SAN FRANCISCO — Free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha reached agreement on a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday that could pay him as much as $3 million this year.
Asomugha’s representative, Ben Dogra, said that Asomugha is expected to sign his new deal Wednesday. He was busy taking high school students around his native Bay Area on Tuesday in an effort to show them their future options and college choices.
The contract has no guaranteed money. Asomugha is due to earn a base package of $1.35 million with salary and bonuses, and could make an additional $1.65 million in incentives for playing time, awards such as the Pro Bowl and reaching the playoffs.
“He’s excited to be a 49er and feels it’s a great football team, and he’s returning home,” Dogra said in a phone interview. “It’s such a unique set of circumstances that he’s coming back. It’s not about the money for him. He wants to play for a winner. He had a very good visit with them 10 days ago and again over the weekend. He thinks they have a great chance to win a Super Bowl and he wants to be part of it. He has a chip on his shoulder, in a good way.”
The former All-Pro was released by the Philadelphia Eagles on March 12 after two disappointing seasons — and now he is ready to help the 49ers return to the Super Bowl and win after losing 34-31 to the Ravens on Feb. 3 in New Orleans. Now, he gets another start right back where his football career began.
The 31-year-old Asomugha spent his first eight NFL seasons, from 2003-2010 with the Oakland Raiders, who selected him 31st overall in the first round of the 2003 draft out of nearby California in Berkeley. He made three Pro Bowls during his time with Oakland.
Playing in the 49ers’ talented secondary means more to Asomugha at this stage of his career than a hefty pay day. Before his release in Philadelphia on the first day of free agency last month, he had been due to make $15 million this season, including $4 million guaranteed, after signing a $60 million, five-year deal with the Eagles in 2011.
“He believes in karma and timing,” Dogra said. “He wants to show everybody it’s not about the money for him. He wants to prove something. He could have walked away and retired. He wants to play for a winner. He’s inspired. He wants to be part of a great team and take care of unfinished business from last year. He wants to end this on his terms. Hopefully, he can get a ring and stay happy.”
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