Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha is on the right track personally with his recent marriage to actress Kerry Washington. However, his professional life is at a major crossroads. After two disappointing seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, Asomugha was released and there have been question as to whether he was overpaid and overrated.
Asomugha needs to perform well this season for the sake of his NFL future. But head coach Jim Harbaugh needs to put him in position to succeed. For the past two seasons, Asomugha has been playing in various types of coverage. The veteran cornerback is a man-press cornerback who needs to be in the opposing wide receiver’s face.
Harbaugh would be wise to let Asomugha use his long arms, strength and aggressiveness to disrupt any opponent’s passing game. The physicality dates back to his early days in the league when he played safety for the Oakland Raiders. Once he made the transition to cornerback, he gained respect and admiration among his NFL contemporaries, especially cornerbacks. So much so, that there were arguments of whether Asomugha or Tampa Bay Buccaneer Darelle Revis was the best cornerback in the NFL.
Maybe Asomugha needs his new wife should make regular appearances to home games. Spousal appearances helped NBA All-Star guard Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs not only win a title, but win the 2007 NBA Finals MVP.
The 49ers signed the veteran cornerback to a one-year deal capping out at around $3 million. The Eagles are still going to pay him $4 million this season after releasing him. Obviously, Asomugha is not in need of money.
John Ware is a San Francisco 49ers writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @OutermindMedia, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google+
