. "They're handling it so all the information I've got for you that was relayed to me is that they're continuing to work on it. LaMont won't be here and we won't be fining him."

With the signing of Asomugha, all of Oakland's players are under contract by the start of training camp. That's a big improvement from a year ago, when No. 1 overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell did not sign his $61 million, six-year contract until three days after the season began and second-round pick Zach Miller missed the first day of training camp.

Asomugha, who has not practiced with the team for the offseason, passed his conditioning test Thursday morning and took part in the team's first practice later in the day.

"He looked really good," Kiffin said. "He breezed through the conditioning test, something we've always talked about, was not a concern of ours with him because we know who he is and how much he's working out even when he's not with us."

In other news, receiver Javon Walker has been cleared to practice after being seriously injured last month during a robbery in Las Vegas. Walker was discovered unconscious and beaten on a back street near the Las Vegas Strip following a night of partying. Walker was treated at a hospital for a concussion and facial injuries.

The Raiders are counting heavily on Walker after signing him to a six-year, $55 million deal after the Denver Broncos released him in February.

Walker will only practice once a day at the start of camp because he is still recovering from a knee injury sustained last season. Walker has lost 8 pounds since he was last with the team in June, according to Kiffin, and is in better physical shape than he had been in the spring.

"We're just happy that in the end he was able to work through it, play again, and that he's safe, and he needs to have a really big year, and he knows that," Kiffin said. "I think he's put it behind him, and he's come back, obviously, weight wise, and body fat wise, than he was before."