Texans sign Cato June

[TRIQSTER]

Just reported per the Chronicle

[TRIQSTER]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6358781.html

The Texans have agreed to a contract with free agent outside linebacker Cato June.

June, who came to Houston early this week to meet with the Texans, spent the last two seasons with Tampa Bay before being released in February.

June, 29, is 6-0, 227. He'll compete with Xavier Adibi for the starting job on the weak side. June had 63 tackles, including 49 unassisted, for the Buccaneers last season.

June, who grew up in Washington D.C. and played at Michigan, spent his first four seasons with Indianapolis before signing with Tampa Bay as a free agent. With the Colts, he started on their Super Bowl XLI-winning team. He also was voted to the Pro Bowl one time

[msn]

*splish*

[Rookie34]

I hope we still draft an outside linebacker ... but June is already a nice addition.

[TRIQSTER]

terms not disclosed yet, id be intrested to find out what they paid for him

[ima_drummer2k]

1 year, 1.5 million. Good signing.

[DieHard Rocket]

If we do draft a LB in the first round, we are going to be stacked with talent and depth across the board at linebacker. Frank Bush and Johnny Holland have to be licking their chops with excitement over the possibilities with the rotation.

June/Adibi
Ryans/Bentley
Diles/*Cushing/Matthews?*/Thompson

[Cannonball]

He played really well in Indy. A averaged about 120 tackles there after his rookie year. Tampa moved him from weak OLB to strong OLB and his numbers dropped. Hopefully he'll produce for us like he did in Indy since we plan to play him at weak OLB.

Going into last season, Scouts Inc. assigned him a grade of 68 which was significantly better than all of our LB's not named Demeco.

[Cannonball]

DELETE

[EddieWasSnubbed]

I'm glad to hear about this signing. Good deal if it's what was posted. Hopefully now, we'll move away from Cushing and Matthews, as I'm not too high on them.

I would love to see us take one of the following:
Malcolm Jenkins
Vontae Davis
Peria Jerry

As for linebacker, I haven't seen James Lauranitis in many mocks lately(what happened to him?), but if he somehow fell, he would be an absolute steal in the second.

[TheBigAristotle]

Wasn't this guy relevant years ago? He actually played well last year?

[Breaker]

We still don't have a true SLB, beside Thompson, but then again I think the coaches are more focus on speed and quickness then size.

We don't have a position that is in dire needs of upgrading going into the draft. SS, currently, is the only position without a clear-cut starter. Too bad Taylor Mays didn't declare; I'm sure we would've target him heavily if he did.

I don't LB in the 1st is now a total forgone conclusion, but with 8 LBs already at that position, I just can't see us picking one high.

[EddieWasSnubbed]

We don't have a position that is in dire needs of upgrading going into the draft. SS, currently, is the only position without a clear-cut starter. Too bad Taylor Mays didn't declare; I'm sure we would've target him heavily if he did.

I wish there was a clear cut safety that we could pick. Instead, I think we should still stick with the secondary and pick one of the CBs. We should have some good pass rushing, which will make our secondary look tons better, but why not upgrade the secondary while we're at it?

I just don't feel that we need to go LB in the first round. You can get a good linebacker in the second, third, or even fourth round. I would rather draft a receiver like a Percy Harvin in the first round than a linebacker.

I still see us trading down 5 to 8 spaces and picking up an extra pick...

[nWo34Life]

Bargain shopping by the Texans this offseason. Hopefully he becomes a good asset to the team and not end up being a Roosevelt Colvin.

[TheGM]

Decent signing.

[Joe Joe]

Haven't seen much of him in a couple of years, but provided he hasn't been injury ridden, he should be okay.

[STIX]

Never heard of this guy before but, I would guess this is a good signing.

[gucci888]

Nice pickup for the Texans. June along with Smith really gives us the opportunity to go with the best defensive player available rather than having to pick reach to fill needs.

I'd really like to see us pick up Malcom Jenkins if available. He didn't perform as well as expected at the combine and there has been a lot of talk about him moving to a safety position which would fill a big need for us.

[rezdawg]

I'd really like to see us pick up Malcom Jenkins if available. He didn't perform as well as expected at the combine and there has been a lot of talk about him moving to a safety position which would fill a big need for us.

