No surprise, really, but the Oakland Raiders have placed the franchise tag on defensive end Richard Seymour. NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi confirmed a report originally made in the Boston Herald. That means Seymour will be retained at a cost of $12.398 million for 2010 if the two sides can’t agree in a long-term deal.

“The Raiders have designated me as a franchise player,” Seymour said in a text message to NFL Network/NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora. “This is the first step in the process. My agent, Eugene Parker, Mr. Al Davis, and I will continue to discuss my long term future with the organization.”

The Raiders and Seymour have been involved in ongoing talks for a while, in hopes of figuring out a deal for the five-time Pro Bowler who just completed his ninth season.

One would figure the Raiders want to lock up Seymour long term, considering the price they paid to acquire him. One week before the season began, Oakland traded its 2011 first-round draft choice to New England in order to obtain Seymour, 30, who was in the final year of his contract.

The Raiders would receive two first-round picks as compensation if Seymour was signed by another team.

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