NFL Free Agency: 5 Reasons the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Should Sign Nnamdi Asomugha

With success comes respect, but also, expectations. But when that success comes earlier than expected, the learning curve suddenly shifts and the expectations rise to alarming levels.

But that’s not a bad place for head coach Raheem Morris and the young Tampa Bay Buccaneers to be.

The question now is: Where do they go from here?

Whatever the answer, former Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha should be part of the solution.

The general consensus across the web is that the Buccaneers had a respectable draft, but cornerback remains an area of concern for one of the youngest teams in the NFL, and Asomugha is conveniently looking for a new home.

Forget their history of not being players in the free-agent market. There are five solid reasons for the Buccaneers to take a shot at signing Nnamdi Asomugha.

Ronde Barber's Hall of Fame Career Is Nearing Its End

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SAN FRANCISCO - DECEMBER 23: Ronde Barber #20 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on during the NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at Monster Park on December 23, 2007 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

The cornerback is rarely a cornerstone of a franchise.

Ronde Barber is certainly an exception.

The lone holdover from the 2002 Super Bowl-winning team, Barber, 36, returns in 2011 for his 14th NFL season, which will likely be his last.

When he retires, he will take with him his five Pro Bowl selections. Gone from the Buccaneer secondary will be the all-time leader in franchise history for interceptions. No longer will the Buccaneers have the all-time leader in sacks by a cornerback coming off the edge. Nevermore will the only player in NFL history with 25 sacks and 40 interceptions patrol the Tampa Bay skies.

Now that’s a tough act to follow, but not an impossible one.

In nickel situations, Barber has been used as the nickel corner with the third cornerback coming off the bench to occupy the spot opposite Aqib Talib (we’ll get to him).

If the Buccaneers could bring Asomugha aboard ship, he would not only be that corner coming off the bench for Barber to slide to the nickel slot, he would likely be part of a rotation that could feature three of the premier corners in the game sharing playing time, ensuring the health and longevity of all three in what the Buccaneer faithful hope will be the first playoff year since the Jon Gruden-Jeff Garcia-led Buccaneers lost in the Wild Card round in 2007.

Sure, Barber didn’t come back to be a role player and Asomugha has plenty of options in the free-agent market to be an every-down starter.

But for the 36-year-old Barber to have another shot at a Super Bowl ring and the 29-year-old Asomugha to be a part of an up-and-coming franchise’s shot at establishing their legitimacy as a playoff contender, it’s a win for both and for the team as well.

After all, Asomugha would have the job all to himself in 2012 anyhow.

Aqib Talib's Uncertain Future

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TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 04: Cornerback Aqib Talib #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rests against the Houston Texans during a preseason game at Raymond James Stadium on September 4, 2009 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

Although head coach Raheem Morris has dispelled rumors that Talib would be released once a new collective bargaining agreement is reached, that’s likely not the end of the story.

Not only is Talib likely facing a suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, but the Buccaneers may have had enough of this maligned, but talented corner.

Without chronicling his troubles, let’s just say he’s been a pain at times when he hasn’t been locking down some of the best in the NFL on Sundays. But after losing safety Tanard Jackson for the entire 2011 season to a league-imposed suspension, the Buccaneers might be done with these types of players.

Either way, if the Buccaneers retain Talib, he and Asomugha would form one of the most dynamic cornerback tandems the league has ever seen.

If the Buccaneers choose to cut ties with Talib, Asomugha could easily step to the No. 1 corner role and hold his own and then some, forcing opposing quarterbacks to use their second and third options to beat the Tampa Bay defense.

Do I think Talib deserves another shot? I’m all for second, and sometimes third chances, but if the league comes down hard on Talib, the Buccaneers could not afford to take a chance on another lapse that could see him miss time significant enough to derail a potential playoff run for this young team.

Asomugha fits whether the Buccaneers keep Talib or cut him loose.

