New York weeps again: Nnamdi Asomugha spurns Jets, takes Eagles big bucks
Philadelphia takes another player from New York's grasp. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)
I have never seen Nnamdi Asomugha play. He was with the Oakland Raiders, and they weren’t on national television often. And when they were, I wasn’t necessarily itching to spend a few hours watching a mediocre team play. Yet, apparently he was reason alone to tune in. And, also, he is supposedly considered the best cornerback in the NFL. This bold statement can be easily backed by the Twitter explosion that followed the 30-year-old’s shocking decision. From that alone, it seems he’s kind of a big deal.
He only has three interceptions in the past four seasons, but the three-time Pro Bowler very highly coveted by many teams, most notably the New York Jets. The Jets were hoping to pair him with Darrelle Revis, their very talented cornerback. Head coach Rex Ryan and New York’s front office reportedly met with Asomugha, but, according to ESPN, “the intense, four-day negotiation ended with a ‘No.’”
Judging by the reaction on Twitter, his decision not to play in the Big Apple was very shocking. And his decision thereafter to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles, a surprising, late suitor, was even more so. After all, it appeared his signing with New York was a foregone conclusion. This situation sounds very familiar. LaMar Gafford (@primetime2832) hit it on the nose: “The Nnamdi sweepstakes is eerily similar to the Cliff Lee sweepstakes.”
Lee, one of the better pitchers in baseball, entered the free-agent market in 2010. The New York Yankees had the money, offering the 31-year-old a six-year contract worth $154 million, with a $16 million player option for a seventh year. It wasn’t all about money for him. He took $120 million over five years instead. The exact offer made by the Jets to Asomugha isn’t known, but it was said to be “substantial”, perhaps more than the $60 million contract spanning five years he signed with Philadelphia. It would complete the resemblance.
His joining the Eagles gives them three Pro Bowl cornerbacks, joining Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Asante Samuel. Given Rodgers-Cromartie was signed just a day ago, Samuel is believed to be trade bait. Whatever happens, the Eagles will be stacked defensively. There’s a joke making the rounds that Eli Manning’s interception rate for the coming years just increased drastically. It’s may be pretty close to the truth.
What is indeed true is this: the Eagles will be extremely tough to beat. They play in a competitive division, but they have the explosive athletes offensively to compliment their now incredible secondary, with Michael Vick at quarterback, Le’Sean McCoy at running back, and Deshawn Jackson at wide-receiver.
Jackson welcomed Asomugha to the Eagles on Twitter, only to misspell his first name, writing “Nnambi”. That’s the only hiccup on this day. The city of Philadelphia welcomed a star once more. Eighty-one miles north, New York is left weeping again.
