Falcons may be close to trading Hall


The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/15/08

The Falcons could be close to trading defensive back DeAngelo Hall to the Oakland Raiders for second- and sixth-round picks in the April draft, according to a person close to the negotiations.

Hall, who denied the deal was close earlier Saturday, reportedly was in Oakland on Friday to meet with Raiders officials.

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Hall and his representatives are negotiating a contract with the Raiders, which needs to be agreed upon before the trade is completed, according to the person close to the negotiations. Hall's agent Joel Segal, who did not return several calls to his cellphone, was in talks with the Raiders on Saturday evening.

Hall said Saturday night that he did not believe a deal was imminent.

"As of right now, we're still at the same stages that I was at with every other team," Hall said. "New York, Washington, Dallas, and Jacksonville. Nothing has been OK'd on my end. Unless they agreed to something that I don't know about, but I don't think no team is going to sign me without talking to me and getting everything right on my end."

The Sacramento Bee is reporting that was Hall was in Oakland on Friday to meet with Raiders officials, but Hall would neither confirm nor deny that he was there.

Segal reportedly is seeking a deal close to the six-year, $57 million that unrestricted free agent Asante Samuel signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, with $20 million in guarantees. The Raiders covet a solid cornerback to play alongside Nnamdi Asomugha.

The eighth player taken in the 2004 draft, Hall made the Pro Bowl in 2005 and 2006 before not being selected last season. He had five interceptions in 2007.

However, Hall didn't ingratiate himself to the front office when he ran on the field for the "Monday Night Football" game against the Saints with a Michael Vick poster, the day his fellow former Virginia Tech Hokie was sentenced to 23 months in prison.

At the NFL combine, Hall said he wanted to be traded, and before the latest talks with the Raiders, Hall had just about guaranteed that he was going to be disruptive next season.

He had said he would consider either demanding a trade or sitting out the first 10 games of next season if the team did not extend his contract, which is set to enter its final year.

"I will not be a part of another losing team for another year," Hall told the AJC in December. "I've got to do what I've got to do. No matter who hates me."

The Raiders also like the fact that Hall can return punts, a chore he did for the Falcons on occasion in 2004 and 2005.

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