He's Unquestionably the Best Player Available

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OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 29: Nnamdi Asomugha #21 of the Oakland Raiders runs with the ball on an interception for a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 29, 2006 at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Imag

I know what you’re thinking. The Buccaneers were atrocious against the run in 2010 to the tune of 131.7 yards per game.

That was good for 28th in the league.

But the pass defense was an impressive seventh in the NFL, allowing just 201 yards per game. They were also third in the league in allowing pass plays of 20 yards or more (37) and 13th in the league for 40-yard passing plays allowed (9).

So why go out and snag a cornerback in free agency when run defense is the real problem in Tampa Bay?

Because free agency is much like the draft in many ways, and Asomugha is the best player available.

For a young team with a real shot an contending immediately, linebacker might be a bigger concern, along with depth at safety.

But when a guy like Asomugha is out there and you’re willing to spend the money, you go get him. Period.

Gerald McCoy and Brian Price are entering their sophomore seasons both coming off injury and third-year DT Roy Miller will join them to form a rotation with a lot to prove in 2011 that was steadily improving as 2010 wore on. The Buccaneers also chose two defensive ends in the 2011 draft in Adrian Clayborn (Round 1) and Da’Quan Bowers (Round 2).

Should this young core of defensive linemen stand tall against the run in 2011, the Buccaneers just might have their best defense since the Derrick Brooks-John Lynch era of the late '90s and early 2000s.

Asomugha would make such a defensive unit that much more formidable.

Plus, the Buccaneers only face five teams in 2011 that were in the top half of the league in rushing in 2010 and only three teams that were in the top 10.

Oh, and Raheem Morris was a secondary coach before taking the head job in 2009. He likely wouldn't mind having a guy like Asomugha patrolling the skies so he and his defensive staff can focus on stopping the run.

He's a Consummate Pro of High Character

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DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 04: Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award finalist Nnamdi Asomugha of the Oakland Raiders speaks during a press conference at the Super Bowl XLV media center on February 4, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. The Green Bay Packers will play th

Every year since 1966, the NFLPA has honored an NFL player with the Byron “Whizzer” White Award, given to the player who best served his team, community and country in the spirit of White, who was a pro football player, a Supreme Court justice and a humanitarian.

In 2009, they honored Asomugha. He was also a finalist for the 2010 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

You can’t have too many high-character guys on your team, especially on a young team.

With the bad taste of Tanard Jackson and Aqib Talib’s behavior fresh in the Buccaneers’ mouths and the stigma following second-year offensive stars LeGarrette Blount and Mike Williams (although unfairly regarding both and slowly fading), a veteran presence and consummate pro cut from the same mold as Ronde Barber can help guide a young team both on and off the field, especially after Barber rides off into the sunset bound for Canton.

You can’t have too many high-character guys in your locker room.

You just can’t.

It's Time to Make a Splash

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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND-AUGUST 9 : (L to R) Joel Glazer, Avram Glazer and Bryan Glazer, sons of owner Malcolm Glazer, are seen before the Champions League third qualifying round, first leg match between Manchester United and Debreceni VSC at Old Trafford on A

Ownership has already publicly pledged to spend more money on the young Buccaneers in 2011, and if there is a new salary cap included in the pending CBA, the Buccaneers are going to have more cap room to work with than any team in the league.

Coming off a 10-6 campaign, that’s not a bad place to be.

The Buccaneers are not going to surprise anybody in 2011. The league has seen what this young core is capable of, and they’ll be prepared.

Getting to the top is hard. Staying there can prove even more laborious.

With the Buccaneers primed to take over arguably the best division in football, the NFC South, finding a replacement for Ronde Barber, even if only for a few years, as Asomugha is 29, is paramount to their success on defense, especially if they cut ties with Talib.

But it’s going to cost them.

Shelling out the coin for Asomugha would solidify the secondary for the time being (perhaps longer) and free the front office and the coaching staff up to focus on other problem areas to make a Super Bowl run sooner rather than later.