Eagles Corner Market: Nnamdi Joins Crowd
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Eagles Corner Market: Nnamdi Joins Crowd
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
BETHLEHEM -- The Eagles have announced a five-year deal with the top free agent on the NFL market, corner Nnamdi Asomugha, who joins Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the corner they acquired yesterday from Arizona, and Asante Samuel in what is the NFL's most prolific and best-paid corner corps. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Asomugha deal is for $60 million, $25 million guaranteed.
Whether the three-cornered defense will stand is, of course, a huge question, one the Eagles didn't answer resoundingly in a news conference that began shortly after 7 p.m. at Lehigh.
General manager Howie Roseman, asked if he envisioned lining up all three corners on opening day in St. Louis, gave an answer that began with "We're excited to get Nnamdi."
Asked again after the news conference, Roseman again refrained from painting an emphatic picture of all three corners definitely, absiolutely, positively playing here.
Roseman said he was excited to have all three on the roster. "We have more work to do to fill out our roster," he said.
Roseman repeatedly insisted that Samuel's absence so far from training camp was what the Eagles have said -- personal and excused, not at all related to the corner moves. But unless the Birds are going to talk a Pro Bowler into taking a nickel role, one has to think a Samuel trade might be pending, for something the Eagles really need. (A big-time lionebacker? A big-time right offensive tackle? Hunter Pence?)
All day long, Twitter chronicled an apparent battle between the Cowboys and the Jets to sign Asomugha, often extolled as the NFL''s best cover corner. News that the Eagles were signing him -- apparently broken by Schefter and Fox's Jay Glazer, in a dead heat, seconds before the team texted an announcement -- stunned the league.
Roseman said the Eagles became serious bidders "fairly recently," through contacts with agent Ben Dogra about other players he represents.
"You're talking about a guy who represents 120 players," Roseman said. "You're going to be talking with him, and when you are, you're going to be curious about what's going on" with Asomugha.
Eagles coach Andy Reid announced the trade but left for a team meeting without answering any questions about who plays where.
"I mentioned to you before that I thought Howie had a great plan for free agency and trades and so on," Reid said. "This is what we have here so far, and it's a pretty good list. I think we all know about Nnamdi -- if not the best, he's one of the best cornerbacks in the National Football League. He'll be a great addition to our cornerback corps ... It reminds me a little of when we had Al (Harris), Troy (Vincent) and Bobby Taylor. So we'll just see how things go there."
Maybe the Eagles aren't quite sure yet whether this can work, maybe it depends on Samuel's reaction to being overshadowed, and possibly asked to play inside.
"We've spent a lot of time on making this move. There hasn't been a lot of time for other things," Roseman said. "I think all those questions are for another day."
Roseman said the Eagles are in "constant contact" with Samuel.
Oh, yeah, the Eagles finally announced the five-year Jason Babin deal. They still aren't able to acknowledge their agreement with QB Vince Young, because he wasn't technically released until today, though the Titans announced they were releasing him on Thursday.
"Very late," Roseman said, when asked when the Eagles entered the Asomugha process. "He wanted to be in Philadelphia."
Eagles philosophy: I can throw the ball anywhere I want against you. You can't throw the ball anywhere on me.
THIS IS FREAKIN AWESOME!!! Could have the best cornerback play since Mike Haynes and Lester Hayes.— 21stCentury- Joe "Nnamdi" Banner.— soybot
- Joe "Nickels" Banner strikes again— randy7676
- You talk about correcting your major flaw on defense in one fell swoop. You gotta give it up to the brass,what a move!— Ken B
Comment removed.- Means very little until the front seven is fixed. Wish Edwards was here not Babin. I don't know who gets traded. Maybe DRC, that would be smart for a impact LB. But I guess we'll wait and see. The only one I can see going to safety is NA. He's 30 and maybe he'll finish his HOF career there.— Artiescott
- They need to quickly work to convert one of the All Pro corners into a safety....— kelprod2
- maybe we can now get off AR & JB back for atleast 24hours and be happy to be a fan, great news for the EAGLES and there fans!— anglin2005
- Comment removed.
Very interesting. Can't imagine they'll keep 3 cover corners unless they're covering themselves in case DRC doesn't get back to his Pro-Bowl status...I guess they could move Nnamdi to the starting SS spot repacing Mikell, and also have themselves one hell of a nickel package on passing downs.
Anyways, 8-0 Phillies in the 3rd! Thinkin' that'll be enough runs for Doc...- Great moves by the Eales, but they are still week at Offensive Line, Linebacker and letting Akers walk was a mistake. They need to deal Samuels for an offensive lineman or linebacker.— joeyc444
- Koncussion Kolb...great name:
They also need to figure out their linebacking corps. I wish we had Stewart Bradley from a couple of years ago. But, I'm not sure what the bleep they are going to do with him this year...dump him or give him another shot. I do love anyone related to Clay Matthews...If the kid plays like the rest of his family, that would be cool. But they need to figure this area out.
The O-Line could be good. Jackson is back and can be the QB of the line. Watkins will solidify a postion on the line. The main concern (as we all know) is what to do about Justice, who was a matador last year and would have been benched had Vick not been Harry Houdini.
They are not far away (if they can stay healthy)! But, yes, the O-line needs to be ready and the linebacker corps needs to be very active.— 21stCentury - They're not finished yet!— Eagle_1960
- Asante and DeSean to the Cards for Larry Fitzgerald. Gives Cards a corner, Kolb gets a familiar target, Eagles get a Super Bowl.— mackwheaton
- Hey Jerry Jones...how 'bout them Cowboys???!!!!— 25years/100seasonsandcounting
