The Dallas Cowboys look like they're in the drivers seat for landing star cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Albert Breer of NFL Network tweeted late Friday evening that the New York Jets are out - for now - of the Nnamdi Asomugha sweepstakes.
The Jets had been pegged as the frontrunners for Asomugha's services as soon as the lockout as lifted. The Texans, 49ers and Buccaneers all showed varying levels of interest in Asomugha, but the Jets and Rex Ryan's defense had been the clubhouse leaders.
Until today.
The Cowboys emerged as a dark horse to land Asomugha earlier on Friday morning, but still, the Jets were supposed to have been holding the edge on the Cowboys. Earlier at Dallas' practice today, Stephen and Jerry Jones were seen sharing a fist bump on the sidelines before handing a cell phone to new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan - not long before the report was filed to the NFL Network that the Jets were out of the Asomugha sweepstakes.
All the signs point to the Cowboys being the team to sign Asomugha, barring a mystery team entering the sweepstakes late - ala Cliff Lee and the Philadelphia Phillies in the MLB over the winter.
Perhaps Asomugha realized that the Jets are second fiddle in both their own town and division, or perhaps he just sees Dallas - or another team, potentially - as the better fit. For now though, the Jets are out on Asomugha.