nWo34Life
04-28-2005, 10:25 AM
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3157956
Payne, Carr view recent moves as business lesson
By JOSEPH DUARTE
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
The aftershocks of a busy offseason are being felt, if not heard, at Reliant Park.
"This is the first year the team has had to make some very tough decisions," nose tackle Seth Payne said Wednesday night before the inaugural Houston Football Dinner at the JW Marriott. "If there was anybody on this team that didn't realize the reality of life in the NFL, they do now. I don't think (the Texans' front office) was trying to send a message, but a message got sent. No job is safe."
In the past six weeks, the defensive unit has endured the brunt of the offseason moves with a drastic makeover that included the departure of four starters from a year ago.
Inside linebacker Jay Foreman and strong safety Eric Brown were the first to be released in mid-March, and leading tackler Jamie Sharper was granted his release April 1.
The latest casualty was former Pro Bowl cornerback Aaron Glenn, who was released Tuesday and signed a two-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys a day later.
The message: the honeymoon is over after the Texans finished 4-12, 5-11 and 7-9 in their first three seasons.
Glenn, an 11-year veteran, became expendable after the Texans orchestrated a pre-draft trade to acquire Phillip Buchanon from the Oakland Raiders. More than anything, Texans players attending Wednesday's banquet to honor the area's top high school, college and pro football talent said Glenn's presence as a team leader would be felt the most.
"You just can't replace experience like that," quarterback David Carr said. "You can't replace a guy like that. You can try and do the things he did and try and lead by example, but there's no way you can replace him."
Carr said this is the business side of the NFL he rarely has seen in his pro career.
"(Aaron) told me this happens to everyone," Carr said. "He was really down to earth about it. Just the way he handled things, the class that he showed, didn't shock me at all. Aaron Glenn is one of my good friends. Ever since I've been here he's been great for me as far as a leader. He's been a guy I could look up to and see how to do things."
Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson (Texans' Most Valuable Player), cornerback Dunta Robinson (Texans' Rookie of the Year), Carr (Mickey Herskowitz Award) and Payne (Ed Block Courage Award and the Spirit of the Bull Award) were honored at the banquet, sponsored by EV1.net in conjunction with the Touchdown Club of Houston.
Payne, Carr view recent moves as business lesson
By JOSEPH DUARTE
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
The aftershocks of a busy offseason are being felt, if not heard, at Reliant Park.
"This is the first year the team has had to make some very tough decisions," nose tackle Seth Payne said Wednesday night before the inaugural Houston Football Dinner at the JW Marriott. "If there was anybody on this team that didn't realize the reality of life in the NFL, they do now. I don't think (the Texans' front office) was trying to send a message, but a message got sent. No job is safe."
In the past six weeks, the defensive unit has endured the brunt of the offseason moves with a drastic makeover that included the departure of four starters from a year ago.
Inside linebacker Jay Foreman and strong safety Eric Brown were the first to be released in mid-March, and leading tackler Jamie Sharper was granted his release April 1.
The latest casualty was former Pro Bowl cornerback Aaron Glenn, who was released Tuesday and signed a two-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys a day later.
The message: the honeymoon is over after the Texans finished 4-12, 5-11 and 7-9 in their first three seasons.
Glenn, an 11-year veteran, became expendable after the Texans orchestrated a pre-draft trade to acquire Phillip Buchanon from the Oakland Raiders. More than anything, Texans players attending Wednesday's banquet to honor the area's top high school, college and pro football talent said Glenn's presence as a team leader would be felt the most.
"You just can't replace experience like that," quarterback David Carr said. "You can't replace a guy like that. You can try and do the things he did and try and lead by example, but there's no way you can replace him."
Carr said this is the business side of the NFL he rarely has seen in his pro career.
"(Aaron) told me this happens to everyone," Carr said. "He was really down to earth about it. Just the way he handled things, the class that he showed, didn't shock me at all. Aaron Glenn is one of my good friends. Ever since I've been here he's been great for me as far as a leader. He's been a guy I could look up to and see how to do things."
Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson (Texans' Most Valuable Player), cornerback Dunta Robinson (Texans' Rookie of the Year), Carr (Mickey Herskowitz Award) and Payne (Ed Block Courage Award and the Spirit of the Bull Award) were honored at the banquet, sponsored by EV1.net in conjunction with the Touchdown Club of Houston.