Tyvon takes one for the team (Brisiel, too)

Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times is reporting that the Raiders and Tyvon Branch reached a deal to restructure his contract, giving the Raiders between $4-5 million in cap space.  Recently, offensive lineman Mike Brisiel also re-worked his contract to give the Raiders some room.
In the long term, this could present a problem, as all the Raiders are doing is pushing back the money owed to Branch.  However, hopefully in a few years, this type of issue will be an anomaly rather than the norm.

Branch signed a long-term extension with the Silver and Black last year after being tagged as the franchise player.  However, he didn’t have as strong of a season in 2012 as expected.  This was possibly due in part to injuries, as Branch was limited in 2012.  He played in every game from 2009-2011.  Hopefully he’ll be back to form in 2013.

Brisiel is also coming off of a disappointing year, where he was expected to be a solid contributor to Oakland’s doomed zone blocking scheme.  He, too, was slowed by injuries.  Brisiel will have to learn a new system, as the Raiders are expected to run more of a power offense under new offensive coordinator Greg Olson.

These moves give the Raiders some room to make a move or two, if need be, before restructuring other contracts for players like Tommy Kelly, Darrius Heyward-Bey, and Carson Palmer.  The priority should be to lock up Philip Wheeler, who came to Oakland on a one-year deal and had a breakout season.  Locking Wheeler up would go a long way in helping the Raiders chart the rest of the defense for 2013.