I have no issue with the Dallas Cowboys making their best push for Nnamdi Asomugha. He’s a game-changing player, which means he’s an offseason game plan-changing player. And once they had an idea they might be able to get him, the Cowboys were right to take the shot. Sure, they need two starting safeties and they kind of like their cornerbacks. But as good as Mike Jenkins and Terence Newman may be, neither is in Asomugha’s class because few are. Had they got him, they could have gone cheaper at safety because Asomugha would have been enough of an upgrade over Newman (who’d have been cut) to make that work. It’s a stars’ league and a passing league, and Asomugha is a star who shuts down passing games.

But they didn’t get him, as you surely know by now. The Eagles did, which from the Cowboys’ standpoint is a kick right in the star on the side of the helmet because they’re going to have to play against him at least twice a season. Life goes on and so does an offseason that still requires Dallas to fill out its defense. They still need the same things they needed before they started after Asomugha — two starting safeties and defensive line help. They managed to bring back defensive end Marcus Spears during Friday afternoon’s madness, but they still need someone to start on the other side of Jay Ratliff.

Cap room remains an issue. They won’t be able to use the savings they would have got by cutting Newman, because now they need to keep Newman. So it’s not as if they can go out and sign anyone they want. But there are still nice options available at safety. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see them bring in Abram Elam, who played well for new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan last season in Cleveland, and re-sign Gerald Sensabaugh. And defensive end Cullen Jenkins is still out there as someone who could come in and help the pass rush. If the Cowboys spend the next couple of days signing Elam, Sensabaugh and Jenkins — or some combination of players that resembles that — the memory of the day they spent chasing Asomugha could fade very quickly.

Read More: Nnamdi Asomugha (CB – OAK), New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys continue their courtship of the top free agent available, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. ESPN’s senior NFL analyst John Clayton tweeted on Friday afternoon that the Dallas Cowboys have become real players in the Asomugha sweepstakes. Unfortunately for the Cowboys and their fans, Clayton also says that the New York Jets are still in the lead for his services.

That the Cowboys have come out of the blue to emerge as legitimate suitors for Asomugha is a bit surprising, despite Jerry Jones’ penchant for making a splash. The Cowboys were strapped by the new salary cap and were forced to release veteran players such as Marion Barber, Roy Williams and Leonard Davis. The Cowboys, though, have cleared off some cap room and players on the Cowboys such as Tony Romo have said that they are willing to restructure their contracts if it’ll benefit the Cowboys as a whole. 

A decision from Asomugha should come sooner rather than later, as training camps are underway and an entire offseason of preparation is being crammed into a month. The Jets have reportedly been trying to squeeze an answer out of Asomugha, but Jerry Jones and the Cowboys certainly have his attention.

Read More: Nnamdi Asomugha (CB – OAK), New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys

Nnamdi Asomugha has whittled his suitors down to two as of Friday morning: the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys, according to Michael Lombardi. The Jets are considered the favorites to land Asomugha, but the Cowboys have entered the race to get him. It had been previously believed as of Thursday that the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the competition for the Jets, but neither team is likely to ink the shut-down corner.

If the Cowboys are to sign Asomugha, multiple players would likely have to restructure their deals. Quarterback Tony Romo has already agreed to restructure his contract if it’d benefit the team as a whole. Signing one of, if not the, top corner in the league would certainly qualify as helping the Cowboys.

Signing Asomugha seems like wishful thinking on Dallas’ behalf, as all signs all along have pointed towards Asomugha signing with the Jets and pairing up with Darrelle Revis. Still, Jerry Jones is apparently serious about signing Asomugha.

We’ll see if the Cowboys can pull it off.

SAN ANTONIO —
From the first blast of the airhorn Thursday morning, the Dallas Cowboys showed how eager they were to be playing football again.

Players moved so quickly during their morning walkthrough that some coaches told players to ease up. New boss Jason Garrett still hollered, “Let’s go, let’s go! C’mon now!” between drills, but later smiled and said, “It was nice to see the energy that everybody had out there.”

Tony Romo and Dez Bryant were among the most enthusiastic. Romo missed the final nine games last season because of broken collarbone and Bryant missed the final four with an ankle injury. Add in the lockout that wiped away the offseason and the lingering bitterness of going 6-10 last season and it’s easy to see why everyone was so giddy.

“I’m as excited as a guy can be to be playing football again,” Romo said. “It’s just great to be out here competing.”

By the afternoon, things were back to normal — or, at least, normal under Garrett. The pace and intensity are up from what fans at the Alamodome saw last year under coach Wade Phillips.

The Cowboys had more players by the afternoon, too, as six of their eight draft picks signed and were on the field, including first-rounder Tyron Smith.

Smith is expected to start at right tackle, but he stepped in on the left side because starter Doug Free can’t suit up until next week. He’s already agreed to sign a $32 million, four-year deal, a person familiar with negotiations told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t announced it.

Smith and all his fellow rookies certainly stood out on the field: they were the ones in silver-only helmets, forced to earn the blue stars. Garrett is reviving a trick last used by Bill Parcells.

The start of camp also marked the start of Rob Ryan’s hands-on work as defensive coordinator. He’s taking over a unit that last season allowed the most points in franchise history.

As if a new coach coming off a bad season isn’t enough of a challenge, he doesn’t even have all his main players yet. The Cowboys are expected to sign two new starting safeties and an end.

“We’ve got a great coaching staff, we’ve got smart players, so we’re going to be fine,” Ryan insisted. “We don’t have to make excuses. We’re going to have everything we need to be successful.”

Linebacker DeMarcus Ware likes what he’s seen from Ryan.

“He’s a fun coach,” Ware said. “He’s serious the whole time, but he adds a little flavor in there every once in a while to sort of keep you on your feet. He’ll ask me questions, he’ll ask the rookies questions and he’ll try to trick you a little bit. He keeps you on your feet; that’s what it’s about.”

In other Cowboys personnel news Thursday:

• Right tackle Marc Colombo was among nine veterans released, joining right guard Leonard Davis, receiver Roy Williams, running back Marion Barber, kicker Kris Brown, offensive linemen Robert Brewster and Travis Bright, linebacker Kelvin Smith and receiver Troy Bergeron.

• Left guard Kyle Kosier agreed to a three-year contract worth just under $9 million, a person familiar with negotiations told the AP.

• Center Andre Gurode was placed on the physically unable to perform list after showing up for camp and telling the team he had knee surgery in June.

• Defensive end Stephen Bowen signed a lucrative deal with NFC East rival Washington.

 

Day 1 of Cowboys Training Camp was a light day of work because they can’t workout in full-pads until Sunday. Head Coach Jason Garrett said his team was in shape despite the non-off season. Marc Colombo was cut on Thursday, he hoped to re-work his contract but the two sides could not come to an agreement and that means top draft pick Tyron Smith will be the starter at right tackle. Smith did agree to terms for his rookie contract, in fact all but two of the 8 draft picks have been signed. The full details of who’s on the Cowboys Training Camp roster will be released tomorrow when the NFL rules permit teams to starts officially signing free-agents.