July 29, 2011

Nnamdi Asomugha Signs with Philadelphia: The Philadelphia Eagles have reached a five-year deal with former Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, described often as the NFL's best cover corner. The deal is reportedly for $60 million, with $25 million guaranteed.

posted by rcade to football at 08:24 PM - 11 comments

Eagles secondary beginning to look like the Phillies' starting rotation.

Absent any trades, somebody in that group is going to have to take some snaps on offense just to get enough PT.

posted by beaverboard at 09:44 PM on July 29, 2011

I love the part in the story about how the Cowboys didn't really want him, but they just wanted to raise the price.

posted by bperk at 10:09 PM on July 29, 2011

People are already talking about the Eagles as title favorites.

This was a pretty shrewd move; teams like GB and Dallas were going to beat them through the air and now it got significantly harder to do so.

With that said, Jason Babin is a year removed from being a 3 sack per year guy, and he's the big add to help their already subpar pass rush. It's only $5 million guaranteed, but your cover corners are going to spend a lot of time chasing receivers if nobody is getting to the QB.

That said, they've been subscribing to getting the best players and fitting them in and it's hard to fault them for that.

posted by dfleming at 06:48 AM on July 30, 2011

Another win for Rex Ryan.

posted by yerfatma at 09:11 AM on July 30, 2011

With that said, Jason Babin is a year removed from being a 3 sack per year guy, and he's the big add to help their already subpar pass rush. It's only $5 million guaranteed, but your cover corners are going to spend a lot of time chasing receivers if nobody is getting to the QB.

The flipside of that, dfleming, is that good cover corners can cover (no pun intended) a multitude of sins on the D-line. If the QB has no one to throw to, the defensive line, in theory, should get more sacks/pressures because the QB has to hang on to the ball longer.

posted by holden at 09:25 AM on July 30, 2011

This is trouble for Dallas. They've only won the NFC East twice in the past decade. Even in the Dallas paper, 63 percent think this makes the Eagles the team to beat in the East.

posted by rcade at 12:51 PM on July 30, 2011

With that said, Jason Babin is a year removed from being a 3 sack per year guy, and he's the big add to help their already subpar pass rush.

2010 season
Sacks PHI Rank T10th 39.0
Pdefs Rank 1st 113
INTS Rank 3rd 23

2009 season
Sacks PHI Rank T3rd 44.0
Pdefs Rank 2nd 117
Ints Rank 4th 25

2008 season
sacks Rank 3rd 48.0
pdefs rank 4th 107
ints rank T11th 15

Subpar?
Babin was used in TN under the former Titans dline coach and new Eagles Dline coach Jim Washburn. He was rotated previously in Philly which is why his avgs were low. He started in TN and blossomed under Washburn. Washburn wanted him back as did Andy Reid for good reason. Brandom Graham(Phillys 1st rounder from last yr) had Micro-fracture surgery in the off-season and they don't want to rush him back.

On edit- Babin and Philly's RDE Trent Cole are best of friends and hunting buddies. Latest rumor(Philly mssg boards): is Babin is trying to convince Titans MLB Stephen Tulloch to join him in philly.

posted by meccadon123 at 01:05 PM on July 30, 2011

I love the part in the story about how the Cowboys didn't really want him, but they just wanted to raise the price.

Don't know why, but I keep sensing that the Cowboys are in trouble - both on the field and financially (not that they don't have the money, just that the money is committed elsewhere, whether debt service on the Jones Taj Mahal or other players). Clearly, the Cowboys do not need help in their secondary, because they have done so well recently in that area. (What's the emoticon for tongue in cheek?)

posted by graymatters at 01:50 PM on July 30, 2011

Eagles sign DT Cullen Jenkins from GB 5 yrs 25 million (cap credits from last yr paying off) 7 sacks last yr. Adam Caplan tweets"the rich get richer". Eagle Pres Joe Banner was asked if there was still room for any more moves, he said to ask Howard Roseman. Roseman stated, "oh hell yea...don't go home yet".

posted by meccadon123 at 05:01 PM on July 30, 2011

They also signed Vince Young to backup Vick.

posted by bperk at 05:14 PM on July 30, 2011

And Donald Lee TE, also from the Packers, to back up(and block in place of) Brent Celek.

posted by meccadon123 at 05:37 PM on July 30, 2011

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