Robert Gallery will not return to the Oakland Raiders in 2011 because of what he calls a “mutual agreement” -- and what the team calls an example of a player overestimating his worth.
“The only thing that was mutually agreed upon is his numbers were way out of line with ours,” Raiders senior executive John Herrera said.
According to Herrera, Gallery asked the Raiders for a new contract paying him $8 million a year. The Raiders were offering him $2.5 million. So, yeah, I’d say a difference of $5.5 million a year is “way out of line.”
Gallery has been very well paid since the Raiders made him the second overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft, and although he’s been a regular starter at guard, overall he’d have to be considered a disappointment: Coming out of Iowa he was widely viewed as the league’s next great left tackle. He’s been far short of that.
On his way out, Gallery had only positive things to say about the Raiders.
“With the end of the league year coming today, and the few conversations I’ve had with the Raiders and Mr. Davis, we’ve come to a mutual agreement that it’s time for me to move on with my career,” Gallery told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “I appreciate the start that they and Mr. Davis gave me and I truly have enjoyed my time wearing the silver and black. I wish them well, I thank the fans and I take away great memories of my time in Oakland.”