Nnamdi Asomugha

TWO 3-6 TEAMS starting rookie quarterbacks. I guess I'll take the QB who has been starting all season over the one making his first start, especially since Robert Griffin III is at home, and Nick Foles will be working in a hostile environment, behind a bad offensive line. I like Foles. I think he'll throw at least one touchdown pass. But I also think he's likely to throw at least one ill-timed pick, and that will be the point where the Eagles' fragile defense crumples like Kleenex.

MAKING THE Eagles a 4-point favorite against anybody is a leap - they haven't won by more than 2. And the Lions, who weren't as good as their 5-0 start last season, aren't as bad as their 1-3 start this season. If they've really gotten themselves together during the bye week, this could be trouble. But the oddsmakers are right. If the Eagles really are the team they think they are, they should win this at home, and they shouldn't need any late fourth-quarter heroics to do it. Nnamdi Asomugha said Thursday the Birds' adventures covering Larry Fitzgerald a few weeks back taught them a valuable lesson heading into this week and Calvin Johnson.

Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha has been named the recipient of the inaugural "Role Model of the Year" award by the National Conference on Citizenship. The award recognizes individuals who use their public presence to give back to the community. Asomugha will be presented with the award Friday night at NCOC's 67th annual dinner at the National Constitution Center. He is involved in many philanthropic endeavors. In 2005, he and his family founded the Asomugha Foundation to support two key programs: Orphans and Widows In Need (OWIN)

Nnamdi Asomugha continues to collect "good guy" awards. Asomugha, a former Byron "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year, was in Tulsa, Okla. on Monday to receive the Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Award, which is named in memory of the former Oklahoma State basketball coach who was head coach of the U.S. Olympic team in 1964, 1968 and 1972. Through programs in Asomugha's foundation, he has aided students in the United States and orphans and widows in Nigeria, from where his parents emigrated.

Rumors continue to circulate about Asante Samuel's future destination, but there was no concrete movement on the Eagles cornerback's fate Thursday. The day began with a report that Samuel, 31, and due a $9.5 million base salary this coming season, could soon be headed to the Tennessee Titans, but the Nashville newspaper, the Tennessean, reiterated its previous reporting that such a move is unlikely to happen soon. One reporter there wrote on Twitter that the Titans' interest is "lukewarm.

FORMER EAGLES cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha has agreed to a 1-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers, his agent confirmed. According to an ESPN report, the deal could be worth up to $3 million. A source told ESPN that Asomugha picked the 49ers over the New Orleans Saints. Asomugha also collects a guaranteed $4 million from the Eagles, who released him earlier in the offseason.   Noteworthy *  As expected, the Arizona Cardinals acquired quarterback Carson Palmer from the Oakland Raiders.

No doubt scouts are still talking about an impressive group of defensive backs who took the field Tuesday as the NFL scouting combine ended in Indianapolis. According to NFL.com, evaluators saw standout performances that enhanced the value of several top prospects at the cornerback position. Dee Milliner of Alabama, the top-rated corner, answered questions about his speed and quickness with a remarkable 4.37-second effort in the 40-yard dash. Tyrann Mathieu of LSU also impressed with a time of 4.5 in the 40.   "Me time" for Nnamdi Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha ate lunch in his car during practices instead of eating with his teammates last season, WIP-AM (610)

ALL PAUL HOLMGREN had to say was, "Bryz is our No. 1 goalie, now and for the foreseeable future. " Words to that effect would have squelched speculation that the Flyers' deadline trade Wednesday for Steve Mason, a young, pedigreed goalie, might mean an early divorce from Ilya Bryzgalov. Instead, Holmgren said, "We see [Mason] as one of our two goalies, not only the rest of this year, but moving forward. We'll just leave it at that for now. " Of course, nothing concerning the Flyers gets left at that.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Nnamdi Asomugha was carted off the practice field Monday after a collision with safety Nate Allen left the Eagles cornerback with a lacerated lip and a sore neck. Asomugha had no concussion symptoms Monday night, according to a team spokesman. The injury occurred during seven-on-seven drills. Quarterback Michael Vick threw a deep pass to DeSean Jackson while the defensive backs played a cover-2 scheme. Asomugha and Allen came from opposite directions, and Asomugha's helmet hit Allen's chest.

Jeremy Maclin played the complete game Sunday in Tampa, Fla., without injury and caught the game-winning touchdown on the final play against the Buccaneers. So when the Eagles wide receiver was listed on Monday with a groin injury there were more than a few arched eyebrows. On Tuesday, Maclin was asked if he was injured on the last-second touchdown pass from Nick Foles. "That is kind of what did it," he answered. Was it sliding for the catch or running back out to midfield to celebrate?