There was considerable talk behind the scenes that Asomugha would not sign his exclusive franchise tender until after training camp began, perhaps sitting out until the week of the regular-season opener against Denver.

Instead, Asomugha showed up just before midnight the day the Raiders reported to the Napa Valley Marriott, put pen to paper and guaranteed himself $9.8 million. He didn't get the long-term deal with the huge signing bonus he desired, but Asomugha, try as he might, simply couldn't stay away.

"I had a lot of people saying I shouldn't show up and some people saying I should," Asomugha said. "I sought out the counsel that was needed in this situation and I was able to come here."

Asomugha conceded he talked to Woodson, the Green Bay cornerback and former Raider who in 2004 sat out the entire preseason before signing just before Week 1.

"I'm not going to tell you what he said, but you can probably figure it out," Asomugha said.

Coach Lane Kiffin, not surprisingly, lauded Asomugha for his presence.

"I think it's a statement about who he is," Kiffin said. "Obviously, he didn't have to be here. He could have stayed out of camp, and for him to be here the first day to run the conditioning test with us shows what a team player he is and who he is."

Asomugha will be well compensated, but coming to training camp is not without its risks. His salary this year is guaranteed, but nothing beyond this year is should he be injured.

"When I was talking to a lot of the players, that they were surprised that I came," Asomugha said. "But at the same time they weren't because they know it's not about money for me. I really want to win games. That's a big part of why I'm here. It's putting that on the line, that you could get hurt, and those types of things. But it's in the name of being a cohesive unit and coming together and trying to win football games."

CAMP CALENDAR: Two-a-day schedules will be 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. every other day. On days in between, practice is at 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Raiders will host practice against the San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 4 preceding their Aug. 8 preseason opener.

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