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.
Comments (53)
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
- Wah Wah Wah -- good riddance moron.— Joseph DeSantis
- It didn't work out because you suck.— Justaschmuck
- and remember we cut asante for this guy— jamarder
- A finger pointing bust who claims it was the scheme. Well, Nnamdi cry baby you blew it on man to man coverage also. Your entire career here will be remembered for inspiring Victor Cruz's salsa dance when you toasted you two seasons' ago. You are a poster child for a privileged, over hyped sports star who cares more about his hair style and his off field interests than in playing the game. You stole your money. You hoodwinked the league. You chose not to play hard. You gave up on plays. Didn't lead the secondary. Avoided tackles. Got pushed around like a rag doll. And here's the kicker, was paid $4 million to go away. $4 million! You were so bad that the team parted with $4 million just to keep your "I don't give a S***" attitude off the field and not infect other players who really do want to play the game. You walked around acting like you were the smartest guy in the world. Using words like myriad. But really, you couldn't even read a high school level coverage package that the coaches finally resorted to in order to see if it was the scheme or the man. The conclusion--it was the man. You need to take your so-called, self declared intellectual rear end and get out of football and into politics where people get ahead for not performing their jobs!— PFCzar
- He had so many people run past him - it was like he was handing out Gatorade!— knighn
- Nnamdi is a wimp and a turd.— MrBigDizzle
- How effective can a corner actually be? $4MM for a middle linebacker, I get it. Just like Assante Samuel. Is Durrel Revis that good? Think not.— boroughboy
- Right on Charlie Garner25— Robert Garber
- Non-D Awfulha! Now I know how to pronounce it. The 49ers lost their safety and got this guy. Their secondary is now suspect in a pass happy league. They will not win their division, the Seattle Seahawks will.— NC Eagle Fan
- its noy the playes its the lack of a organization there is a reason the team has never won a championship since 1960, and a reason they have never won a superbowl, and a reason they have only been to 2 superbowls and lost them both, AND HAVE GUTS TO WALK WITH A STRUT CALLING THEMSELVES THE GOLDSATNDARD AND DREAM TEAM, LOL IN REALITY THE G-MAN, 49ERS, PATS, STEELERS, AND YES I HATE THEM BUT THE COWBOYS ARE THE ONLY GOLD STANDARDS THE EAGLES ARE THE BROWNS, LIONS AND CHARGERS ALL WRAPPED UP INTO 1 AND THE GARBAGE STANDARD!! 100 PERCENT FACT!!!!!!!!!! I WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT THE PHILLIES 76ERS AND FLYERS FOR BETTER OR WERSE AND HATE THE EAGLES WITH A PASSION,, I HOPE THEY NEVER WIN A SUPERBOWL FOR ETERNITY!!!! GOOOO G-MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— PHILLIES & GMAN FAN 4 LIFE
- TO ALL YOU EAGLES FANS IDIOTS WHO ARE BLAMING THE PLAYERS ALL THE TIME AND CRYING IN YOUR BEER IM SURE NORMAN BRAMEN WOULD AGREE WITH YOU AS HE AS A GREAT OWNER AND ALL THE PLAYERS FAULTS LOL HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH— PHILLIES & GMAN FAN 4 LIFE
- What is "Mister Softie" complaining about now?— fmMD
- Maybe that "chip" he's playing with on his shoulder this year will be big enough that it might actually trip up a ball carrier when he dives out of the way trying to avoid contact while feigning an attempt at tackling!— Colonel Angus
- He found out you actually have to tackle in Philadelphia before they like you.— Smooth88
- greensob, charliewhiner has trouble remembering his stance on things because he has gotten caught so many times in his revolving door of logic that it finally smacked him in the arse...giving him brain damage. Go easy on him, he is just a shell of what he used to be...which wasn't much to begin with.
Yeah, yesterday it was Peters is a perennial All Pro player but the Eagles wasted draft picks getting him...ya can't make it up.— tpizza - Of course you are agreeing with the one guy that was completely wrong. Good job. As for Peters the Eagles DID waste a first round pick, and another pick or whatever else they wasted to get an older veteran with 8 years of wear and tear who then tore his Achilles and couldn't play while the team went 4-12. The low football IQ is ABYSMAL.
- Nnamdi-most overrated player to come to Philly in a looooong time.
— BlueberryLetter23 - Sheldon Brown and Lito Shepherd were much better than DRC/Nnamdi.— BlueberryLetter23
- He will make the pro bowl with the niners..very sad— sedale
- CharlieGarner25, what in the world are you talking about?
When the Eagles signed Jason Peters he was one of the best Oline anchors in the league.
You cannot predict injury.
What a silly comment for you to make.— BlueberryLetter23 - lol, your not getting it. And I said that a year ago. Its sad how many times I need to repeat myself on here. A winning organization will take a first round pick and DRAFT A REALLY GOOD PLAYER, while the eagles trade a first round pick a flashy looking move to try to appear smart but they end up getting an OLDER PLAYER who is then MORE LIKELY TO GET INJURED and WILL NOT LAST AS LONG. So one team will actually draft a solid 22 year old 0-linemen while the eagles over-pay, and waste draft picks on a 29 year old who then gets injured. Winning team gets a great player at a cheap rookie contact price for 5-10 years, Eagles pay bloated contract for older player and only get him for 3-4 years until he is injured/retired. Its a losing proposition, and part of why this team will probably NEVER win a superbowl under Lurie and Howie Roseman. (With Roseman as GM), PROBABLY NEVER.
