Rich Gannon: Falcons should sign Nnamdi Asomugha
Oakland Raiders safety Stuart Schweigert (30) and cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (21) look emotional after the San Diego Chargers scored in the fourth quarter of their NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 11, 2006 in Oakland, Calif. The Chargers defeated the Raiders 27-0. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
BIRDLAND – I was rolling the batmobile down I-20 on Thursday, on the way back to the bat cave with NFL SiriusXM radio blasting from the speakers.
Loading ...Chris from Atlanta called into the show and asked Adam Schein and Rich Gannon about the Falcons.
Gannon noted that the Falcons neglected the defense on draft day and stated that they’ll likely address some needs in free agency. He believes it would be a good move for the Falcons to sign Oakland cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.
“They’ll circle back in free agency,” Gannon said. “They didn’t really get any help for the pass rush. John Abraham is going to be 33 when the season starts. They did take Cliff Matthews, a defensive end in the seventh round, but he’s kind of a developmental player. You don’t even know if he’s going to make the team because of the lockout and these players haven’t had a chance to get in there and work.”
Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson reacts to the cheers of the fans on a defensive series against the Carolina Panthers last season. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com
Gannon thinks the plan to spruce of the offense by taking Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones was flawed.
“You just can’t go into every game with a plan to out-score every opponent,” Gannon said. “That’s kind of been the plan there the last couple of years. I don’t think they got any help for the secondary that was carved up in the playoffs. I think that in free agency, what happens is, is that this team looks to get better defensively, especially up front with the pass rush and in the secondary.
“Adam, could I even suggest, the name Nnamdi Asomugha.”
Schein liked the suggestion.
“Wouldn’t that be the idea pickup in free agency for the Atlanta Falcons, Nnamdi Asomugha,” Schein said.
Gannon wasn’t finished.
“When you think of that secondary and what happened to them in the two games against the Green Bay Packers last year, in the regular season game, Aaron Rodgers had a field day and of course in the playoffs . . . they were embarrassed from a defensive perspective. They have to try to get better defensively.”
Normally, getting Asomugha, a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, would not make fiscal sense just a year after spending $57.5 million to pickup cornerback Dunta Robinson in free agency.
But if there is a rookie salary cap in the new collective bargaining agreement, the Falcons could have some leftover cash to go after Asomugha.
Jones was taken with the sixth pick of the draft. Last season, Seattle took Oklahoma State tackle Russell Okung with the sixth pick last year. He signed a six-year contract that was worth $48.5 million. A total of $30 million of the deal was guaranteed.
If the rookie salary cap, which some agents are hearing will become a reality, pays Jones substantially less, the Falcons could have room to get a defensive end and maybe get in the Asomugha derby.
Should the Falcons adopt the “Gannon Plan” and go after Asomugha?
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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96 comments Add your comment
Roy
June 17th, 2011
1:25 pm
Have to agree a dumb draft!
CharlieAlphaBravo
June 17th, 2011
1:26 pm
This is crazy-talk… $100 million on CBs alone? The money is needed elsewhere, like DE.
Nugget in Gold Town
June 17th, 2011
1:52 pm
As much as I would love to have Nnamdi Asomugha come to the ATL we won’t be able to pay the bidding war for him. The only advantage Atlanta has is the fact that we don’t have a first round pick next year, so we could give Nnamdi that guy’s money. But with teams like Washington and Philly driving up the price we couldn’t get him. As for DE, we are fine where we are. Ray Edwards was mediocre and benefited from having Jared Allen across from him. Lastly I heard someone say we go after Osi in NY. He wants BIG money. And we won’t shell out that kind of dough. So it would be nice to have a dream team of sorts. But it won’t happen
Najeh Davenpoop
June 17th, 2011
1:54 pm
Pretty much any NFC team would benefit from signing Asomugha, including the Falcons. Whether they can fit him under the cap is a different question entirely.
B-Man
June 17th, 2011
2:20 pm
Boy the dummies really showed up for this post. First off, Asomugha would be awesome to have but its still a stretch I think. But this get rid of Robinson stuff? Grimes got thrown at so much because other teams didnt want to target Dunta. Look at the GB game…show me where Dunta’s man killed us. I have it on DVR. Dunta was not the problem folks. Just because he didn’t pull down tons of picks you all think he was a bust. After Deion left the Falcons his picks started decreasing because NO ONE THREW AT HIM. Now I’m not saying Robinson is Deion but he wasn’t burned too often. He missed one very costly tackle but other than that he was solid. I’m not sold on Grimes yet. He had a great year, but I’m gonna hold out my judgement on him being a great player for one more year.
teamguy
June 17th, 2011
3:00 pm
Schein’s former partner, Jim Miller, said three years ago that the Falcons had made a big mistake drafting Matt Ryan, so I don’t put too much stock in what the so-called experts have to say about our draft picks. The poor showing against Green Bay was as much a function of unimaginative play-calling as it was poor defense. And if our d-line could have tackled Rodgers when they had a free run at him, things could have been much different. Our linebackers actually had more to do with the explosive plays GB had than our db’s.
South ga boy in the atl
June 17th, 2011
3:39 pm
This is a no-brainer DOL. I don’t get why you keep saying it doesn’t make sense. Forget the overall price tag on Dunta because he’s been paid over 30 mil of that money already. It’s gone and we could always cut him on the back end of the deal if he didn’t produce so forget that 57 mil price tag you keep bringing up. Rogers and Brees aren’t going anywhere and we need 3 good CB’s to compete. Grimes is better suited at nickel covering the smaller WR’s than outside the hash. I’d much rather have Namdi than any of the FA DE’s that are available. lastly, while we certainly will pay JJ more at No. 6 overall, we don’t have to pay 4 other draft picks this yr and next so it evens out. Don’t be a wet blanket about Namdi, DOL
Richham
June 17th, 2011
3:50 pm
A big part of the reason the Falcons were burned by the Packers was because we put zero pressure on Rogers. We have a much greater need at nickle than corner. Pressure. pressure. pressure.
CFL
June 17th, 2011
4:17 pm
Stanford Routt said on Sirius Radio yesterday, “Until I see it on ESPN or you guys at Sirius Radio or see it in print that he’s signed with a new team, as far as I’m concerned he’s still a Raider . . . I know he’s a free agent and it’s a business, we all get that . . . I hope it works out for him, and I hope it works out for him in Oakland.” Nnamdi is coming back! Back when Nnamdi 1st became a Free-agent, he was asked if there was any chance he would return to the Raiders, & Nnamdi said ” Oh, There’s a good chance I’ll be back with the Raiders”, the Raiders are the only team he’s said anything about publicly this off season. Many people think th@ the Raiders don’t have the $ to resign him, but Campbell is going to make just under $4mill this year (not a lot for a starting QB) Valdeer is going to make under 1 million( not much for a starting LT at all) DHB who made $21mill last year is only going to make $3mill this year( the way the contract worked out) Others will point out th@ Routt has a contract of about $10mill a year, but 2 year ago Mr. Davis was will to pay De Angelo Hall & Nnamdi big $. Mr. Davis will be will to pay Nnamdi about $11.5-$12 mill a year, but not the $17mill. Mr Davis needs 2 shut down corners to play the Cover-1, bump & run Man to Man defense th@ he invented in the mid-60s, which the Raiders still run today.How many of these teams such as the Eagles or Ravens who Play zone/blizing defenses 99% of the time will pay a 30year old CB who’s played man defense 96% over $ 12 mill? & the few mistakes he has made on the field was all most always in zone coverage. People dont understand how tied Nnamdi is to the community in the Bay Area & LA, dont realize he grew up a Raider fan, dont realize his heros/ DB role models are Dieon Sanders, Willy Brown & Rod Woodson. I if he stays 2 of those guys are his posion coaches.
CFL
June 17th, 2011
4:19 pm
Stanford Routt said on Sirius Radio yesterday, “Until I see it on ESPN or you guys at Sirius Radio or see it in print that he’s signed with a new team, as far as I’m concerned he’s still a Raider . . . I know he’s a free agent and it’s a business, we all get that . . . I hope it works out for him, and I hope it works out for him in Oakland.” Nnamdi is coming back! Back when Nnamdi 1st became a Free-agent, he was asked if there was any chance he would return to the Raiders, & Nnamdi said ” Oh, There’s a good chance I’ll be back with the Raiders”, the Raiders are the only team he’s said anything about publicly this off season. Many people think th@ the Raiders don’t have the $ to resign him, but Campbell is going to make just under $4mill this year (not a lot for a starting QB) Valdeer is going to make under 1 million( not much for a starting LT at all) DHB who made $21mill last year is only going to make $3mill this year( the way the contract worked out) Others will point out th@ Routt has a contract of about $10mill a year, but 2 year ago Mr. Davis was willing to pay De Angelo Hall & Nnamdi big $. Mr. Davis will be willing to pay Nnamdi about $11.5-$12 mill a year, but not the $17mill. Mr Davis needs 2 shut down corners to play the Cover-1, bump & run Man to Man defense th@ he invented in the mid-60s, which the Raiders still run today.How many of these teams such as the Eagles or Ravens who Play zone/blizing defenses 99% of the time will pay a 30year old CB who’s played man defense 96% over $ 12 mill? & the few mistakes he has made on the field was all most always in zone coverage. People dont understand how tied Nnamdi is to the community in the Bay Area & LA, dont realize he grew up a Raider fan, dont realize his heros/ DB role models are Dieon Sanders, Willy Brown & Rod Woodson. I if he stays 2 of those guys are his posion coaches.
William Satterwhite
June 17th, 2011
4:24 pm
I’ve been a big fan of the Falcons going after Asomugha ever since it was announced Oakland was letting him hit free agency and even more after the draft. The Falcons have two big needs defensively and filling either one with a legit Pro Bowl talent will allow the team to skimp a bit on the other. Ultimately it boils to what is going to be easier for the Falcons- landing Asomugha and getting a capable (but not a standout) pass rusher or getting a standout pass rusher and a lesser corner. The odds are they can’t land someone at both positions who are substantial improvements over what’s already there so it’s best to go for a home run somewhere.
Ctim
June 17th, 2011
4:35 pm
No need to get the guy whose name I can’t spell or pronounce. The Packers didn’t carve up the Falcons starters..Robinson and the superb Grimes. They carved up the nickel backs. They need to get a first rate nickel back, and one can be signed for far less than Asha what’s his name’s money…then it’s more likely they can get a pass rushing end. Pass rushing end is the bigger priority, nickel back right behind.
JMF
June 17th, 2011
4:41 pm
Good glog. We need a pass rush but if Asomugha can be signed, sign him. In addition to what he brings it will keep him from going to Philly. I think whatever team gets him will go to the superbowl.
tom
June 17th, 2011
4:45 pm
Falcons cannot sign anyone under the current lock-out.
opie
June 17th, 2011
4:58 pm
D. Bell The secondary is already pretty good? What team have you watched the last three seasons. ATL Zone Scheme is among the worst in the NFL under Mike Smith. The corners currently play 10 yards off the ball. Are you kidding me!! The seconday is average at best Grade C.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
June 17th, 2011
5:07 pm
tom — We’re anticipating that the lockout won’t last forever.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
June 17th, 2011
5:10 pm
STRETCH — What was the result of your Madden game?
Nativefalcon
June 17th, 2011
5:48 pm
Would be too expensive and if we pay for anybody, I would rather us get OSI Umeyora from the Giants whose disgruntled wants out of there and pretty much lives in Atlanta according to ESPN article. We need a DE,
Bro
June 17th, 2011
6:56 pm
DO NOT NEED CB. NEED DEFENSIVE LINE HELP. NO PRESSURE NO PASS DEFENSE. PACKERS PROVED THAT ON BOTH GAMES. CAN’T WIN ON A LAST SECOND FIELD GOAL EVERY GAME. GOT TO HAVE PASS RUSH AND BIG HAIRY MEAN TOUGH UGLY DEFENSIVE LINEMEN.
Hot err
June 17th, 2011
8:18 pm
Agree with Native Falcon Dimitroff should be going after Osi Umenyiora.
Should the Falcons Eye Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha? » Falcons Gab
June 17th, 2011
8:50 pm
[...] NFL MVP and Raiders Super Bowl QB Rich Gannon thinks that the Falcons should target Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha once he’s available when free agency starts. “You just can’t go into every game with a [...]
gman
June 17th, 2011
9:50 pm
I think the Falcons SHOULD go after another DB. Chris Owens and his new legal trouble, ak\long with his play last year, may be out. Nnamdi is going to be too expensive.
Jonathan Joseph is also available and will be a better price. Add JJ and a pass rusher like Ray Edwards or Charles Johnson and we will be set.
Brian
June 17th, 2011
11:43 pm
Please sign Nnamdi! Grimes is and overachiever. He would be better suited in the slot as a nickel anyways. Stop hating on Dunta. He was barely even thrown at all year! He is solid! Also sign a proven DE like Edwards or Johnson or Osi. I think doing this will give us the best chance at a Super Bowl.
TruthSeeker
June 18th, 2011
12:04 am
Nnamdi is EXACTLY what the Falcons need. DeCoud, Moore, Grimes, and Owens are all nice young pieces, but it’s obvious that this core is never going to comprise a championship-level secondary. We need a big-time corner. Other teams didn’t throw to Dunta’s side of the field last year and instead elected to pick on Grimes. To his credit, he did a helluva job. But you put Nnamdi on the other side and Grimes in the dime package, and now they HAVE to throw at Robinson.
The arguments that a pass rusher would help the secondary have merit, but I’d rather address the problem directly. Nnamdi would make us co-favorites with the Packers in the NFC; he’s that good.
TruthSeeker
June 18th, 2011
12:05 am
Move Grimes to the nickel, not dime.*
Mel
June 18th, 2011
1:49 am
Well I spoke on this before, I would tell you that you can never have enough pass rushers and Good DB’s. So of course you want more of both. But what you really are asking is who who would have the greater influence on the D. At this point I would say the better player would and that would be Nnamdi, he is in the Top 3 at his position in the NFL right now. Should we pick up an End as well yes. But people make mention of the way we got carved up on D. Well who won the game for Green Bay against us. If you think back the game was close till the Pick 6 happen right before the half. We were in position to tie the game, or take the lead going into the half. We where trying to score because they where going to have the ball first after the half. But D’s were having problems stoping both offenses. But like i said it was the pick 6 before the half that turned the game. Yes a Db changed the course of the game. Green Bay has the best collection of DB’s in the league. If you dont think you need good tall Wide Outs then you are crazy!! So the pick up of Jones in the Draft was very much needed to help free up White plus Gonzalez wont be playing to many more years. So the pick up was very much needed. But if we pick up Nnandi that we put us up right in the TOP 2 or 3 in the League in DB’s our safties are some of the best young DB’s in the league…the move would alow Decloud to rove over the top, Williams to play closer to the line where he is best. Grimes playing covering the Slot. AND The two outsides would be locked up. You have to understand that the only reason we play zone is because we have to. You need 2 good corners and atleast one good saftey to play Man D. But I tell you the pick up of Nnandi would change this defense BIG TIME, BIG TIME!!! you couldnt imagin how much, Dam near like the dif between Kolb and Mike, QBing for the Egales.
Sunshine Falcon
June 18th, 2011
6:06 am
WE need to pick up the best pass rusher available, in free agency.
fanATicaL
June 18th, 2011
7:54 am
Soo early to talk about football.1st ,if the CBA allows the Falcons to have more money. Then the whole league will have money.Then it’s about where Nnamdi feels he is the best fit.But what a coo if we acquire him.If Grimes did well at the corner.How much better he would be in the slot.This would also give Dominique Franks someone to really learn and rotate with.
Now the DE problem.I think that if Kerry Miers (sp) and Julio and Harry Douglass.Not to mention Brandyn Harvey fill the WR spot.If Osi is a restricted free agent .Then trade Micheal Jenkins for Osi.If he is an unrestricted free agent. The money is going to be too much of a squeeze.May force us to go after Charles Johnson or Ray Edwards.It’s still going to a fight for these players.Philly, Washington and the Cardinals will be players.
I love the debate.Because the one thing we can agree upon.Is how close this team is to being a SB team.
D man
June 18th, 2011
8:33 am
Make it happen. We need D help…
STRETCH
June 18th, 2011
9:02 am
Mr Ledbetter,
Beating teams like crazy! Holding them to 13 ppg. Simply moved Grimes over to the Nickel and blanketed the middle with him and Robinson on the corners.
I agree with Truthseeker, teams simply didnt throw at Donte. Thats a good thing. So what if in REALITY, they have TWO outstanding corners? Well, teams dont throw at either one of them, so the D-line and backers can focus on the run more.
I do believe adding him would help and pretty much be a nightmare for O-coordinators throughout the league!
mrzizzle
June 18th, 2011
9:53 am
1. We need a pass rush. 2. We need a pass rush. 3. We need a Pass Rush 4. (see 1, 2, 3 for more info.
Sly Ty
June 18th, 2011
10:51 am
I am a truck driver and listen to Sirius NFL alot while I am driving. DO NOT LISTEN TO GANNON and ESPECIALLY ADAM SCHEIN. Their job is to stay outlandish things to spart conversation, especially now since there isn’t much else to discuss because of the lockout.
dirtyo11
June 18th, 2011
3:21 pm
I say no, it sound good. I would love to have him but DE is more inportant right now. Go after Vikins (Edwards) or Giants (Osi not gonna mess up his last name) and get a decent CB after that.Green Bay had one outstanding DB and a few decent DBs and they won it all. Grimes can start but when you see teams picking on him because of his size move Robinson around to cover the bigger wideouts.
