Free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha has three major suitors right now. Below are things that may be going through his mind as he weighs his options on who to sign with.
New York Jets
Asomugha has been playing in Oakland for 8 seasons so winning is something that he has not been able to experience. The New York Jets offer him the best chance at a championship right now. They are the team that is most ready to make a Super Bowl run. The Jets may not be able to offer as much money as the other teams, but if he wants to win, New York would be the place to do it.
Houston Texans
Asomugha can make the most money in Houston as he will not have to pay individual taxes. Houston is always a team that, on paper, looks like it could be a contender in the AFC, but never seems to be able to pull it off in the end. Asomugha may be instrumental in helping the Texans compete with the big name AFC franchises.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers offer a chance for Asomugha to stay local. He lives in the Bay Area and is used to the Bay Area. Again, he played 8 seasons across the Bay in Oakland. He played college ball at the University of California, Berkeley. Asomugha is a California native as he grew up in Los Angeles attending Leuzinger High School in Lawndale and Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance before transferring to and graduating from Narbonne High School in Harbor City.
His choice will depend on what is more important to him. If he wants more money, he will have to pick Houston. If he wants to win now, he will have to go to New York for less money. If he wants to stay local and still make a decent paycheck, San Francisco is an option.
Honestly, if your love for the 49ers was not factored in, who would you pick and why? Leave a comment below.
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Dallas Niner fan
I don't know I think Comradie is a pretty niece play and cheaper. Sounds to me like Asomuga's main passion is to be in the movies. Sounds like a Crabtree type ego to me.
Jul 29, 2011 at 11:23 AM
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$leekone
Niners would be sweet however He's got money He's got fame I say at his age the ring is on his mind....So being a niners fan it sure would be sweet to have him .....He's very expensive and we could use money to address other things! OFFENSIVE LINE BABY!
Jul 29, 2011 at 10:41 AM
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JRivera
HOU before they're resigning of CB now the 49ers sincerely
Jul 28, 2011 at 10:46 PM
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mdoran4
who wouldn't take the jets right?? but maybe trrent and harbaugh are selling the goods. doubt it works on him, but one can only hope.
Jul 28, 2011 at 6:31 PM
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Jore
Jets make the best choice if he wants a SB now, but thats not even a gaurantee. That division is brutal and NE just signed OchoCinco to make things harder and got Haynesworth. Houston is a potential contender however their defense is unproven, although he'll make the most money there. SF upside is..he'll stay home. He'll be getting decent money. Will make a defense better right away and his presence will get the niners into the playoffs. They may not win the SB this year but they will be contenders soon enough. He will be playing under a defense that creates turnovers which is another upside to him.
Jul 28, 2011 at 5:18 PM
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rapid4
(1) Jets, (2) Houston, (3) 49ers. Jets are good to go, NY market may get him some endorsements as well. Houston is getting serious -- signed Hasselbeck. 49ers have a new coach and staff, the usual QB issue(s), losing starters at C, NT, ILB, possibly S, without any pickups so far -- Nnamdi can see that he alone cannot take the 9ers deep into the playoffs.
Jul 28, 2011 at 3:55 PM
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cK
staying local would be the best choice as I would also have a decent paycheck and not have to have the hassle of moving around. niners honestly arent that far from being a contender as well so I'd say best choice is niners
Jul 28, 2011 at 3:51 PM
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Patrick
Considering the options, let's look at his competition and truly see where his skills could help a team win quickly. Houston - He will have to deal with Indy, Jackson, Titans. Great QB, RB, WR. Can he alone supplant Indy? Don't know. Jets - Miami, NE, Buffalo - NE just signed Ocho-cinco. Jets will have a hard time even winning this division. A TON of competition here which lessons the chances of a SB run or even a division win. This is without the consideration of the Steelers, too. 49ers - Arizona, Rams, Seahawks...enough said, yes? The way I see this, his best chance at winning a division and maybe more is in SF based off of his competition. With all this said, the Niners need to start looking into Plan B and C before they are gone, too. Add some pressure to NA IF he is considering SF. If we take Joseph, we can bundle the money to add another solid FA.
Jul 28, 2011 at 3:46 PM
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Dan R.
I agree with David's response to Gabriel Flores III, what the HELL is a biast? You want to get hooked up with a job, learn to write correctly and spell and use grammar like a big boy. The one thing that I might consider if I was Nnamdi is the fact that even though Houston and NY are set up to win now more than the Niners are, they play in the AFC. With the Pats, Ravens, Steelers, Colts, Chargers all still capable of dominating and/or playing at high levels for a few years, perhaps the Niners actually give him a better shot down the line at a ring. With the weakness in the NFC West, the Niners might be a better shot to at least make the playoffs in a year or two than either Houston or the Jets, who must get past Indy and NE respectively just to win their divisions. The only 2 teams really strong in the NFC right now are GB and Atlanta, in my opinion. Teams rise and fall, and to base a 5 or 6 year deal on winning now sometimes doesn't work out for the best for the player involved. But I am "biast" and want Nnamdi with the Niners, so take that analysis with a grain of salt.
Jul 28, 2011 at 3:34 PM
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Sam
As much as I love the niners I'd pick the jets. They have a brand new stadium, excellent media coverage. Living in NY would give him greater opportunity to increase his foundations and charities. Sure he'd make 2 mil less a year if he went to the jets, but again being in NY will allow him to make up that money by increased endorcement opportunities. Plus they would most likely win a superbowl in his time there.
Jul 28, 2011 at 3:23 PM
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SACNINERFAN
I would want to win, so the jets would be my choice. But if JH can convinve me that in a short time he will win, then i might stay in the bay.
