Eagles learned painful le$$on with Nnamdi Asomugha

THE EAGLES celebrated the commencement of free agency on Tuesday by excising their biggest free-agent disappointment in recent memory.

They cut Nnamdi Asomugha.

Perhaps their lesson is learned.

Entering free agency as a rebuilding franchise, they can ill afford to direct too much money and too much hope on one or two veterans. They are nowhere near inserting a final puzzle piece to ensure Super Bowl contention, as evidenced by their signing of five players on Tuesday, all of whom have a chance to impact the reconfigured roster.

As it turns out, the Eagles were nowhere near completion 2 years ago, either. They just thought they were.

Touted as the top free agent and subject to a frenzied bidding war coming out of the 2011 lockout, Asomugha, a Pro Bowl cornerback from 2008-10, was the gem of the spending spree promised that summer by Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie.

The Birds signed him for 5 years and $60 million. Asomugha will walk away having made $25 million from the team, the last of which - $ 4 million guaranteed - they will give him to play for another team this season. He was due to earn $15.3 million this season, which would be his 11th.

Asomugha, ever gracious, issued the following statement to the Daily News: "I'm very grateful for my time in Philadelphia and I want to thank the Eagles organization for the opportunity to play here. It was an honor to play in such a great football city with such a passionate fan base, and I wish my former teammates and coaches the best next season."

General manager Howie Roseman and new head coach Chip Kelly met with Asomugha and delivered the news. It was inevitable news, really, after they were unable to renegotiate Asomugha's contract at the NFL Scouting Combine last month. They will save $11.3 million this season by cutting Asomugha.

Roseman, in a statement, explained the quick divorce:

"We spoke to his representatives at the combine about his future status with the team and wanted to take time to analyze and make a decision. In the end, [Kelly] and I both felt we needed to move in a different direction at the cornerback position for 2013 and beyond."

Asomugha will serve as a symbol for the last two seasons' disappointing 12 combined wins and two playoff exclusions, mainly because he cashed in for more than $2 million per win. Still, consider Asomugha's position.

The lockout erased the 2011 offseason. As such, within a few weeks of condensed training camp, Asomugha was asked to learn a new defense, one that incorporated a component (zone coverage) with which he was unfamiliar. The past two seasons, he and the other corners were supported by a corps of safeties and linebackers who, really, were the worst components on the team.

How shaky was the rest of the defense? Well, Asomugha had six or more tackles four times in 32 games the past two seasons. He had six or more tackles on none of his other 122 NFL games. At 6-3 and a questionable 215 pounds, Asomugha played the second half of 2012 absolutely battered.

Finally, Asomugha was coached by converted offensive-line coach Juan Castillo, a first-time NFL coordinator. Castillo was fired six games into 2012 . . . in part because, frankly, Asomugha did not make enough plays.

Despite his elegant ensembles and his candid, insightful commentary, four interceptions for $25 million are just too little return on investment.

It speaks to Asomugha's repainted value that the Eagles sought to retain him, if at a lesser cost than his original deal. Regardless, Asomugha, 31, expects to play in the NFL this season. He likely will land on a team willing to spend modestly, and this time will endure more modest expectations.

That is exactly how the Eagles should proceed. Why?

Almost never does a big-money free agent play to his salary and expectations.

Consider the Eagles' history in signing cornerstone unrestricted free agents.

Their only big-time UFA slam-dunk was offensive tackle Jon Runyan.

Name another.

Terrell Owens? He was not exactly a free agent, but, OK, he was close enough. He was expected to be a long-term workhorse; the signing was more destructive than constructive.

Ricky Watters and Troy Vincent both were restricted free agents, so the Eagles were competing with only their original clubs and with a very small pool of teams willing to give up compensation.

Seldom does a fully healthy, unrestricted free agent hit the market, sign a monster deal and play to its value.

Reggie White, the greatest UFA signing in history, also was the first significant signing in history. He, of course, left Philadelphia in 1993 and restored Green Bay to relevance.

Curtis Martin, from the Dolphins to the Jets? He was restricted. Drew Brees, Charles Woodson, Shannon Sharpe? All were coming off injuries.

Deion Sanders to San Francisco, Peyton Manning to Denver, Brett Favre to Minnesota? All were too short-term to qualify.

Getting long-term value for big-money commitment is a tricky proposition.

Consider more fruitful Eagles free-agent signings.

Consider defensive end William Fuller, a modest, 3-year, $8 million outlay in 1994 . . . and three straight Pro Bowls. Consider linebacker Carlos Emmons in 2000, at $7.4 million for 4 strong years.

Something like the 3-year deals they gave their sure contributors Tuesday night: tight end James Casey, defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga and cornerback Bradley Fletcher. They also added safety Patrick Chung and linebacker Jason Phillips with 2-year deals.

The Eagles did well to avoid the Asomugha Effect: being dazzled by past performances and overpaying in the hopes of continued excellence. Especially since the Eagles don't even have an offensive or defensive template.

What will Kelly's read-option scheme look like in the NFL . . . and which quarterback will run it? On what hybridized 3-4, 4-3 defense will coordinator Bill Davis settle? What will be the correct personnel?

The Eagles understand that these questions must be answered before they splurge; if they ever do. Certainly, the Eagles considered Asomugha unsuited for whatever the defensive plan is.

Not for $15.3 million, anyway.

On Twitter: @inkstainedretch

Columns: Philly.com/MarcusHayes