Before the June signing, I was leaning towards LB...but Im really open to anything at this point, as long as its on the defensive side of the ball. I think if I had to go in one direction right now, it would be with Jenkins. He didnt have a good day at the combine, but he has shown on the field that he is a player. I'd be open to having him be either a CB or S, whichever the coaches feel is the best fit.

Im liking this defense more and more...it they can just be average, our offense can take care of the rest.

[sammy]

Never heard of this guy before but, I would guess this is a good signing.

Wow. He's a pretty well-known player.

I like this move. :)

[kpsta]

That his name is Cato worries me, but I can't quite put my finger on why... :confused: :( :mad: Oh, yeah.

[Bruins&RedSox21]

I would REALLY like to think this means no USC linebacker in the 1st round. FS or CB severly needed. Should we trade up for Vontae Davis / Malcolm Jenkins if needed? With June / Ryans / Diles for the starters, I think thats a serviceable LB corps.

[Rookie34]

We add two LBs ... I think it's obvious now, we take a CB or DT as 1st round pick.

Around The Web
Texans agree to terms with LBs June, Davis

Evidently, the Texans liked what they saw in an AFC South rival’s defense.

The Texans have agreed to terms with LBs Cato June and Buster Davis, the Houston Chronicle reports. June will receive a one-year, $1.5 million contract that could reach $2 million, according to the Chronicle, but terms of Davis’ deal weren’t disclosed.

June (2003-06) and Davis (2008) both spent time with the Indianapolis Colts, a division rival of the Texans.

June played the last two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before being released in February in a veteran salary-cap purge. The Chronicle speculates that June will compete with Xavier Adibi for the Texans’ weak-side linebacker job.

http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/04/04/texans-agree-to-terms-with-lbs-june-davis/

[RocketFan007]

June will likely play as a nickel LB, and maybe start at WLB, but I see him more as depth than anything else. Those of you thinking that this means no LB in the first are putting the cart before the horse IMO. We still don't have a strong side LB, and while I'm not high on Cushing, I'd still love for us to trade down a bit and still grab Matthews. I just think that's a much bigger need than CB at this point with Dunta, Reeves, Bennett and Moldin. There's not a DT in that will be available at 15 that's a good fit for us. Raji won't be there, and Jerry is a Okoye clone, we need a 0 technique, not another 3.

[Wooderson]

I like this. Good value for a depth move.

I still think that we're drafting a linebacker in round one, tho. It is still a much more pressing need than CB, and unless Jenkins somehow falls to #15 (which I doubt) then we need to take the best defensive player available. Looking at the options now that still points to LB.

Of course, I am always open to trading down and adding more picks.

[wallyj12]

I remember Davis when he came out of Florida State that year he got draft. They raved about how hard the guy played, I totally forgot about him till now. I guess his small build really caught up to him in the NFL. I doubt he makes the team seeing how I still think we got OLB first round.

[Super Von]

On paper he's a starter. They still need one more LB and a safety. They cannot go into next year with the same safeties as last year.

Im expecting them to draft a LB with the 15th pick.

[david_rocket]

He played very good in Indianapolis, but last year, his numbers dropped, so lets hope it was just a bump, or it was just that he was not adapted to the tampa bay type of defense.

[DieHard Rocket]

On paper he's a starter. They still need one more LB and a safety. They cannot go into next year with the same safeties as last year.

Im expecting them to draft a LB with the 15th pick.

Eugene Wilson and Nick Ferguson are both solid, though not spectacular. They can hold down the fort instead of us reaching on a safety in the draft if we can't get one of good value.

There is a major problem with depth at safety. Dom Barber is a wildcard, and beyond that we don't have much.

[weslinder]

That his name is Cato worries me, but I can't quite put my finger on why... :confused: :( :mad: Oh, yeah.
Are you worried that he'll lead the honest citizens in a failed revolution and then commit suicide?

[gucci888]

Eugene Wilson and Nick Ferguson are both solid, though not spectacular. They can hold down the fort instead of us reaching on a safety in the draft if we can't get one of good value.

There is a major problem with depth at safety. Dom Barber is a wildcard, and beyond that we don't have much.

Wilson was a nice suprise last season. There isn't an elite safety prospect in this draft but there should a couple nice prospects available in the 2nd round.

Louis Delmas, William Moore, Rashard Johnson, and Patrick Chung would all be good picks in the 2nd IMO. Chung is the only SS in that group and he'd fit in nicely to our secondary.

