Jets fans everywhere have gone from tantalized to teased and ticked off in a span of 48 hours.
As of the end of the day Thursday, it looked like the Jets were about to land coveted free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.
Visions of the dream-team tandem of Darrelle Revis and Asomugha in the same defensive backfield were alluring and that dream looked like it was closing in on reality.
But suddenly yesterday afternoon — as quickly as a receiver burns a cornerback on long, go-route touchdown catch — the Jets pronounced themselves out of the Asomugha sweepstakes. By dinnertime yesterday, Asomugha was signed by the Eagles.
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It’s OK to be ticked off at the Jets for not landing Asomugha, because it would have been an intriguing potential marriage. But when you strip away the fantasy football aspect here, this might turn out to be the best result for the Jets.
Instead of fretting about Asomugha choosing the Eagles over the Jets, fans should consider some of the positives to come out of this.
The Jets didn’t allow themselves to be held up by Asomugha’s agent and that leaves them with more room under the salary cap to address some other roster issues — such as possibly bringing receiver Braylon Edwards back to help Mark Sanchez and the offense maintain its continuity.
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The Jets, too, avoided paying Asomugha more money than Revis (who was given a $45 million extension last year), which would have been wrong and potentially problematic.
It would have been wrong after all the stumping Rex Ryan has done for Revis over the last two years — essentially calling him the best, most dominant defensive player since Lawrence Taylor.
Giving Asomugha (who the Eagles gave $60 million over five years) more money than the $11.5 million a year Revis’ contract averages would have been hypocritical on the part of Ryan and the Jets.
The Jets didn’t need Asomugha to make themselves a Super Bowl contender. Having been to the AFC Championship game the last two season with the core players returning, even without Asomugha they already are a favorite to get to the Super Bowl this year.
The compelling aftermath to the end of the Asomugha chase is what the Jets next moves will be, because the Asomugha dalliance left a lot of other business frozen for the last three days.
The Jets need to address their thin depth chart at receiver and safety.
Receiver/returner Brad Smith, for example, was lost to the Bills on Thursday without an offer from the Jets because they were waiting to see if they could sign Asomugha. Valuable nickel corner Drew Coleman was signed by the Jaguars yesterday.
As for the starting cornerback opposite Revis, it looks like the Jets might have to eat a little crow and go back to last year’s starting cornerback, Antonio Cromartie, to show him a little love after they have appeared so sweet on Asomugha.
This should be interesting to watch.
mcannizzaro@nypost.com