On the day the San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of all the team's draft picks, reports are surfacing that its quest to land the off season's biggest prize could be flickering.
In the abbreviated NFL free agent period created by the lockout, NFL insiders are working Twitter overtime to break where the next big money free agent will agree to terms.
Wednesday the 49ers were reported to be amongst two teams that were bidding for the services of Raiders' All-Pro defensive back Nnamdi Asomugha.
Former Raiders front office man Michael Lombardi first reported the possibility of the 49ers landing Asomugha.
Several other sources ran with the story but Tuesday morning, Lombardi changed his tune and tweeted that a new team had entered the lead over both the 49ers and the New York Jets.
"Hearing Houston has moved into the lead for Nnamdi Asomugha—money will be in the 12-14 mill per year range...Revis makes 11.5 per year," he wrote at 8:30 a.m.
Veteran 49ers' beat writer, Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area, pointed that an advantage Houston might have is that there is no state income tax in Texas.
But fellow beat writer, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, tweeted back with the inherent advantage San Francisco has over any Texas-based team.
"SF's advantage: No Texans in California."
Touché. That and Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network reports that the 49ers have informed current cornerback Nate Clements, and his $7.25 million salary, that he will be cut. But the reporter doesn't think it will be enough to land Asomugha.
