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Nnamdi Asomugha

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Nnamdi Asomugha
refer to caption
Asomugha at the 2009 OWIN Fundraising event
California Golden Bears
Career information
College:California
NFL draft:2003 / round: 1 / pick: 31
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2010
Tackles:310
Sacks:2.0
Interceptions:11
Stats at Pro Football Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Nnamdi Asomugha (pronounced /ˈnɑːmdiː ɑːsəˈmuː.ɑː/; born July 6, 1981, in Lafayette, Louisiana) is a Nigerian-American (ethnically Igbo)[1] cornerback for the National Football League's Oakland Raiders professional football team. He was drafted in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft (31st overall) by the Raiders and played college football for the Golden Bears at the University of California, Berkeley. He is currently considered to be one of the best shut down cornerbacks in the NFL.[2][3][4][5][6]

Biography

Asomugha was raised in Los Angeles, California. He attended and played high school basketball and football at Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, California and Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance, California before transferring to and graduating from Narbonne High School in Harbor City, California.

College career

Asomugha went to college at the University of California, Berkeley, where he finished his career with 187 tackles, three sacks, 19 stops for losses, eight interceptions, three touchdowns, 15 pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble in 41 games as a free safety. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Finance.

Professional career

Asomugha was the second Cal player to be drafted in the first round (31st overall) of the 2003 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders after Kyle Boller was taken by the Baltimore Ravens. He was moved to cornerback but played sparingly the first two seasons of his career. He became a starter in 2005 and set new highs in tackles with 60 tackles(55 solo) and passes broken up with 14.

In 2006, he recorded his first two career interceptions against the Cleveland Browns. He got his third interception four weeks later against the Pittsburgh Steelers and returned 24 yards for the first touchdown of his career. Though the team suffered through a 2-14 season, Asomugha's 2006 campaign was his finest yet as he finished the season with 50 tackles(48 solo), eight interceptions, a sack, a forced fumble and one touchdown. His interception total tied him for second highest total in the National Football League along with four other players (including former Oakland Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson).

After the season, Asomugha was invited to the Pro Bowl as an alternate but because of late notice he was not able to attend the annual all-star game.[7] He also received the Oakland Raiders "Commitment to Excellence" Award and was named the team's Most Valuable Player. In addition, Asomugha was selected to Dr. Z Sports Illustrated 2006 All-Pro team[8] as well as The Associated Press 2006 All-Pro Team.[9]

Asomugha was selected as the Raiders Team Captain for the 2007 season. Opposing quarterbacks tested him only 31 times with a mere 10 completions the entire season. One NFL scout told Pro Football Weekly that Asomugha was thrown at "less than any defender in the last ten years" in 2007 [10] He finished the 2007 season with 34 tackles(32 solo), 1 interception and 7 breakups and was named a 2008 Pro Bowl alternate.

A free agent in the 2008 offseason, the Raiders placed the 'exclusive' franchise tag on Asomugha on February 20, 2008.[11]

Asomugha covers Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Michael Jenkins at a home game on November 2, 2008.

Asomugha was again selected a team captain before the 2008 season. Opposing quarterbacks tested him only 27 times the entire season resulting in just 8 completions. Only perennial all-pros Randy Moss (3 receptions, 40 yards) and Tony Gonzalez (2 receptions, 34 yards) would catch more than one ball on him during the year. New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said Asomugha is "as complete a cornerback as he has seen all year".[12] He finished the 2008 season with 40 tackles, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and 9 pass deflections. He received the Oakland Raiders "Commitment to Excellence" Award for the second time and was named the team's 2008 Co-Most Valuable Player along with running back Justin Fargas. Asomugha was selected as a starter for the 2009 Pro Bowl. He was selected onto The Sporting News 2008 All-Pro Team [13] as well as the Pro Football Writers Association All-NFL Team for 2008.[14] Asomugha was also selected onto Peter King's Sports Illustrated 2008 All-Pro team [15] as well as The Associated Press 2008 All-Pro Team.

On February 19, 2009 the Raiders re-signed Asomugha to a complex three-year deal that makes him the highest paid defensive back in NFL history. The first two years, worth $28.5 million, are fully guaranteed. In the third year of the contract, if Oakland wants to keep Asomugha, it must pay him the average of the top five highest-paid quarterbacks or $16.875 million, whichever is higher. If the Raiders fail to pick up the option, Asomugha will become a free agent with Oakland not having the ability to tag him again.[16]

A team captain again in 2009 and the NFL's least targeted cornerback by an extremely wide margin, Asomugha was challenged by opposing quarterbacks only 27 times and allowed 13 completions the entire season. After his performance against the Houston Texans, head coach Gary Kubiak said "Asomugha is the best (corner) I've seen in a while throughout this league. He's big, he's fast, they put him out there on an island the whole game. He's an exceptional player." [17] Similar to the past three seasons, Asomugha finished the 2009 season with 34 tackles, 1 interception, and was second in the league with 8 tackles for loss from the cornerback position. Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said "The guy is truly unbelievable. He made himself the best corner in football by his work ethic, the way he studies tape, and he's so smart." [18] Following the 2009 season, Asomugha was selected as a starter for the 2010 Pro Bowl. Asomugha was selected onto The Sporting News 2009 All-Pro Team (2nd team) as well as The Associated Press 2009 All-Pro Team (2nd team). This would mark his third selection to both the Pro Bowl and All-Pro team in his seven-year career with the Oakland Raiders.

