Nnamdi Asomugha says 'good chance' he'll be back

(01-14) 19:19 PST -- Free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha told ESPN on Friday that there's "a good chance" he returns to the Raiders for next season.

The last season of Asomugha's three-year, $45.3 million contract was voided when he failed to reach "easy-to-meet" incentives. The four-time Pro Bowler missed two games due to an ankle injury, played hurt in others and finished with fewer plays than he had in 2009, as well as zero interceptions.

He was at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn., on Friday, making TV and radio appearances, and was asked if he thought he would be back in Oakland.

"There's a chance; there's a good chance," Asomugha said. "It's funny because I've been doing interviews all day and I hear a lot of people saying, 'No longer an Oakland Raider,' 'You are not a ... ,' but anything could happen at this point.

"When you go into free agency and have options, any team is up for you to be on - and the Raiders, obviously with me having been there for so long, have a great shot at it."

Does he want to come back?

"I would love to be back," Asomugha said, "but I do have options, so we'll have to see what happens."

Asomugha said he wasn't aware that his contract was being voided - and $16.8 million was going up in smoke - until after the season.

"As the end of the season approached, not aware at all," he said, "because we had a chance to be in the playoffs and we're playing football games. When you're in that type of situation, you're never really thinking about what's going on with your contract and what's going to happen after the season.

"So, once the season ended, that's when it kind of hit."

Earlier, Asomugha was asked his thoughts on offensive coordinator Hue Jackson possibly being Oakland's next head coach. The Chronicle reported Jan. 11 that Jackson will be named as Tom Cable's replacement.

Jackson "was with us during the 8-8 season, and that was the best season we've had in the last eight years," Asomugha said. "So he understands the players and knows what it takes to win. So I think bringing Hue along has to be the right choice if you're getting rid of Tom Cable."

E-mail Vittorio Tafur at vtafur@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page B - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle