Nnamdi Asomugha lands with Eagles
The most coveted available player in the NFL's compressed 2011 free agency period has found a surprising new home. Former Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha will join the Philadelphia Eagles' already formidable secondary.
Asomugha signed a five-year, $60 million deal with $25 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid cornerback in the league. The Eagles announced the deal shortly after 6 p.m. Friday.
The signing was considered a major surprise. All the signs in the Asomugha sweepstakes pointed to a battle between the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys.
"It was a wild, wild ride all week long leading up to the final announcement," writes CBSSports.com's Will Brinson. "At one point, the Texans were reportedly in the lead for Asomugha, but they bailed on getting too involved in the chase to pick up Johnathan Joseph."
"Then it appeared to be the Cowboys and Jets all the way up until late on Friday. But somehow, the Eagles played everyone -- and I mean everyone -- for suckers all the way up until the end, when they swooped in, landed Nnamdi and cranked up their chances at hoisting the Lombardi Trophy."
The signing came the same day that the Eagles picked up Tennessee cast-off Vince Young to back up Michael Vick at quarterback.
Asomugha spent eight seasons with the Raiders. He had a career-high eight interceptions in 2006, went to the Pro Bowl after the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons and was named a first-team all-pro in 2008 and 2010.
Read more at CBSSports.com.
