Nnamdi Asomugha signs with 49ers after "it just didn't work" in Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Nnamdi Asomugha signs with 49ers after "it just didn't work" in Philadelphia
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
Nnamdi Asomugha's two years in Philadelphia were an unquestioned disappointment, and the Eagles released the former high-priced free agent last month even though they're on the hook to pay him $4 million. Asomugha signed with the 49ers, where he has a chance to resurrect his career in the Bay Area.
There are legitimate questions about whether Asomugha will ever be the type of player he was with the Raiders, when his production and reputation as one of the NFL's finest cornerback prompted the Eagles to offer a five-year, $60 million contract.
Asomugha's new deal, however, comes with no guaranteed money, meaning he will need to prove his worth by earning incentives included in the deal.
“It was a myriad of reasons," Asomugha said to Bay Area-reporters about why he struggled with the Eagles. "We could sit down and talk for a couple of hours. The bottom line is I didn’t get it done out there. It just didn’t work out. I have a chance to step back on the field and do it again, do it over.”
One reason often attributed for his struggles in Philadelphia was the scheme, which did not have the same man-to-man principles that he played in Oakland. Asomugha said he placed an emphasis on the scheme during this free agency period.
“I think 49ers have a good mix, what (defensive coordinator) Vic Fangio does I think has been awesome, over the last two years from what I’ve seen," Asomugha said. "Having a chance to do it again, definitely had to make sure the scheme was something I liked and I was able to find San Francisco with a scheme that I thought was really impressive."
He also noted the difference of the Bay Area and Philadelphia. Asomugha played at Cal and Oakland, and grew up in Los Angeles. Philadelphia was a major difference. He also has a prior relationship with 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh.
“I think the contrast is I didn’t really know anyone [in Philadelphia], and it was a new area for me," Asomugha said. "Those were probably the biggest differences. And then out here, there is that familiarity with the area and with players and coaches.”
What's clear is that Asomugha has much to prove. His time in Philadelphia is the last memory, but he can change the lasting reputation depending upon how he plays with the 49ers.
"I’ve never gone into a season thinking I didn't have something to prove," Asomugha said. "Always had a chip. The chip might be a little bigger now, but it’s always been there.
Oh, poor guy. The 'chip' is a little bigger. Spend some of that 4 mil on counseling.— cm3737- Nnamdi Asomugha signs with 49ers after "it just didn't work" in Philadelphia.......Now, just take that headline, modify it some and we come up with the truth: "Non-D signs with 49ers after "I just didn't work in Philadelphia". More fitting, anyway. Good riddance.— DelawareRiverRat
I read it like he accepted responsibility for his poor play and is looking for a fresh start in a familiar place. I have an issue with his play not his honesty.— Earl J- He didn't know anybody here? That didn't seem to be a factor when he signed the contract! This Guy,for all is off the field humanitarian work,is a Text Book Front Runner. Blaming the scheme? Come on!How many tackles did he miss? How times did Cruz ABUSE him? The Guy is simply looking for a PayDay without putting forth the effort. He's getting 4Million from The Eagles and he signs with S.F hoping he can coast with their team to a Super Bowl.— bkg126
- It didn't work, because you didn't tackle # 24 !!! Get real, no matter where you land next you will have to learn to make a TACKLE !!!!!! Nuff' said .— Breh
- Beat it, loser. Take the $$ and run. Make sure that you take another summer internship at Goldman instead of focusing on your job at hand that pays you $12M / season. What a stiff.— vdstrading
- "it just didn't work in Philly"
No, Nnamdi, YOU just didn't work in Philly!— jocko - “I think the contrast is I didn't really know anyone [in Philadelphia], and it was a new area for me," Wow! How about starting with your team mates, idiot? Once you've established a relationship with them, they may have introduced you to others in the Philadelphia community (possibly, even a nice female) whom you could develop a romantic relationship with maybe even leading to marriage and a family. But, what can you expect from a guy who ate his meals alone away from the rest of the team?Obviously, anti-social. I compare it to life in the military. Though you may have disruptive duty assignments from time to time, you develop the ability to make new friends where ever you are assigned. What a weak excuse.— essell
- yeah,it didn't work allright...it didn't work because you wouldn't tackle and kept getting beat like a drum on deep pass routes...that's the areas where it didn't work,nnamdi...where it did work was in your bank account...a shame you can't be forced to return any of it cuz you stole your paychecks plain and simple,pal...— jabac
- Nnamdi is just telling the truth. He even came here for less money so its not about him stealing money. Dallas was offering even MORE. The guy can still play and will probably do pretty well in San Fran now. The reason why it did not work was a MORON COACH and an 0-line coach at DC. Playing an older slower guy in zone instead of man, with bad safeties (not) helping over the top is just asking for a bad outcome. Thanks to the same moron in charge of drafting there was no talent at safety, and no experience at Defensive Coordinator. Whole thing was a mess, not Nnamdi's fault. And Howie and Joe Banner were dumb enough to sign him for 60 million dollars how is that his fault. It's not his fault he lost a step he works like crazy in the offseason doing stuff no other CB's do. Don't blame a decent player, blame the over-rated slob of a coach and the moron GM all put together by a moron owner. Thanks for the good times Jeffrey.— CharlieGarner25
- A year ago you were telling all of us how bad this guy is,over-rated diva,now he's gone and you tatolly change your opinion and shift your criticism to coach,GM and owner,it's all thier fault.Earlier this week you said last years team was talented and that the lack of talent was just an excuse for losing, but in that very same post you said they were over-rated, all hype players, which is it?Its hard for me to believe that a man of your superior intelligence cant see that you flip-flop more than a california stoner.No matter what happens you find a way to put a negetive spin on it,even when you have to 180 your stance and contradict yourself. — greensob
- And in case anybody here missed it, its this dopes opinion that they should draft on o-lineman in the draft.Smart move right?Fill that glaring hole right?Not so fast,genious here wants to draft an o-lineman to replace Peters,never mind all the obvious holes on this roster,he wants to cut a perrenial pro bowler without even giving him a shot at recovering,in sept. Peters will be 18 months removed from surgery,IDK what do you guys think? — greensob
- People that drink the most Kool-Aid seem to get the most confused. Now at a position like Safety its true they had no talent. But for someone to say the whole team had no talent would be wrong as they did have multi-pro bowlers all over the rest of the defense. So it is possible to lack talent in one position, but still have talent overall on a team. The problem was they had the wrong COMBINATION of talent, and UNDERSIZED talent, but they definitely had talent. Nnamdi will not look as bad in San Fran with ACTUAL SAFETY HELP over the top, and a fundamentally sound scheme around him. Watch. And no, I have never said I want the Eagles to draft an 0-lineman at #4. Ever. I want them to draft STAR LUTUELEI GET IT RIGHT PLEASE.
- Oh i got it right,what you said was that Peters was "all talk and hasn't proven anything on the feild" and youd "rather have a 22 year old" instead of peters but the Eagles brass was "too stupid",sound familiar chumpy? — greensob
- @ Delawareriverat NON-D LMAO thats Genius ( NON-D Awesome-Wall )— proclific