Jul 28, 2011 at 3:18 PM
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Dnah
The Jets make the most sense for Asomugha. Time's running out for him and NY offers the best chance to experience the playoffs and compete at the highest level. If I'm Nnamdi, I either take the chance for a ring in NY, or I take the money in Houston.
Jul 28, 2011 at 3:17 PM
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Gabriel Thomas FloresIII
If i wasn't biast? Bwahahaha. Really? It depends on the persons values. That is a dumb question, seriously, i didnt think there was such a thing but obviously. You are just going to get a bunch of people saying what they value. That has no relevance to the player or where he is going. I am not him and i am biast! Namdi seems to be a family oriented guy but on the other hand he might be a great politician. I think where he determains to go will tell us about his character and what he values. It is pointless trying to predict and and make assumption to which we have nooooo clue. What are you really asking David Bonillia? Hook me up with a job.
Jul 28, 2011 at 3:14 PM
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Matt
Biased aside, I would like to think that he cares about his community and its a choice he can feel good about in ten years when he is retired. Besides, when you make 12-14 mill a season for 3-4 years a couple million dollars difference off the top shouldn't make a big difference in the grand scheme. I don't think he will go to the Texans. For a class character its tough to decide between a shot a championship and a chance to stay local. He can always be a humantarian after he retires, but he won't be able to win a championship later. I would guess that he will go to the Jets but a REALLY REALLY hope to see him in a Niners uni.
Jul 28, 2011 at 3:12 PM
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Shin
If he was a flamboyant guy, New York would be the place to go. Ultra competitive team with unforgiving medias & fans. In the end, I'm hoping SF is the place because he's a Cali. boy and has a lot of ties in the Bay Area. Let's not forget that he is also very involved w/ local charities. He also wants to go into acting when done w/ football & we're just an hour away by plane from Hollywood.
Jul 28, 2011 at 3:12 PM
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Matt
Biased aside, I would like to think that he cares about his community and its a choice he can feel good about in ten years when he is retired. Besides, when you make 12-14 mill a season for 3-4 years a couple million dollars difference off the top shouldn't make a big difference in the grand scheme. I don't think he will go to the Texans. For a class character its tough to decide between a shot a championship and a chance to stay local. He can always be a humantarian after he retires, but he won't be able to win a championship later. I would guess that he will go to the Jets but a REALLY REALLY hope to see him in a Niners uni.
Jul 28, 2011 at 3:12 PM
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goniners
I honestly would really have to consider SF as a good fit. The city would embrace him 100% and there is alot of excitement right now in SF with the newly hired JH. Not sure if he has family or not but NY isn't the greatest place to raise one. And lastly I'm not sold on the fact that SF isn't the highest bidder. Cutting loose Clements' $15 mill per contract can just go straight into Aso's pocket if SF really wants him.
Jul 28, 2011 at 3:09 PM
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yomomma
No one can forget about their biases and think completely objectively. If you're a huge niner fan, love for the niners will be in your mind no matter how hard you try to fight it. That said, I'd go to New York. The problem with the Houston Texans is they play in Houston, Texas. Enough said there. The 49ers are local and could pay more than New York, but he's spent enough time in the Bay, it's time for a new experience. New York is the biggest stage and the best team. Go there, Nnamdi. Okay I didn't mean that at all COME TO SF NNAMDI.
Jul 28, 2011 at 3:04 PM
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overthemiddle
If playing for the love of the game then New York is the choice as the main goal is Super Bowl. Second choice would be Texas as no state income tax is very very lucrative. SF - nothing better then home.
Jul 28, 2011 at 3:00 PM
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It's me brah
I'd honestly take a big look at staying the bay in an unbiased opinion. I don't think he wants to lose the money he stands to lose in NY. And I don't think anyone in their right mind believes Houston can beat NYJ, NE, Pitt, IND, SD or Balt in the playoffs. Players looking for titles are coming to the NFC where there is alittle more room to win today. Not easy by a long shot with NO and GB and Phi. But I personally don't think there's any room left in the AFC playoff picture. But if money is no object? This is obviously the payday of his entire life. People forget how much that means. That's not greed, that's business acumen. If money is secondary to winning him and Revis will form the stickiest secondary ever.
Jul 28, 2011 at 2:59 PM
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Unbiased Opinion
I would pick Houston. Getting up there in age, more money, no individual taxes. Houston may be a surprise this year. They have a good offense. After he retires, he can live anywhere he wants - including the Bay Area.
Jul 28, 2011 at 2:58 PM
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Nanakuli9er
I would stay in the bay. But his chance to make big money is now. I would go to tx.
Jul 28, 2011 at 2:57 PM
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cK
staying local would be the best choice as I would also have a decent paycheck and not have to have the hassle of moving around. niners honestly arent that far from being a contender as well so I'd say best choice is niners
Jul 28, 2011 at 2:56 PM
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ddmur
I don't know anything about his family. If he is married with with children, preferably older children, his family may be pressuring him to stay.
Jul 28, 2011 at 2:55 PM
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Peter
If I wasn't biased towards the 49ers and I was Nnamdi I would choose the New York Jets because he's getting up there in age. Houston doesn't field a team that can beat the Colts and the 49ers aren't quite there yet. Let's see what he does...
Jul 28, 2011 at 2:48 PM
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theniner
We need a shut down corner. I expect him to stay in the bay area.
Jul 28, 2011 at 2:48 PM
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Omar Garcia
If I where him and take the 49ers love out of the equation I would chose the Jets, after all if they can help you win the allmighthy superbowl ring after 8 years of loosing, he would be in great position to ask for the money he could win with the Texans to either the Jets itself or go elswere for teh big bucks
Jul 28, 2011 at 2:47 PM