In 2010, Asomugha was selected as a member of the Fox Sports's[19] and USA Today's NFL All-Decade Team.[20]

The shutdown corner lived up to his title once again in the 2010 season. While shadowing the opposing teams top receiver most of the season, Asomugha was still targeted much less than any other cornerback in the NFL. Asomugha allowed just 10 receptions on the 27 passes thrown his way. Most important, Asomugha did not give up a touchdown all year. It was an epic, difference-making season for one of the game's best players.[21] “He has extraordinary speed – great speed,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "He’s exactly what you’re looking for in a press corner and about as good as you could hope a guy to be.” [22] When facing the Arizona Cardinals, All-Pro wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said “The thing you see on tape for a man of his size, he has incredible hips and amazingly quick feet, and that’s just God given ability to be that tall and be able to move and cut and drive on balls the way he’s able to.” [23]. Following the 2010 season, Asomugha was selected as a starter for the 2011 Pro Bowl. Asomugha was selected onto ESPN John Clayton's 2010 All-Pro Team.[24].

On January 9, 2011 ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Nnamdi Asomugha's contract will void, making him an unrestricted free agent. Asomugha's contract contained a complicated little known clause that voided the deal if the star cornerback failed to achieve certain incentives. The contract also prevents the Oakland Raiders from being able to use their franchise tag on him. If he does not re-sign with the Oakland Raiders once free agency hits, the 29-year-old will be considered the top defensive player on the market by many.[25]

Philanthropy

Off the field, education and community service are his mainstays. Asomugha serves as Chairman for the Orphans and Widows In Need (OWIN) Foundation. Through OWIN, Asomugha and his family provide food, shelter, medicine, vocational training, literacy efforts, and scholarships to widows and orphans victimized by poverty or abuse in Nigeria. Currently, OWIN has two centers in Nigeria and plans to expand to other countries in Africa.[26]

In 2006, Asomugha launched the annual Asomugha College Tour for Scholars (ACTS) program. Each year, he teams up with selected students from Bay Area high schools on college tours across the country. To date, Asomugha has taken students to visit Morehouse College, Spelman College, Georgia Institute of Technology, Clark Atlanta University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston University, Brown University and the Berklee College of Music. All of the tour participants who have graduated from high school have gone on to attend higher education institutions.[27] For the 2009 tour, Asomugha took students to visit schools in New York City including NYU, Columbia University, The Juilliard School, The Fashion Institute of Technology, Fordham University and The New School.[28]

In 2010, ACTS will expand to not only service high school students in the Bay Area but also select high schools in the Los Angeles area. For the 2010 tour, ACTS will visit schools in Washington D.C.

Asomugha speaking about the importance of community service at the Clinton Global Initiative University 2009 meeting in Austin, Texas with former President Bill Clinton.

Asomugha joined former President Bill Clinton, Matthew McConaughey, and Marie Tillman at the 2009 Meeting of Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) hosted by The University of Texas at Austin to discuss the importance of global service and student activism. CGI U is President Clinton's youth initiative designed to challenge college students to take action on some of the most pressing global issues in areas such as education, poverty and global health. At CGI U, Asomugha spoke to over 1,200 student leaders, university presidents and leaders of national youth organizations about his philanthropic efforts in Nigeria and Oakland, CA .[29]

Additionally, Asomugha distributes backpacks to the incoming freshmen each year at Narbonne High School in Los Angeles. He also outfits the football and basketball team with shoes, a mandate he wrote into an endorsement contract he signed with Nike.

For his commitment to community service, Asomugha was named a Home Depot Neighborhood MVP 2007 [30]

In 2008, Asomugha was presented with The President's Volunteer Service Award. An award that was established to recognize the important contributions Americans of all ages are making within their communities through service and civic engagement.[31]

Essence Magazine selected Asomugha as one of the “Do Right Men of 2008”, highlighting his success and philanthropic endeavors [32]

Asomugha has been recognized by fellow members of the NFL Players Association who nominated him in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 for the Byron "Whizzer" White Award for Outstanding Community Service.

