HOUSTON (Ticker) - Mark Bruener, the starting tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers for eight years before losing his job last season, signed as a free agent with the Houston Texans on Monday. Terms were not disclosed. Bruener was a first-round pick of the Steelers in 1995 and was a starter before injuries forced him to lose his job to Jay Riemersma last season. He had just two catches for 12 yards in 2003. The 31-year-old Bruener has a reputation as a dependable blocker and has 137 catches for 1,197 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has appeared in 125 NFL games and started 108. As a rookie, he started in Super Bowl XXX against the Dallas Cowboys. Not sure what, if any, impact this has. I wonder if they're worried about last years 2nd rounder, Bennie Jopru.
I don't get the Texans infatuation with TEs. We had Billy Miller lead the team in receptions (and score their first TD too, if i'm not mistaken), then we went and drafted Jabari Holloway and Bennie Joppru. Now we sign yet another TE, even though in all likelihood, he won't even see significant playing time. I guess instead of trying to shore up the OL, they want to get blocking TEs so DD can just run it to the outside?
At least get your info right. Jabari Holloway was a fe signing after released by the Pats. Also, Miller is a converted WR. He can't block to save his life.
I've got a tight end, Maybe the Texans will sign me. anyone care to list the multitude of tight ends we now have on the roster?
Could have done without that one. We now have... Bruener Miller Joppru Holloway Rashod Kent I imagine that at least one of these guys (most likely Kent) will not be on the active roster or with the team at all next season.
I agree it will probably be Kent that doesn't make it, but I have been hearing how much talent he has and how it will burn us in the future.
Yeah, I don't get their infatuation with TE's either. You have your TE lead the team in receptions in year one, so then you consequently go and draft another offensive TE (and too early many will say). Then you sign free agent TE's who are basically just blockers. What the hell Texans?
You forgot Seth Wand. He started two games at TE this year. I think the Texans got Bruerer because they want to run jumbo packages, but other teams don't take Seth Wand serious as a receiver. I expect to see him contribute to three offensive plays a game.
That's because Wand is not a receiver. He is an offensive tackle who played TE because of injuries and certain packages. If you believe what John McClain says, Wand has a shot to be the starting LT to open up the season, with Pitts moving over to LG. He seemed to insinuate such a few weeks ago.
When I heard he visisted, I was like, why? Now that he's here, I'm still like, why? But a good blocker is what J was for, our future TE...
Bruener is among the best blocking tight ends in the game. I expect him to share te duties with Miller just as Holloway did this year. Remember the Texans do run quite a few plays out of the double tight end set and he will be very useful in that.
