ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders are letting offensive lineman Robert Gallery leave as a free agent after seven years with the team.
Raiders senior executive John Herrera told The Associated Press on Thursday that the decision was made because of the vast difference in what the two sides believed Gallery should be paid.
"The only thing that was mutually agreed upon is his numbers were way out of line with ours," Herrera said. "Gallery wanted about $8 million a year, and that was way too much money. We're being real honest about it. We were in the $2.5 million range. There was a huge gap there, a huge difference in what they asked for and what we wanted to pay."
Gallery told ESPN.com earlier Thursday that he and Raiders owner Al Davis had come to a "mutual agreement" that it was time for him to go elsewhere.
"I appreciate the start that they and Mr. Davis gave me, and I truly have enjoyed my time wearing the silver and black," Gallery said. "I wish them well, I thank the fans and I take away great memories of my time in Oakland."
Gallery was the second overall pick in the 2004 draft and was expected to anchor Oakland's line for years at left tackle. He struggled early in his career, allowing 10.5 sacks and committing eight penalties in 10 games in 2006.
But Gallery moved to left guard the following season when the Raiders switched to a zone-blocking scheme under former line coach Tom Cable. Gallery spent the past four seasons there and had a strong relationship with Cable, who became head coach in 2008, but was replaced by Hue Jackson in January. Jackson plans to use more power-blocking in his offense this season.
Gallery started 91 games in his career, including 12 last season. The Raiders lost at least 11 games in Gallery's first six seasons before finishing 8-8 in 2010.
Herrera pointed out that Oakland had the same winning percentage with Gallery in the lineup -- going 6-6 -- as it did when splitting the four games he missed with a hamstring injury.
"It appeared based on the conversation that we had, that they weren't all that interested in having him come back," Gallery's agent, Rick Smith, said in a telephone interview. "They wanted to put their younger guys in a position to play. That was the impression we got."
Gallery might not be the only longtime Raider who won't return next season. After Oakland gave cornerback Stanford Routt a three-year, $31.5 million deal last week, it appears likely that Pro Bowl cover man Nnamdi Asomugha will leave after eight years.
Asomugha's $16.8 million option for 2012 voided when he didn't reach certain benchmarks. Davis questioned in January whether that money for Asomugha would be better spent on two or three players.
The Raiders have been aggressive about keeping some of their potential free agents. They have made more than $80 million in commitments in deals for Routt, defensive tackle Richard Seymour, linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, defensive tackle John Henderson and backup running back Rock Cartwright. Oakland will not have to pay any of those players until the first game next season.
The Raiders also have signed safety Jerome Boyd, who played one game in 2009, and was cut before last season.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