Asomugha was also nominated for the prestigious Sports Illustrated 2008 Sportsman of the Year award.[33]

In 2009, Asomugha was named to the “Dream Team for Public Service” by the Jefferson Awards for Public Service.[34]

In 2010, Asomugha was presented with the 44th annual Byron "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year, the NFL Players Association’s (NFLPA) highest honor[35]

In 2010, Asomugha became the ambassador for United Way of the Bay Area UWBA, dedicated to creating long-lasting change and ensuring all Bay Area residents have access to the building blocks to a better life: education, income and health.

Personal

Asomugha made his first professional acting debut in 2008 on The CW Network sitcom, The Game. In 2009, he played the role of Ken Shaw in the season premiere of Friday Night Lights Season 4.[36] In 2010, He appeared on the TNT (TV channel) drama Leverage as Walle in the Season 3 episode "The Scheherazade Job".[37]

When his football days are over, Asomugha says he is interested in a career in acting or broadcasting. Asomugha is a co-host of "Sports Sunday" on NBC Bay Area with Raj Mathai, and is also a regular on 98.1 KISS FM during the football season. In 2008, Asomugha was chosen from hundreds of applicants for the NFL Broadcast Bootcamp .[38]

He is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. initiated at University of California, Berkeley Gamma Alpha chapter where he last held the position of Vice-Polemarch before joining the NFL.

Asomugha has a form of color-blindness called Deuteranomaly stating in the June 2009 issue of ESPN The Magazine that "It was determined when I was about 7 years old. It's never really affected my play on the field -- I can easily distinguish between light and dark colors. I only have trouble between similar colors -- the light ones. They look the same to me. No problems on the field".[39] On January 10, 2011 Raiders avoided signing a new contract with Asomugha thus making him a Free Agent.

References

  1. ^ "Player Profile: CB Nnamdi Asomugha" at Oakland Raiders official website (accessed May 6, 2010).
  2. ^ Ravitz, Nate (December 3, 2009), "Facing New York Jets' Darrelle Revis could mean bad news for opposing wide receivers", ESPN.com
  3. ^ Benoit, Andy (April 15, 2010). "Best Cornerbacks in the N.F.L.: The Top 10 List". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
  4. ^ "Nnamdi Asomugha misses practice". ESPN.com. November 4, 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
  5. ^ "Opponents fear Asomugha's rare talent". ESPN.com. August 7, 2009. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
  6. ^ "Cornerback rankings: Asomugha is the best and still getting better". Sporting News. May 26, 2009. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
  7. ^ Asomugha Invites to 2007 Pro Bowl
  8. ^ Zimmerman Chooses Asomugha
  9. ^ Espen wire Associated Press Selects Asomugha
  10. ^ Pro Football Weekly
  11. ^ NFL Says Asomugha Is Exclusive
  12. ^ ProJo Football
  13. ^ Sporting News
  14. ^ Pro Football Weekly
  15. ^ King, Peter (2009-01-06). "SI.com's 2008 All-Pro Team: Youth movement dominates annual list". Sports Illustrated. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  16. ^ Shefter, Adam (February 19, 2009). "Asomugha lands complex three-year deal with Raiders". NFL.com. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
  17. ^ [1][dead link]
  18. ^ Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press (2009-12-26). "In the spotlight: Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
  19. ^ "NFL All-Decade team: 2000-2009 - NFL News - FOX Sports on MSN". Msn.foxsports.com. 2010-01-01. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
  20. ^ "USA TODAY's NFL All-Decade Team". Usatoday.Com. 2010-02-17. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
  21. ^ [2]
  22. ^ [3]
  23. ^ [4]
  24. ^ [http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/34978/john-claytons-2010-all-pro-team}
  25. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6004943
  26. ^ Orphans And Window In Need Foundation
  27. ^ Asomugha Take Students On College Tours
  28. ^ "Shutdown corner Asomugha opens new routes for Oakland kids - NFL - CBSSports.com Football". Cbssports.com. 2009-04-22. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
  29. ^ Clinton Global Initiative
  30. ^ Asomugha Is A Home Depot MVP
  31. ^ "Raiders notes: Chiefs QB Thigpen's mobility is a threat - NFL - CBSSports.com Football". Cbssports.com. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
  32. ^ Asomugha Is Essence DO RIGHT MAN !
  33. ^ Sports Illustrated Sportman Of The Year
  34. ^ http://justblogbaby.com/2009/11/23/nnamdi-asomugha-named-to-“dream-team-for-public-service”/
  35. ^ "Nnamdi-Asomugha-Honored-With-Byron-Whizzer-White-Award / News". NFLPlayers.com. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
  36. ^ http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/firstcuts/entry/view/37245/nnamdi_asomugha_appearing_on_friday_night_lights
  37. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3060479/
  38. ^ ASomugha goes to NFL Bootcamp
  39. ^ "ESPN The Magazine's Revenge of the Jocks issue: Nnamdi Asomugha's 'backup plan' - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. 2009-06-25. Retrieved 2010-09-11.

Further reading

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