Asomugha: Philadelphia experience 'not even close' to what he hoped
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.
Asomugha: Philadelphia experience 'not even close' to what he hoped
Zach Berman
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.
What we don't need is another punk CB who doesn't tackle. As least Samuel made the big play every now and then. Asomugha is a punk and a fraud.— DiggityWak- Nnamdi has played poorly....but to his defense....he is kind of stuck in this weird defensive scheme. Brought in to be a man to man cover guy, he always ends up in some zone coverage. Also, in zone, a safety shouldn't bite on a play fake.....which Coleman and Allen do all the time. They teach you that in high school. So while Nnamdi IS playing poorly, he isn't getting much help either.— MrJayScott
- I don't recognize any of these commenters dissing Nnamdi. Are they Eagles employees greasing the skids? Of course, he has been a disappointment ...— Copper34
- Nambi must be concussed also. In two years I have yet to see him
make and impact tackle or be the shut down corner he was supposed to
be. The Eagles were soft before he got here and now they are even softer.— naplesfan - Nnamdi Asomugha equals Izel Jenkins Toast 2.0— DumbAsHell
- Nnamdi Asomugha equals Izel Jenkins Toast 2.0— DumbAsHell
- Nnamdi Asomugha equals Izel Jenkins Toast 2.0— DumbAsHell
- Aso for obvious reasons you have not and never will be a winner in this league. Another all hat no cattle guy. And do we have plenty of those.— oldBird
