Jets vs. Cowboys for bid on Asomugha

A month and a half before they play each other on opening day, the Jets and Cowboys are going at in a bidding war for cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.

After the Houston Texans fell out of the bidding for Asomugha last night when the signed former Bengal Jonathan Joesph, it was assumed that the Jets and 49ers were the favorites for Asomugha's services.

Now it appears that San Francisco is out of the bidding, and in their stead the Dallas Cowboys have swooped in.

For the Jets, this situation couldn't get worse. Gang Green has made it their mission this week to sign Asomugha, even negotiating with him on Wednesday, and they have yet to hear back from him.

That is not a good sign for the Jets, considering the team has pushed its more valuable chips in Brad Smith, Braylon Edwards and Antonio Cromartie to the side to get this done.

It was stunning to say the least that the Jets decided to go so hard for Asomugha. They didn't have the money to make him the top corner in the NFL, and all indications were before free agency began Monday that the Jets would focus primarily on their own free agents.

They re-signed Holmes. Lost Brad Smith to the Bills, and could easily lose Braylon Edwards soon as well.

With the Cowboys now in the mix, you would have to think they would be the favorites to get Asomugha. Why? Because they are the Cowboys. They are Jerry Jones and his limitless amounts of cash, fame and fortune. They are America's Team. They are the star on the helmet. They are Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. Jimmy Johnson and Tom Landrey. The Cowboys are tradition.

The Jets want to be America's team. Rex Ryan has tried so hard to make the Jets into that image the last two years, but alas they are the Jets for a reason.

If the Jets lose Asomugha, and lose Edwards, coupled with the loss of Brad Smith this off-season will quickly turn into a total PR disaster.

The Jets didn't need Asomugha. They have a shut down corner in Darrell Revis. They could have, and still can, resign Antonio Cromartie, who is a solid football player. They had other pressing needs like wide receiver, outside linebacker and defensive end. The Jets had only 32 sacks last year, not good enough for a team that is supposed to live on blitzing the quarterback.

Analysts have described all week how a tandem of Asomugha and Revis would allow the Jets to blitz more, and hit the quarterback more often. That remains to be seen.

The Jets put all their chips to the center for this guy, and now they have no choice but the land Asomugha.

It won't be hard for the Cowboys to sell Asomugha on coming to Dallas. The Cowboys can pay Asomugha what he wants, and they can provide him with a winning football team.

Asomugha is reported to make a decision later today, and it would be stunning if he is not wearing the silver star on the side of his helmet this season.