If you’re a Houston Texans fan (and you most likely are if you’re reading this) then you've already heard the rare news story that came out yesterday: The Texans plan to pursue free agent All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (and safety Gerald Sensabaugh).
To some, this isn't a news story. People of that mindset say everyone’s going after Nnamdi. That’s not true – some have no need for a cornerback and most aren't willing to spend that kind of money. However, if you're one who does view this as a news story, jump to see my day-after thoughts on this latest development in NnamdiWatch 2011.
NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora is, for my money, the best insider on a national level alongside ESPN’s duo of Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter. Whereas I’ll take most "inside" information with a heavy dose of salt, these guys deliver the goods more often than not. If La Canfora is hearing from league sources that the Texans will A) be very aggressive in free agency and B) have their sights locked in on Asomugha and Sensabaugh then I believe it without hesitation. This isn’t someone at the Houston Chronicle being used as a mouthpiece, folks.
I believe I have written, between SB Nation Houston and Battle Red Blog, no fewer than five stories on Nnamdi and the Texans. I wrote those in hopes of growing the fan chatter. My thought process was that if the fans clamored loudly enough then the Texans had to hear it and change their free agent modus operandi. I, nor any fan, should be okay with Rick Smith signing yet another a ho-hum free agent or two and maintaining the status quo. We all should expect more than the usual from everyone associated with the franchise.
We all know what the usual is around here. The Texans don’t target the big free agent names. Their idea of free agency is grabbing a solid, yet unspectacular, free agent and a couple of other castoffs guys who end up being depth. The roster development philosophy is an overly cautious "grow through the draft" type of plan that hasn’t paid off - unless you're enjoying those 6-8 win seasons.
Can the Texans actually sign Asomugha is a question for another day, but it certainly sounds like the front office is feeling the pressure to deliver a winner now and looking to grab some serious talent to do just that. The change in attitude, at least right now during this lengthy lockout, is refreshing, but Rick Smith and company still need to go out and actually deliver once free agency starts or else it will be more of the same for the rest of 2011...and that won't mean good things for the beginning of their 2012.