Back in March, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha realized that there was a good chance that was would not return for a ninth season with the Oakland Raiders.
Asomugha decided to look at the other teams and see what each one presented. After taking everything into consideration, Asomugha decided four months ago that he wanted to be a Philadelphia Eagle. However, Asomugha didn't know if the Eagles felt the same way. In fact, when negotiations with free agents began last Monday the Eagles didn't get in the mix right away.
Asomugha had a number of suitors who clamored for the services of the top free agent on the open market. Some teams offered more money, but once the Eagles got into the mix - even after acquiring another Pro Bowl cornerback in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - Asomugha went back to the decision that he had made in March.
"Everything came really quickly. The Eagles expressed interest and came so aggressive and said, 'We have a chance. We want this. Let's do it.' It didn't have to go much further from there," Asomugha said at his introductory press conference on Sunday. "When that comes around full circle, you have to go with it. It just happened."
Asomugha was Oakland's first draft pick after the Raiders made the Super Bowl in the 2002 season. However, that was the team's last playoff appearance. Meanwhile, since Asomugha's NFL career began, the Eagles have been to a Super Bowl, another NFC title game and have won four division titles. Being a part of a winner was just one of the many reasons that Asomugha is now an Eagle.
"There was so much from top to bottom that they had and they were aggressive. When a team wants you, you can feel it," Asomugha said. "When you feel that match, I don't think you can shy away from that.
"Obviously, it's frustrating to not win. The number one goal when you come into this league is to win the championship. You hear every team say it every year, 'We want to win the Super Bowl, that's our goal,' and it's the only reason you play. So when you're not winning and you're not making it to the playoffs that can be frustrating. Obviously, I've seen what the Eagles have done in the past, the winning tradition that they've had and it excites me. It excites everyone here. Obviously now we're looking into the future to see what we can do with this team, but they're winners."
Asomugha isn't the only big move that the Eagles have made in free agency. Of course there's the aforementioned acquisition of Rodgers-Cromartie. The Eagles have also signed defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, defensive end Jason Babin, quarterback Vince Young, wide receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins, tight end Donald Lee and veteran guard Evan Mathis.
And Asomugha hinted that more moves might be on the way.
"We might not be done yet. I think there's more that could even be coming," Asomugha said. "It's obviously very exciting."
The initial task was getting the talent into Philadelphia. Now, it's making it all come together.
"Anytime you can get this many players who can go out and put their best on the field and bring back victories it's exciting, but obviously we still have to go out there and play," Asomugha said. "Everything looks great right now, but we still have to jell. We still have to come together and work and bring those victories."
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