Dein erstes Forum » rference? Byfuglien never had

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Less than three years after being one of the most prized free agents on the open market, Nnamdi Asomugha NFL career is over. Asomugha formally announced his retirement Friday at the Oakland Raiders headquarters, ending his 11-year career at the place he had his most success. "Im just grateful to be back, grateful for everything to go full circle," Asomugha said. "For all of the achievements and awards, to be able to retire as a Raider ranks highest among all of those." Asomugha made three Pro Bowls and was a two-time first-team All-Pro during his eight seasons with the Raiders when he was considered one of the leagues top cover cornerbacks. But his career quickly fizzled after signing a $60 million, five-year contract with Philadelphia in the summer of 2011. He was cut after two years with the Eagles and played just three games this season for San Francisco before being released in November. He said he had opportunities to come back since then but felt the time was right to go on with the rest of his life. Asomugha was joined at his retirement news conference by three of the Raiders best defensive backs: Hall of Famer Willie Brown, Lester Hayes and Charles Woodson. Asomugha credited all three, along with others like Rod Woodson and Mike Haynes for his transformation from a college safety to an elite NFL cornerback. "He turned into what they call that shut-down corner," Woodson said. "People just decided going into the game they werent going to throw at him. Thats a testament to his hard work." Asomugha came into the NFL as a first-round pick out of California in 2003 and became one of the rare Al Davis first-rounders to pan out in his later years running the Raiders. After taking a few years to adjust to playing cornerback after being mostly a safety in college, Asomugha thrived in the Raiders system that often left cornerbacks alone on an island matched up man-to-man against opposing receivers. "When I first came into the league not too many people really knew who I was," Asomugha said. "When I first got here I was definitely called a reach. In great Al Davis fashion, he took a reach that he believed in and instilled confidence in me like nobody else could and I was able to become all that he expected of me." Asomugha had a breakthrough season in 2006 when he intercepted eight passes and was a rare bright spot on a 2-14 team. By the next season, opposing quarterbacks rarely even threw the ball his direction. In his final four seasons with the Raiders, Asomugha had just 136 passes thrown at him in 60 games, allowing just 66 completions and only two touchdowns. Asomugha was paid well for his performance in Oakland, earning $9.5 million in 2008 and then signing a $45.3 million, three-year deal the following off-season. That contract voided after his second year and he became one of the most prominent free agents after the lockout ended in 2011. After never playing on a winning team in his eight seasons in Oakland, Asomugha joined the Eagles in what was billed as the "dream team." But he never fit in to a system that had him playing zone coverage instead of being exclusively in man-to-man. Philadelphia was one of the leagues most disappointing teams in his two seasons there, going 12-20 and missing the playoffs both times. Asomugha signed a minimum contract with the 49ers last off-season but made one start and played three games before being released, meaning he will end his career having never made the playoffs. "We didnt get a championship, that was the goal," Asomugha said. 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Olympic hockey management team have been making what he called "ghost rosters" since August.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca! Hi Kerry, During the Winnipeg Jets power play in the third period against the Calgary Flames last night, Lance Bouma ran into Dustin Byfuglien and then ended up with the puck on his stick and in the net. To me it seemed like a pick play. Is that even allowed? Should interference not have been called on the play? What happened there? If the penalty would have been called, it would of been a 5-on-3 for the Jets with a 2-2 score, instead it was 3-2 Flames. I am sure the outcome of the came would of been quite different. Regards,Reg Robert --- Good day Kerry, Watching the Calgary vs. Jets Game - on Calgarys third goal there was a clear obstruction interference on Dustin Byfuglien with Lance Bouma plowing through him and eliminating Byfuglien from the play. Bouma proceeded to the open ice taking a pass from Matt Stajan and scoring a goal. I would like to know why this isnt interference? Byfuglien never had possession of the puck! If you could kindly clarify? Thanks! Luke Guthro Reg and Luke: Lance Bouma clearly eliminated Dustin Byfuglien with illegal body contact that directly resulted in Bouma scoring a short-handed goal. Bouma should have been assessed an interference penalty negating any opportunity to score on the play. The Jets should have then enjoyed a two-man advantage for one minute and forty seconds. A "pick" is defined as the action of a player who checks an opponent who is not in possession of the puck and is unaware of the impending check/hit. A player delivering a "pick" is one who moves into an opponents path without initially having body position, thereby taking him out of the play. When this is done, an interference penalty shall be assessed. Lance Bouma got away with a text book example of a "moving pick" when he eliminated defender Dustin Byfuglien and then put himself in position to receive a pass from Matt Stajan and slip the puck past Winnipeg goalkeeperr Al Montoya.dddddddddddd This should have been a routine two-on-two play for Dustin Byfuglien and his power-play defence partner Tobias Enstrom to defend against once Matt Stajan carried the puck out of the Flames end zone with Lance Bouma on his left side. Bouma started cutting through the middle of the ice on a cross-route before Stajan gained the blue line. Rather than find an open seam Lance Bouma created one by skating directly at Byfuglien and delivered solid body contact that eliminated the Jet defenceman from the play. It was next to impossible for Tobias Enstrom to defend against the immediate two-on-one that Bouma created with his illegal contact on Byfuglien. The Flame forward then put himself in perfect position to receive a pass from Matt Stajan at the top of Montoyas crease to score the go-ahead goal. Both referees must share responsibility for picking up (or missing) the interference that Lance Bouma committed given the cross route that Bouma took entering the attacking zone. The illegal body contact Bouma delivered on Byfuglien occurred in close proximity to puck carrier, Matt Stajan. Freeze-frame the action at this moment to better understand the Referees area of coverage that should take place in this moment. The lead referee backing into the zone would have been primarily responsible for action around the puck. The trailing referees primary area of coverage is on all players away from the puck (non-puck carrier) and is required to hustle up ice once the remaining Jet players exit the Flames end zone. Since the Jets were on the power-play there should have been little, if any, need for the trailing ref to delay exiting the Flames zone and hustling up ice to provide coverage and support with Stajan and Bouma on the attack. The area of coverage and focus of attention for both referees should have melted together once Lance Bouma crossed in front of puck carrier Matt Stajan to deliver an illegal pick on Jet defender Dustin Byfuglien. The missed penalty resulted in the short-handed goal scored by Lance Bouma. Sad to say, been there - done that! ' ' '