You say "Echema," I say "Echemandu"
Oct 13, 2007 2004 Draft, Amobi Okoye is 20, Free Agency, Jerome Mathis got hurt reading this, Nigerian Mafia, Nnamdi Asomugha, RB free-for-all
I didn’t mention it on Wednesday, but the Texans signed Adimchinobe Echemandu–known as “Joe Echema” at Cal before he decided to go back to his real Nigerian name–to the practice squad. (There was an extra spot after we filled Jerome Mathis‘ roster hole.)
Anyway, it could be the fact that it’s late and I’ve been drinking or it could just be the paint fumes getting to me, but I am sorta jazzed about this signing. “Why,” you ask? A number reasons.
First, the simple fact that we signed him may mean that Samkon Gado is not factoring into our long-term plans. Which is good, because he sucks.
Second, though, and more importantly, is that when Echemandu is not injured, he’s fast. No, scratch that. He’s fast. He was banged up and didn’t run the 40 at the combine in 2004, but he turned in a 4.33 into the wind the summer before. Had he run that time at the combine, it would have been the fastest time in that year’s RB crop. Not shabby. And not surprising, as Joe was a sprinter before turning to football full time. He has had some injury issues since and has been very limited in playing time in the NFL, but that kind of speed is hard to come by. If you can get it at a discount like this, why not take a shot?
Third, Echemandu is a cousin of Nnamdi Asomugha. Do not underestimate how excited this makes me.
Finally, Joe is the fifth Nigerian-born player under some sort of contract with the Texans right now, joining Amobi Okoye, ND Kalu, Samkon Gado, and WR Gbolahan Devin Aromashodu. I suppose the way Amobi talked early in camp about Kalu being like a mentor/big brother to him is what makes me like this signing of Echemandu, as I buy into the idea of players overachieving when placed into highly comfortable situations. And that idea ties into us somehow luring Asomugha here in the offseason. Yes, I am slightly obsessed.
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October 14th, 2007 at 7:14 am
i can only hope that the man we now refer to as Adimchinobe Echemandu (A-Deem-Chin-Oh-Bee Ekhe-Man-Do) can in the very near future be referred to as ” Adimchinobe-Wan-Kenobi”. according to the scout.com report that you linked to, this guy has some serious upside and i would love to see a running back in our backfield with this kind of speed. 4.33 into the wind? what is the latest on his former injuries? is he fully healed? do we know how fast he is now? thanks for bringing this to our attention, matthew-san.
s.
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October 14th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Well, he ain’t Nigerian, so this is more than a little off topic, but if anyone would love this story, I knew it’d be you Matt.
It appears Carr can even injure himself while sitting in a chair.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8033a490&template=with-video&confirm=true
Remember all that talk about what a tough gamer David was last week when he just took every pill he could to fight it out?
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October 15th, 2007 at 9:25 am
There’s some interesting news in the rotoworld link. It looked like Joe was the best back in Raiders camp, was expected to make the team over Fargas as a backup to Jordan, and then was cut to make room for Rhodes.
They also mention that Denver was interested in him as he “already knew their scheme”. Could be a huge pickup for us down the road.
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October 15th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Also see “One Year Stint For Green”:
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/clubhouse_news.aspx?sport=NFL&majteam=HOU
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October 16th, 2007 at 9:23 am
getting Asomugah would be sickkkkk
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December 27th, 2007 at 11:37 am
[...] of this overlooks the main reason I was high on Echemandu from the start. Namely, that a certain cousin of his is arguably the best or second-best cover corner in the NFL and can opt out of…. I was hoping that some family ties might have made it easier to entice him. With the emergence of [...]