Asomugha: Philadelphia experience 'not even close' to what he hoped
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Asomugha: Philadelphia experience 'not even close' to what he hoped
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
Nnamdi Asomugha said his experience with the Eagles is "not even close" to what he anticipated when he signed a lucrative contract before the 2011 season.
"I didn't know anybody, but everybody was on the same page that we were going to get it done first year out of there," Asomugha said. "Then we saw that we had to jell. Then we started to jell at the beginning of the season, things were on a roll, and we started losing, and that momentum went the other way around for us. I'm mentally strong because I haven't had the success in the league I've wanted since I was a rookie, so mentally, I've been able to deal with that and know, or believe, that it's going to turn around."
Asomugha said he's "fine" mentally and maintains belief that it will turn around. But Asomugha has been a source of frustration for fans who expected an elite cornerback when he signed. That hasn't always been the case in Asomugha's 1 1/2 seasons with the Eagles. He said fans are "just" in expecting from much him and being disappointed in the result, and that he holds himself to a higher standard than anyone else.
"If a fan has an issue with [how things have gone], they're not going to get me saying that's wrong," Asomugha said. "As a fan, I can look back to teams that I've liked, and when a player I've liked comes in, and expecting things to just change, and getting upset about that. So I can't be that guy and look at them and say, 'you can't be upset that we haven't won even though I haven't Superman on the field,' even though that's what's expected of me."
Asomugha said Philadelphia is where he wants to be, and that he does not regret coming to the Eagles. He said he does not wonder whether he'll be let go if there are changes in the organization, even though he's an aging player with an expensive contract. He emphasized his faith in things working out for him, although he hopes it happens in Philadelphia.
"I want to be around for this turnaround that I know is going to happen," Asomugha said. "My mind isn't there for, 'are you going to see it through?', what's going happen. It's just not there. But I definitely want to be here for it turning around, because I know it will."
Look for more in Saturday's Inquirer.
The feeling is mutual. While I find him well-spoken, his skills were highly-overrated. He was the best player on a bad team...that pretty much made him the smartest kid in summer school.— reasonableihope- Your a total bust. Please leave and go back to Oakland. You even deceived Ray Didinger who thought you were a great acquisition. Nnamdi might cost the Eagles a slight salary cap hit but I will be glad to see him go. Draft a guy who might not have the talent but will have the hunger to compete.— Drew777
- Philadelphia fans should do just like LA. Liqidate the team Hostess style start relying more on your college teams. Los Angeles seems to be doing perfectly OK with USC/UCLA and good attendance too.I am sure not that many miss the Rams or Raiders and after some 60 years of misery save one dont think many will miss the Eagles either. Go Temple, Villanova, West Chester , Penn Delaware Your probably better than they are anyhow and a lot more worth the money— tastycake
- Let me make everyone feel even worse. RGIII is eleven games into his career and is already one of the top five QB's in the NFL. The Redskins will absolutely win a Super Bowl before the Eagles. It always has and always will suck to be an Eagles fan.— syddan26
- with the contract he signed and as good as he thinks he is he shouldnt need safety help so not to his credit really— pr0f3ss0r
- I will Quote myself from day one. " Nnamdi = Lance Parrish.— watsonmr
- He doesn't regret signing here, but the Eagles sure regret signing him. Just your typical player who once he got the payday, stopped playing. Easily the worse free agent signing in Eagles history.— antjam0507
- I would trade this whole soft roster for Chuck Bednarik.
Eighty-seven year old Chuck Bednarik.
— dasher -
He will be released, no one will pick up the contract and trade for him. If he wants to win, lets see if he goes to New England for 1 mil.
I doubt it, he will sign for another losing team for a few dollars more.— camasbud - Then luckiest man in the world is Joe Banner. Talk about getting out when the gettin' is good...— Bobphxville
- I want some of what Nnamdi must be smokin'— tyroneslothrop
- At least Lance Romance made an effort. If Asogumga moved his feet half as fast as he runs his mouth, well... (actually, I found the Parrish comparision amusing; good work watson.)— chocolatethunder
- He's good at acting like its the safeties fault. I think he has a future in that field.— comin4ya23
- he's atrocious, and none of what he says makes any sense whatsoever..— vicktorylap
- I never thought I'd say this, but I miss Assante Samuel. Asomugha is just as bad a tackler as Samuel but never intercepts anything. I've never seen anyone so obviously avoid contact, except when he's being pushed down the field by blockers. He's another Reid mistake.— charlied612
