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Will the Cowboys pursue free-agent cornerback Asomugha?
Posted at 11:40 AM on Mon., Jan. 10, 2011 Rainer Sabin / Reporter
This offseason, the Cowboys will reassemble their roster. One of the units that could be subject to turnover is the secondary, which performed below expectations in 2010. Now comes word that Oakland's Nnamdi Asomugha, one of the NFL's premier cornerbacks, is an unrestricted free agent.
The Cowboys figure to be one of the many teams around the league that will take a gander at Asomugha, who allowed only 13 completions for 205 yards this season. Asomugha, who was targeted only 33 times this season, has earned a reputation for his ability to lock down one side of the field. In contrast, the Cowboys' Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins were two of the most burned defenders in the NFL, allowing 113 receptions and eight touchdowns on 181 pass attempts thrown in their direction this season.
Still, there are some potential concerns that need to be addressed regarding Asomugha. Asomugha has achieved success as a man-to-man cornerback, and the Cowboys have featured more zone coverages since Paul Pasqualoni was elevated to defensive coordinator Nov. 8. On the surface, this doesn't seem that significant. But Jenkins, another man-to-man specialist, struggled while adjusting to the zone schemes.
A potential snag even greater than Asomugha's style of play could be his financial demands. Details are hazy because the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement will expire March 3. But with the expectation that a salary cap will be in place in 2011, it could take some serious number-crunching to bring Asomugha to Dallas.
Before the 2009 season, he signed a three-year, $45.3 million contract, earning $28.5 million during the last two seasons.
Would the Cowboys be willing to reconfigure the team in such a way to accommodate Asomugha? They will at least consider it. After all, Asomugha will be a hot commodity.
Posted at 11:40 AM on Mon., Jan. 10, 2011 Rainer Sabin / Reporter
This offseason, the Cowboys will reassemble their roster. One of the units that could be subject to turnover is the secondary, which performed below expectations in 2010. Now comes word that Oakland's Nnamdi Asomugha, one of the NFL's premier cornerbacks, is an unrestricted free agent.
The Cowboys figure to be one of the many teams around the league that will take a gander at Asomugha, who allowed only 13 completions for 205 yards this season. Asomugha, who was targeted only 33 times this season, has earned a reputation for his ability to lock down one side of the field. In contrast, the Cowboys' Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins were two of the most burned defenders in the NFL, allowing 113 receptions and eight touchdowns on 181 pass attempts thrown in their direction this season.
Still, there are some potential concerns that need to be addressed regarding Asomugha. Asomugha has achieved success as a man-to-man cornerback, and the Cowboys have featured more zone coverages since Paul Pasqualoni was elevated to defensive coordinator Nov. 8. On the surface, this doesn't seem that significant. But Jenkins, another man-to-man specialist, struggled while adjusting to the zone schemes.
A potential snag even greater than Asomugha's style of play could be his financial demands. Details are hazy because the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement will expire March 3. But with the expectation that a salary cap will be in place in 2011, it could take some serious number-crunching to bring Asomugha to Dallas.
Before the 2009 season, he signed a three-year, $45.3 million contract, earning $28.5 million during the last two seasons.
Would the Cowboys be willing to reconfigure the team in such a way to accommodate Asomugha? They will at least consider it. After all, Asomugha will be a hot commodity.