- Really? Check out the 22 year olds the Bills took with the picks the Eagles gave them for Peters, nothing but injuries and wash outs. And that was from the team YOU said was smart enough to have signed Peters in the first place. Game, set, match...you lose loser.
Yes you said it a year ago and what is sad is that you keep repeating it no matter how inane it was in the first place.
Find 2 guys who wouldn't make that trade all over again even KNOWING of the injury now. You won't find them moron. Please stop trying to be the dumbest guy on this ite. You've already succeeded so you can stop trying...idiot.— tpizza - Going back to the post i was refering to earlier he also said "the eagles need less players like Peters,not more".This kid is a clown.Did you see his recent post when he was talking about how many college coaches came in and won a SB and he said"almost none"? That was an instant classic.Man he wishes it was none, but its not, its almost none. — greensob
- Note to C.whiner, when the Eagles traded for Peters he had 4 years of "wear and tear" on him. Doesn't hurt to actually tell the truth moron. No one has any idea who will or will not get hurt and why don't you do a little research and see what Buffalo got by trading AWAY an All-Pro. I did and got a good laugh out of it...sorta like I get from all your posts...and I agree with people who are correct, like greensob. Now watch out for that revolving door, any more brain damage and you won't be able to sit for a week. moron.— tpizza
- I can't even respond to delusions which is most of your post, but factually he did not play 4 years there. It was not 8 either but it was 5. 65 games of NFL wear and tear when the average CAREER is only 3 years, or 48 games. And this guy had 65 already,it IS possible to project injuries lol...its so simple your post is laughably dumb. This is just sad pizza. Keep rooting for a Howie Roseman superbowl. Its gonna happen this year I think.
- There you go again,contradicting yourself,you say the average career is 3 years "incorect number again" but a few posts up you said teams take thier #1 picks and sign them to "cheap rookie contracts for 5-10 years".Really? 5 to 10 years? Sounds like a lot but i'll take your word for it. In any case,if the average career is 3 yrs then doesnt that mean they got thier moneys worth from Peters and everything from here on out is just gravy. — greensob
- Hey moron, he was with the Bills 5 years but sat out one so it's 4 years of "wear and tear". Now according to your logic...there's that word again...the Eagles never should have signed John Runyan and Tre Thomas should have been dumped ater year 4.
Now exactly how many years did they play again? Man you are stupid. Greensob sees it too.— tpizza - No, you're still wrong...he sat at one year, remember? Geez, are you EVER right?
I wonder what Tre Thomas and John Runyon think about your "averages". Using your "logic" Runyon was a mistake too? Keep trying moron, it's that blind squirrel thing...— tpizza - ...and OK karnak, tell me who is going to get this year...I dare ya...possible to predict injuries...hahahahahahahahahahaha...what a loon.— tpizza
"I couldn't fit the whole team in my car for lunch, so I didn't get to know anybody."— verve- With the forth pick, they must take best player on the board regardless of position. If it happens to be a lineman then so be it.— rustypop58
- Charlie Garner 25, you missed a huge point in your post you claim a player only lasts three years in the NFL. Well the player that you have as your screen name the mediocre Charlie Garner played from 1994 to 2004, sounds like more than three years. I think you better call it a night and go to bed, you might miss your school bus in the morning. God knows you cannot affords to miss math class.— big red
- Charlie Garner 25, you missed a huge point in your post you claim a player only lasts three years in the NFL. Well the player that you have as your screen name the mediocre Charlie Garner played from 1994 to 2004, sounds like more than three years. I think you better call it a night and go to bed, you might miss your school bus in the morning. God knows you cannot affords to miss math class.— big red
- I see, so the scheme made him slower, run poor angles & mis-tackle. Yeah, must be someone else's fault. He'll make a good president some day.— Mike in LA
- Good bye #24 I only got a chance to see the back of you on game day when you were chasing an opposing receiver and finger pointing your teammates. You would use million dollar words in interviews but played like a 2 cent reject.— angrywhtguy
- Good bye #24 I only got a chance to see the back of you on game day when you were chasing an opposing receiver and finger pointing your teammates. You would use million dollar words in interviews but played like a 2 cent reject.— angrywhtguy
- lolol... yeah, let Nmandi play man-to-man out there and watch the WRs fly by him. Its not the scheme Nmandi its you.— sfofan
- This guy sucked as an Eagle. BUT, he is tall, fast, athletic and smart. If he would play with some heart, he could still be a great corner. But he had no heart in Philly. No courage. You can't play in Philly if you don't have heart, and you can't play in the NFL either, at least anywhere they expect performance. If he learns to hit again, who knows, but he should have been fired a long time ago. He is an intellecual guy who wants money and wants to save his body for later. But he doesn't want to play football.— Ben Dawkins
1
Popular Posts
About this blog
Birds' Eye View is the Inquirer's blog covering all things Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL.
Jeff McLane
Inquirer Staff Writer
Zach Berman
Inquirer Staff Writer
Classifieds:
Site Services:
Partners:
Powered By:
