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Cornerbacks across from their assigned receivers in a base 3-4 defense

A cornerback for Trinity College rises to intercept an errant pass.

A cornerback (CB) (also referred to as a corner) is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football.^[1] Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position requires speed and agility. Since shorter players tend to be more agile than taller players, cornerbacks are typically among the shortest players on the team. A cornerback's skillset typically requires proficiency in anticipating the quarterback, back-pedalling, executing single and zone coverage, disrupting pass routes, shedding blockers, and tackling.

Overview[link]

The chief responsibility of the cornerback is to defend against the offense's pass. The rules of American professional football and American college football do not mandate starting position, movement, or coverage zones for any member of the defense.^[2][3] There are no "illegal defense" formations. Cornerbacks can be anywhere on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage at the start of play, although their proximity, formations, and strategies are outlined by the coaching staff or captain.

Most modern National Football League defensive formations use four defensive backs (two safeties and two corners); Canadian Football League defenses generally use five defensive backs (one safety, two defensive halfbacks, and two corners). A cornerback's responsibilities vary depending on how the defense assigns protection to its defensive secondary. In terms of defending the run, oftentimes corners may be assigned to blitz depending on the coaching decisions in a game. In terms of defending passing plays, a corner will be typically assigned to either zone or man-to-man coverage.

A high school cornerback (#8) in single coverage using the "loose man" technique.

Zone coverage[link]

In zone coverage, the cornerback defends an assigned area of the field. Many schemes and variations were created to provide defensive coordinators great latitude and flexibility which aim to quell offensive schemes.

When a team is utilizing zone coverage, some areas of the field require special attention when defending against specific pass plays. They include the flats (to defend the screen pass and hitch routes), mid range zones including the void (to defend the "stop n go," quick post, fade, hook, curl, and "sideline" or "out" routes), and finally the deep zones (to defend the post/deep post, chair, streak, "fly", "go," bomb, or Hail Mary routes). These are basic terms (perhaps the most generic) for the basic zones and routes which vary system to system, league to league, and team to team.

Advanced forms of coverage may involve "quarterback spies" and "containment" coverages, as well as various "on field adjustments" that require shifts and rotations; the latter usually initiated by the captain of the secondary (typically the free safety) during the quarterback's cadence. At this time the captain attempts to "read" the alignment (pro set, split set, trips, etc.) of the offensive "skill players" (backs and receivers) in order to best predict and counter the play the offense will run. He will base his decision on past experience, game preparation, and a sound comprehension of his teammates strengths, abilities, and tendencies. These adjustments may change on a play by play basis, due to substitutions or even evolving weather or field conditions. For example, defensive coordinators may favor a tendency to play a less aggressive containment style zone coverage during wet or slippery field conditions to avoid problems associated with over-pursuit (when a defender takes a poor angle on a ball carrier and cannot redirect in time due to poor footing).

Cover 1[link]

The cover 1 defense has just one defender playing in a deep zone downfield. Normally the one defender playing the deep zone downfield is the Safety. The corner's primary responsibility is to play on or off the receiver, and not let him release vertically. Oftentimes defensive coordinators will not use Cover 1 unless the cornerbacks for that team are really good. The cover 1 defense is normally only used when offenses are just trying to gain a short amount of yards. The reason cover 1 defenses are used most of the time is not only because it provides one safety net over the top, but it also allows that one safety to be able to rush or help cover if needed.

Cover 2[link]

The Cover 2 is popular among defensive coordinators in the National Football League because it implements two safeties to defend the deep routes instead of one. This coverage allows the safeties to watch the play develop in front of them thus allowing the corners to pursue a more aggressive style of play. Cover 2 is a "2 Deep Zone" that uses four defensive backs. Two safeties line up deep, around 11–15 yards off the line of scrimmage (usually each safety stands on or a few feet from his hash mark), while the cornerbacks line up around five yards from the wide receivers which are nearest to each sideline.

In Cover 2, the cornerback is usually responsible for "containment". This is where he does not allow anyone to run outside of him (between him and the sideline). He then funnels or jams receivers towards the middle and within five yards, reads the quarterback, and finally drops back to defend the void if there is not a throw to the flat or a running play. The is also known as the, "Catch and Run Technique." Typically with the Cover 2, cornerbacks mirror each other's zone responsibilities. However, sometimes they play a "man-up" style bump and run, a form of bump and run designed to eliminate the short pass, where the receiver is forced to the near sideline, which is the opposite of the run oriented "containment" style of Cover 2. Usually if one corner is in man to man coverage, the other is in man to man coverage as well. The two safeties act as a security blanket for deep routes.

Cover 3[link]

In a "Cover 3", the two corners and free safety defend their assigned deep thirds of the field, where the corners defend the outside third, (hence the term corner) while the safety defends the middle third. This allows the strong safety to address a full range of duties depending on what reads he makes coupled with the coverage called. These duties may simply include single or zone coverage, being a quarterback spy, providing extra run support in short yardage situations, or to stunt or blitz through a gap or from the end.

Cover 4[link]

In a "Cover 4" each defensive back is responsible for covering his designated "deep fourth" of the field, while other defensive players are responsible for covering the underneath areas. Sometimes Cover 4 is used as a "prevent defense".

Variations of these coverages exist to counter the many styles of offenses a defense may face on any given week. For example, one variation of the Cover 2 allocates the weak-side corner (e.g.: typically the "right cornerback" when playing against right-handed quarterbacks) to cover half the field in order to free up a safety; the idea being to allow the safety to engage a different part of the field, blitz, contain, or spy. The strong side cornerback (the "left cornerback") may be in a variety of different alignments which may include "loose man", "man-under", or "man-up". Although these are forms of single coverage, more often than not his responsibility is usually limited to an initial jam and funnel with a subsequent drop back into the "void". This pie-shaped slice of field is included with your most basic 2 Deep Zone coverage. One interesting aspect sometimes encountered with Cover 2 is that it is possible for one corner to be in a zone coverage, where he funnels and drops into the void, while another may be in man coverage. However, your basic garden variety 2 Deep Zone usually employs the two safeties to share half the field responsibilities, with the two corners funneling.

Jamming the receiver[link]

When a cornerback is attempting to jam or funnel a receiver, he is trying to disrupt the receiver's route at the line of scrimmage. When jamming the receiver a cornerback must keep his body squared with his feet shoulder width apart, so he can have power when jamming his arms out. When jamming his arms out it is important that the cornerback does not extend his arm too long, because a good receiver will escape from the corner's jam. By impeding the receiver's progress, the corner can provide his teammates with extra time to sack the quarterback (sometimes called a "coverage sack"), or force an ill-timed throw. In addition, a proper jamming allows the safety or linebacker to provide stronger run support because he then has more time to drop back into zone coverage in the event of a pass. In other words, he has been granted more time by the corner to recover from his mistakes if he anticipates a run when in fact the play is a pass.

If the jam fails, the cornerback is usually flat footed and not in a suitable position to defend the mid to long-range passes. When this occurs, the safeties and linebackers usually cannot return to their zone obligations in time, especially if they were anticipating a run as the play began. In essence, the defense is unnecessarily "stretched" to its breaking point. Receivers who can effectively avoid the jam and stretch defenses are far more likely to create big play opportunities for the offense. Therefore, it is vital that a cornerback execute a proper funnel or jam to allow safeties and linebackers enough time to return to their zone responsibilities in the event of an unforeseen pass play. By working together and familiarizing where one's help may come from, a higher degree of confidence is established amongst the defensive secondary as a unit, with the end result translating into a much more formidable defense against both the run and pass.

Single/man-to-man coverage[link]

In single or man to man coverage, the cornerback is responsible for a particular receiver assigned to him. As the play begins, the corner may either attempt to "jam" the receiver at the line, play a step or two off of him, or concede a few yards and play with a "cushion". Cushions can range from a yard or two, to forty yards in a "prevent defense" situation. Cushion is just a term used to describe how far off the defender plays away from the offensive player he is assigned to defend. When lining up in front of the receiver to "jam" him or playing just a few steps off, it is important that the corner keeps his body in front of the receiver's body. the easiest way for a corner to be in position is to line up slightly inside of the receiver and the ball, and keep his eyes looking between the receiver's hip and his knees. If a cornerback looses focus on his receiver, the receiver will run straight passed him, and then it then it leads to corners having to use the cushion technique. Generally, cushions are smaller in single coverage and larger in zone coverage.

Single coverage in the "red zone" (an area between the goal-line and the twenty-yard line) is usually designed to prevent receivers from slanting towards the middle of the field. These types of routes are difficult to stop in the red zone because this area is usually congested with bodies colliding, crossing, and weaving in different directions. Although illegal, defenders are easily picked or screened (this is illegal yet hard to enforce in short field, congested situations) by opposing receivers and sometimes by their own teammates. To avoid this, it is often favorable for cornerbacks to either: "switch" assignments (where he will agree beforehand to trade assignments with one of his fellow defenders in the event that the receivers criss-cross as the play begins), or alternatively, a corner may instead line up close enough to the receiver (very close) at the line of scrimmage to force or jam him toward the sideline (outside) without violating the 5 yard no touch rule. Corners often refer to this second style of coverage as the "man under" technique.

Single coverage, or man to man coverage usually employs relatively few techniques. However, they are often initially displayed to resemble one another as much as possible to disguise the true motives of the defense, and be interchangeable as well. Although terminology for single coverage can vary, a few generic terms have been included to establish a general understanding of cornerback philosophy and how his function relates to the rest of the defense.

Man under[link]

This man to man technique is very similar to the man up technique described below except there is not a free release. The corner usually attempts to force the receiver toward the near sideline and jam him in order to prevent him from running toward the inside or middle of the field. To do this, the corner lines up as close as possible to the receiver without being penalized for being offsides. This coverage is used in goal line situations, as well as when a blitz is called. During this coverage, the corner does not have anyone to help him cover the receiver if he runs inside because his usual help is blitzing or in single coverage as well.

Loose man[link]

Loose man requires cornerbacks to play off the receiver with a five to ten yard cushion. He usually does not touch the receiver and tries to keep his head on a swivel while remaining indifferent upon which direction the receiver decides to shape his route. Typically with loose man coverage, the cornerback has little or no help from the safety in defending against the receiver.

This defense is used to discourage deeper passes but often allow short yardage passes. A loose-man defense looks to create confusion for the quarterback by using blitzes. The idea is to disrupt the coordination necessary for short routes, and will lead to drops or poorly thrown passes stalling the drive.

However fast accurate quarterbacks can exploit this and routinely make 3–5 yard completions and progress down the field.

Man up[link]

By far the most challenging, the man up technique grants the wide receiver a relatively free release as the corner shadows him stride for stride everywhere he goes. The cornerback's objective here is to position himself between the quarterback and the receiver, without knowing where the receiver is going. As the ball is snapped the corner will initially ignore the quarterback, turn and run with the receiver and hope the ball does not drop out of the sky before he can react to it. Corners must also hope the receiver does not change directions when it is time to sneak a peek at the quarterback in effort to discover where the ball is. A wet field makes this coverage extremely difficult. In addition, a perfect throw is hard to if not impossible to stop. This coverage is reserved for the elite cornerback as it is in this coverage where corners are most frequently beaten.

See also[link]

• Category:American football cornerbacks
• American football defensive schemes

References[link]

• http://www.fieldgulls.com/2011/6/6/2199261/the-4-3-under-defense-coverage-schemes
• Thurmond, Chris. "Rice University Cornerback's Coach." Telephone interview. 27 Jan. 2012.

Nnamdi Asomugha

Asomugha at the 2009 OWN Fundraising event.
No. 24     Philadelphia Eagles
Cornerback
Personal information
Date of birth: (1981-07-06) July 6, 1981 (age 30)
Place of birth: Lafayette, Louisiana
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Weight: 210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
College: University of California, Berkeley
NFL Draft: 2003 / Round: 1 / Pick: 31
Debuted in 2003 for the Oakland Raiders
Career history
Oakland Raiders (2003–2010) Philadelphia Eagles (2011–present)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
3× Pro Bowl selection (2008, 2009, 2010) 4× All-Pro selection (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010) 2× Oakland Raiders MVP (2006, 2008) The Home Depot Neighborhood MVP award (2007) "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year (2009)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2011
Tackles 350 Sacks 2.0 Interceptions 14 Forced Fumbles 2 Stats at NFL.com

Nnamdi Asomugha (pronounced /ˈnɑːmdiː ˈɑːsəmwɑː/ NAHM-dee AH-səm-wah; born July 6, 1981) is an American cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft (31st overall) by the Oakland Raiders and played college football for the Golden Bears at the University of California, Berkeley. He is considered to be one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Biography[link]

Asomugha was born in Lafayette, Louisiana and raised in Los Angeles, California. He attended 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, playing high school basketball and football. Asomugha is of Nigerian descent.

College career[link]

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.

Professional career[link]

Oakland Raiders[link]

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 it 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.^[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] as well as Peter King's Sports Illustrated 2010 All-Pro team.^[25] Asomugha was also selected to the prestigious Associated Press 2010 All-Pro Team, his fourth selection as an All-Pro.

On January 9, 2011 ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Nnamdi Asomugha's contract would become void, making him an unrestricted free agent. Asomugha's contract contained a little-known clause that voided the deal when 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.

Philadelphia Eagles[link]

Asomugha in a game during the 2011 season.

On July 29, 2011, Asomugha agreed to a five-year, $60 million deal, and at least $25 million guaranteed, contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.^[26][27] Asomugha had his second interception of the year when he picked off Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys on October 30, 2011.

Philanthropy[link]

Off the field, education and community service are his mainstays. Asomugha serves as Chairman for the Asomugha Foundation. The Asomugha Foundation operates two primary programs: Orphans and Widows In Need (OWIN) and Asomugha College Tour for Scholars (ACTS).

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.^[28]

In 2006, Asomugha launched the annual ACTS program. Each year, he teams up with selected students from Bay Area and Los Angeles Area high schools on college tours across the country. In the first two years, Asomugha took 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. 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.^[29] In 2010, ACTS expanded 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 visited schools in Washington D.C. including Georgetown University, George Washington University, American University, Howard University and University of Maryland.^[30] In 2011, ACTS traveled to New Orleans, LA. The campuses visited were Loyola University, Xavier University of Louisiana, Southern University, Tulane University and Louisiana State University. All of the tour participants who have graduated from high school have gone on to attend higher education institutions.^[31]

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 .^[32] He has been an invited guest and has participated in the Clinton Global Initiative every year since 2009.^[33][34]

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 ^[35]

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.^[36]

Essence Magazine selected Asomugha as one of the “Do Right Men of 2008”, highlighting his success and philanthropic endeavors ^[37]

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.^[38]

In 2009, Asomugha was named to the “Dream Team for Public Service” by the Jefferson Awards for Public Service.^[39]

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^[40]

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.

In 2011, Asomugha was named one of three finalists for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award^[41]

Personal[link]

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.^[42] In 2010, He appeared on the TNT (TV channel) drama Leverage as Walle in the Season 3 episode "The Scheherazade Job".^[43]

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 96.1 KISS FM during the football season. In 2008, Asomugha was chosen from hundreds of applicants for the NFL Broadcast Bootcamp .^[44]

He is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity 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".^[45]

Further reading[link]

• "NFL Top 50 Players 2010 (#15)". CBS Sportsline. June 24, 2010. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/13561670/top-25-no-changing-of-guard-with-peyton-brady-around?tag=globalNav.nfl;cover. 
• "NFL Top 50 Players 2009 (#8)". CBS Sportsline. June 25, 2009. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/11892651. 
• "NFL Top 50 Players 2008 (#29)". CBS Sportsline. June 25, 2008. http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10877567/rss. 
• "NFL Top 50 Players 2007 (#37)". CBS Sportsline. June 14, 2007. http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10225498. 
• "Asomugha Still the Best!". Yahoo Sports. October 31, 2010. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Nnamdi-Asomugha-Still-the-best-?urn=nfl-281289. 
• "Asomugha Shutting Down the Opposition". Rotoworld. December 17, 2007. http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?sport=NFL&id=779&line=108859&spln=1. 
• "Nnamdi's the Man". Boston Herald. March 2, 2008. http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/other_nfl/view.bg?articleid=1077173. 
• "Shutdown corner Asomugha opens new routes for Oakland kids". CBSSports.com. April 22, 2009. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/11661411. 
• Ostler, Scott (May 26, 2009). "Raiders' star finds strength in Berkeley High coach". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/26/SPCG17QNVA.DTL. 

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Nnamdi Asomugha

• Philadelphia Eagles bio
• Oakland Raiders bio
• California Bears bio
• Asomugha Foundation