[Chamillionaire]

why would we need to draft another LB, we just signed 2. we need a safety, a second receiver, and a more help at the offensive line. there are about 4 OT prospects, i say we snatch one of them up with the 15 and draft a LB with a later pick.

[rezdawg]

why would we need to draft another LB, we just signed 2. we need a safety, a second receiver, and a more help at the offensive line. there are about 4 OT prospects, i say we snatch one of them up with the 15 and draft a LB with a later pick.

So you are suggesting that we spend our 1st round pick on an OT when we spent last years 1st on our left OT and while we have an awesome one at right OT? All this because we just signed 2 very average LBs?

A 2nd receiver? The receiving corp is arguably the biggest strength of this team.

The last thing this team needs to do is spend any high picks in areas that are already relative strengths. We need a DT, LB, CB/S, and RB...not necessarily in that order.

[Summer Song Giver]

So you are suggesting that we spend our 1st round pick on an OT when we spent last years 1st on our left OT and while we have an awesome one at right OT? All this because we just signed 2 very average LBs?

A 2nd receiver? The receiving corp is arguably the biggest strength of this team.

The last thing this team needs to do is spend any high picks in areas that are already relative strengths. We need a DT, LB, CB/S, and RB...not necessarily in that order.


I agree if one of the big 4 OTs are there you have to think about it. I also agree that if one of the miracles of modern medicine from USC are there you consider them (Cushing, Matthews) although it kind of sickens me to say it.

I'd also consider Jenkins and Davis at CB along with Beanie Wells as the big back compliment to Slaton. Lastly if the the pothead DT falls to us he'd also be a consideration.

[msn]

So you are suggesting that we spend our 1st round pick on an OT when we spent last years 1st on our left OT and while we have an awesome one at right OT?... A 2nd receiver?

The last thing this team needs to do is spend any high picks in areas that are already relative strengths.
How freaking encouraging is it that someone, with presumably a straight face, has referred to our O-line as "already" a "relative strength"?

Nice!

[No Worries]

why would we need to draft another LB, we just signed 2. we need a safety, a second receiver, and a more help at the offensive line.
The general reasoning behind drafting a LB with #15 is

Defense was rated one of the worse in the league last year
Offense was rated one of the best
Texans will draft with #15 the BPA on defense
At #15 that player will likely be a LB

The Texans will likely take the BPA on defense in the second round as well.

BTW, neither of the two LBs, that the Texans just signed, are heading to the Pro Bowl next year, while hopefully the #15 will eventually.

[the futants]

Having a linebacker familiar with Peyton Manning's shenanigans can't be a bad thing.

[MacLovin]

I'm a Bucs fan, so maybe I can offer some insight about June. He really didn't have a chance to put up the same numbers here as he did in Indy with Brooks and Ruud playing alongside him (they would gobble up most of the tackles) but no Bucs fans ever thought he really played poorly. Everyone was surprised by the release, I think he just doesn't fit into what our new regime wants to do. Plus, like someone else mentioned, we moved him to SLB because we already had Brooks at WLB, so maybe a switch back to his original position will be good for him.

I'm also a FSU fan (and student), I was surprised that Davis didn't catch on in the league. He's small but he was always the most physical and active player on our defense. I think he was every FSU fan's favorite player, I really hope he catches on with you guys.

[Fulgore]

I wonder if theTexans would draft Jenkins and move him to FS. Guys on NFL network said he will likely play FS rather than CB because of his 4.6 time in the 40. With the signing of Cato June our safety position needs more help than OLB.

[Chamillionaire]

So you are suggesting that we spend our 1st round pick on an OT when we spent last years 1st on our left OT and while we have an awesome one at right OT? All this because we just signed 2 very average LBs?

A 2nd receiver? The receiving corp is arguably the biggest strength of this team.

The last thing this team needs to do is spend any high picks in areas that are already relative strengths. We need a DT, LB, CB/S, and RB...not necessarily in that order.

we've been drafting DT's, and i think we're fine there. i don't see a glaring need, but a legit CB (jenkins) or a safety in the second or third round would be nice. i think june still has a lot in the tank and will be our starting weakside linebacker.

slaton did a fine job, and we can draft one later in the draft.

i think we need to improve our offensive line, more depth, more athletes.

[Chamillionaire]

plus beanie wells reminds me a lot of stewart from carolina, if wells can run like him, then he might be worth the 15th pick or we trade down, get him and another pick.