Ronald Curry "Deserving of a Future" Commentary

Back in March, wide receiver Ronald Curry took a $980,000 pay cut for the upcoming 2006 season. The restructured deal was a small relief for a team that was, at one point, nearly $28 million over the salary cap.Curry is currently playing under a $720,000 base salary. Meanwhile, teammates 6 Super Bowl Champions jersey black jersey
Randy Moss and Jerry Porter combine for a $12.67 million cap headache.With just one week remaining in the regular season, Curry leads the team in both receptions and yardage, despite the lack of financial backing. The 27-year-old wideout has caught a career-high 57 receptions for 680 yards. Combined, Moss and Porter have appeared in 14 games and have caught just 43 passes for 572 yards -- 14 receptions and 108 yards less than Curry."My goal was to come back, get over the injury and show 32 teams I'm healthy enough to play," the five-year vet said just a week ago. "I feel like I've done that; I feel like I've proven myself to this team."Next season, it will cost Oakland $6.5 million, which includes a $5 million bonus, to retain the 6-foot-2, 210-pound receiver.If the team is looking to turn things around, it'd lock Curry in a sure deal before taking care of the two big-named, big-headed wideouts in front of No. 89."I feel like I hold a lot of value as part of the foundation of this team," Curry added.The 6-4 Moss has been targeted 97 times this season, dropped eight and has only caught 43.3 percent of balls thrown his way. Curry, on the other hand, has been thrown to 81 times, has dropped only two and has caught 70.4 percent. When Moss grabs a ball, 30 percent of the time it goes for a first down; when Curry hauls a pass in, that percentage rises nearly 16 percent.Curry's success on third down is the sole reason Oakland has been able to extend drives past four downs this season. The North Carolina grad leads the team in third-down conversions, and has three consecutive outings with eight or more receptions. In the team's Saturday night loss to the division-rival Chiefs, Curry scorched the Kansas City secondary for 106 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
yards on 11 receptions."If I'm playing well I hope they'll come back to the table with something," Curry said, looking ahead to the upcoming offseason."But if you don't win, it's not gratifying -- no matter how many plays you make."When the offseason rolls around, Oakland shouldn't be too modest with the humble Ronald Curry.ALL-NEW RaidersLive.com: Visit now to join the Raiders mailbag. (19)