Ball Will Likely Be In Asomugha’s Court

Howie Roseman will meet with Nnamdi Asomugha’s agent, Ben Dogra, this morning, according to multiple reports.

The reality here is that the ball will likely be in Asomugha’s court. The original contract he signed in the summer of 2011 calls for him to be paid more than $15 million in 2013. Anyone who watched his performance last season knows there’s no way the Eagles are paying that number.

But the key here is that the Eagles owe Asomugha $4 million if they cut him.

In other words, Asomugha will have to weigh two options from a financial perspective.

1. Whatever the Eagles offer him over $4 million in a newly re-structured deal.
2. What he thinks he could potentially get from a new team on the open market.

In other words, Asomugha can pocket the $4 million AND make whatever a new team offers.

Chip Kelly and Roseman know what everyone else knows: That the soon-to-be 32-year-old cornerback was a huge disappointment last season. He gave up too many big plays, failed to make plays when the ball was in the air and was a poor tackler. Whatever skills he had in Oakland are not going to suddenly return at this point in his career.

So, why would the Eagles even consider re-structuring his deal? Again, they’re on the hook for $4 million regardless. The Eagles likely will have to fill the other cornerback spot unless Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie unexpectedly returns.

If Asomugha agrees to a major pay cut, the Eagles could choose to ride with him in 2013, knowing that finding a pair of starting corners in free agency and the draft could be difficult.

Then again, the team is not in “win-now” mode and might just decide it’s time to cut ties.

Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.
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