It's understandable that Richard Seymour would be less than thrilled about leaving playoff contender New England to go to the dysfunctional Raiders, but there are $3.865 million reasons why he should report to Oakland.

If he doesn't play, he doesn't get paid.

Plus, if he fails to join the Raiders, he won't be eligible to be a free agent after next season.

What's he going to do? Stay home and read Shakespeare's collected works? Work on an MBA? Paint watercolors?

C'mon, the guy's a football player. He also is smart enough to know that, at this stage of his career, he'll never be able to make up for the loss of $3.865 million. It's questionable whether any team will pay him that much ever again, although perhaps the Raiders are foolish enough to do so, in hopes of getting him to extend his contract and remain in Oakland long-term.

The Raiders are, after all, the team that only got a fourth-round pick from the Patriots for Randy Moss in 2007, but just gave up a first-rounder for Seymour.