http://www.houstontexans.com/news/news_detail.php?PRKey=1895 Tough cut By Nick Schenck HoustonTexans.com For Dom Capers, the anticipation of each ensuing season is tempered by the difficult personnel moves he must make before the two roster deadlines. This year is no different. On Monday, one day before the league-wide cut to 65 players, Capers made one of the toughest decisions of his coaching career when he released veteran tight end Billy Miller. “Billy has been with us since the very beginning,” Capers said. “He’s represented everything that we’ve talked about from the standpoint of work ethic and attitude. I don’t know that he’s ever missed a workout. He caught the first touchdown pass in the history of the Texans. Those are always tough, tough moves.” Capers met with Miller today and gave him the news. While the team isn’t obligated to release players until Tuesday, Capers wanted to give Miller as much of a chance as possible to join another club before the final 53-man rosters are determined on Sept. 4. “It’s one of the tougher decisions we’ve had to make because you have such strong feelings about Billy and the kind of team guy he has been,” Capers said. “We wish him well and hope that he has an opportunity to catch on with another team.” Miller entered the league as a wide receiver when the Denver Broncos selected him in the seventh round (218th overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft out of the University of Southern California. He joined the Texans in 2002 as a free agent tight end and ended up leading the team with 51 catches for 613 yards (12.0 avg.) and three touchdowns during the inaugural season. The following year, Miller again scored three touchdowns on 40 catches for 355 yards (8.9 avg.). Last season, Miller totaled 17 receptions for 178 yards (10.5 avg.) with one touchdown. With Miller’s departure, the Texans have five tight ends on the roster, including Mark Bruener, Matt Murphy, Marcellus Rivers, rookie free agent Aaron Halterman and Bennie Joppru, who is injured. Capers noted that he has been pleased with the play of Murphy, who scored his first preseason touchdown on a 31-yard pass from Tony Banks against Denver. “Our offense has changed a little bit in terms of our expectations of the tight end position,” Capers said. “Matt Murphy is a little bit bigger guy and he has done well in the preseason. Matt has been around here and certainly has improved since he has been here.” The Texans also released wide receiver LaTarence Dunbar on Monday.
He will always be remembered for the first TD in a regular season game against the Cowgirls. Good Luck Billy
IMO, he was a very underutilized player last year in the offense. Teams easily forget that a tight end with good hands can really spread the field, especially when used up the seam. He may have been one dimentional in his lack of blocking skills, but Bruener was a downgrade to me.
Unfortunately, the emergence of Johnson, and Davis as a an out of the backfield option left little use for Miller. His lack of blocking was just too much of a liability considering the state of our offensive line.
So does the Kasper and Pitts cuts mean Sloan Thomas is probably going to make the team? Who else does he have to beat out if they are going to carry 5-7 receivers? Starling was also released as well. So I know that's one less. Johnson Bradford Mathis Gaffney Armstrong maybe Sloan if they keep 6?????
I think its going to be Johnson,Bradford,Swinton,Mathis,Gaffney, and Armstrong. Thomas may stick on the practice squad.
After the last two preseason games, I don't think Sloan Thomas would make it on the practice squad. Someone will sign him.
He can't block period...Having said that, A TE with good hands is always needed...IMO, this makes defending Houston a lot easier as you know the TE is just another lineman...