I wonder why more teams don’t move their best DB around to cover the other team best Wideout…remember how 49ers used Deion Sanders…they would move him where ever the other team best wideout lined up (even in the slot) and then the other team would play zone or match up man to man.
Falcons used Robinson in zone coverage, that’s not his thing he’s a man to man shutdown CB. Look at the Jets they didn’t play much zone and Revis has shut down the best in the league, that’s what the Falcons need to do with Robinson.
chickenman
June 18th, 2011
4:15 pm
I think that if you want a superbowl you need to have at least 1 defensive player that is the best in the nfl at his craft… nnamdi fits that mold… i think mr blank will go get this guy… We want a new staduim.. but we need to win a superbowl first… get nnamdi and you can afford to have bum dlinemen for a couple more seasons
cwltank
June 18th, 2011
5:30 pm
I like all of the Falcons picks this year. I love Nnamdi Asomugha, if we could trade a few players to free up money. It could happen, if we keep the players we have we still will be a force.
Ken Strickland
June 18th, 2011
6:14 pm
It would be foolish for the Falcons to break the bank to sign another CB when we just gave out a huge FA contract to CB DRobinson. CB DRobinson is a former Pro Bowler who had a good yr, and CB BGrimes is a current Pro Bowler who had even better production the previous yr.
With Pro Bowl caliber talent on both corners, why spend max money on a 3rd CB to replace one of the 2 Pro Bowlers we already have? A pass rushing DE would be much cheaper, and do far more to improve our secondary play and overall pass DEF. Come on now, think about it people.
king of kings
June 18th, 2011
7:50 pm
One thing people have failed to look at is Dunta is a press cover guy. If you look at him at his old team he did good in press covered. I was like all of yall but I did my research.He is still learning. This is really new way of covered for him. I wold still get the best corner out there!!
panic
June 18th, 2011
11:49 pm
the process is still in play look at our freeagent list last 3 yrs we will only go after 1 high profile player but will add 2 atleast this yr now as far as the name game there is a plan that will unfold that will amaze just like in the draft so chill falcons fans yes the process i say
-ville Ranger
June 19th, 2011
4:45 am
I’d like to have another big time CB but a pass rusher with run stopping ability is the critical area to focus on. I like Charles Johnson. He has just scratched the surface of his potential in my opinion.
Section 108
June 19th, 2011
9:11 am
Pass Rush! Pass Rush! Pass Rush! Solid Blitz Packages! Secure OL Line!
Flo=Ri-Duh
June 19th, 2011
12:48 pm
Falcons would be better off getting an all-pro defensive end. The secondary was vulnerablbe because the d-line could not contain Aaron
Rogers and he escaped their arm tackling attempts for several big plays. D-tackle is good enough but need an overall at DE.
DallasFalcon
June 19th, 2011
4:31 pm
There are two things to address here: First, the Falcons didn’t get carved up all year as Ganon stated. Let’s not forget they actually beat Green Bay during the regular season. And secondly, the problem during the playoff game was that they did get out coached as Mike Smith stated after the game. When they knew Brian Williams was unavailable-and they knew a week before the game- they should have moved Grimes into the slot where he could use his quickness and let Owens line up on the outside receiver where you can help over the top with a safety. When Owens played well in ‘09 it was at left corner. Green Bay did an excellent job of identifying and attacking Atl’s weakness in the slot.
The Falcons need defensive help, but the money would be better spent at d-end!
hmmm
June 20th, 2011
1:36 am
If its possible, then heck yeah. Possibly being the key work there.
E43
June 20th, 2011
4:54 am
Nothing Rich has said proves the he has knowledge of what the situation in atlanta is..I think Asomugha is just a waste of money unless Brent Grimes walks.Yes the falcons secondary did get curved up but the falcons just made silly mistakes. The game-plan the falcons had was very capable of beating the packers. I wont be disappointed if they tried it again but without the silly mistakes. All they need to do is tweak and learn from the mistakes. If Rich did his homework he would’ve found out that the falcons can be a pretty gritty team when it comes to points allowed. Signing Asomugha last year/off-season would’ve been a good idea. Other needs have presented themselves as of today.
mrbjgus
June 21st, 2011
9:54 am
Falcons need pass rushers!!! Pressure on the QB is the best coverage! Aaron Rogers had all day to throw against Atl. And when they did put pressure on him(rarely) they could not take him down. He just side-stepped them. Get pass rushers and get rid of J. Anderson. He is a bust!
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