That's unfreakingreal. He seriously needs to stop taking advice from his uncle and just keep a real agent on retainer.
[rQUOTEr]Before OTAs and minicamp, star wide receiver Andre Johnson told the Houston Texans he had heard enough from the new staff and coach Bill O'Brien to make him want to show up and join the team. He told them of his plans to be there for offseason workouts, despite missing the early portion of it. The question revolved around his $1 million bonus for attending workouts. Though Johnson had missed some of the sessions, he wanted to earn his money back by working out extra, allowing him to receive the money. The Texans told him no, per two sources informed of the situation. That furthered the divide between Johnson and the Texans, driving a wedge between the parties. That caused Johnson to tell them he wanted to play for another team. He is now working out, "not thinking about the Texans," a source said. The Texans have not yet been willing to trade him. As he has expressed publicly, Johnson believes the team is rebuilding, and he has said he has doubts about if he wants to take part in another similar process, as he has several times in his career. Johnson has also restructured his contract in each of the past three years at the team's behest, and he wants the same goodwill from the Texans regarding his $1 million roster bonus that he could earn Week 1 if he participates in offseason workouts and fulfills his contract. The Texans declined to comment on the story, and Johnson's agent Kennard McGuire did not return a call for comment. Johnson told NFL Media on Wednesday that he didn't know if he'll be with the Texans on Week 1. Asked if he'd be at camp, Johnson said "hopefully" but he didn't know for sure. Johnson is set to earn $10 million this year, not including his workout bonus. The Texans have resisted his request for a trade thus far, though four teams have expressed interest. Meanwhile, one veteran Texans player said while the team wants Johnson to play with them in 2014, they've also told him from a business sense, "Stick to your guns." One possible option for the team to resolve this standoff (if they refuse to trade him) is to guarantee he's on the roster for 2015. That might bring Johnson back. They also could simply decide to pay him his $1 million bonus. Or, they could stand their ground and he'll play for no one in 2014. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap20...s-standoff-over-1m-bonus?campaign=Twitter_atl[/rQUOTEr]
I'd offer him a conditional guarantee (and a chance to recoup his $1MM) for 2015 based on his performance/health for 2014. If he's working out on his own and in good shape, he'll make back his $1MM. If he pulls up lame with a hamstring or groin injury, that's on him. Also, make it team-oriented to hammer home the message that BO'B has been preaching and let's get this whole ordeal behind us.
So AJ who is a Texans all time great asked for his million back and he'll come back and the Texans said no Smh. Great job Texans.
I think the issue is that neither side wants to budge. The new administration doesn't want to come off as soft and Andre doesn't want to look like a total moron. All of this was so easily avoidable if Andre just showed up for the damn workouts instead of being a distraction.
Just wondering... if he continues to hold out.. what happens? if he doesnt show up to games and practice and such? At what point is he "retired" or whatever? when could another team just pick him up? and what would that mean to our cap or what we owe him? Just wondering how much damage he could do or if there will come a time where we will have the advantage or whatever
I wish I could just take off from work and then come back later and ask to get paid anyway. His previous standing with the team shouldn't matter when it comes to bonus money. Dre created this situation by not showing up (knowing he was losing that money), whatever happens I hope it works out for both parties.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Andre Johnson's options are: 1. Be fined $10K a day till you cave. 2. Pull a Carson Palmer retirement. 3. Or really retire. Few options.</p>— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/OmarKelly/statuses/487266400965115905">July 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Remember: Trading Andre Johnson would leave Texans with $11.96M in dead money against '14 cap <a href="http://t.co/1iqM9SJj9u">http://t.co/1iqM9SJj9u</a></p>— NFL: AroundTheLeague (@NFL_ATL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL_ATL/statuses/487265273506824192">July 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Possible solution for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a>, considering Andre Johnson wanted to show up at 1 time: Guarantee he’s on roster for ’15. Can retire a Texan</p>— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/statuses/487260748540690432">July 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
He could retire at any time, but it wouldn't make his contract go away, he'd always have a couple years left where his NFL rights belonged to the Texans even if he retired and came back in a year. You can't temporarily retire to get out of a contract.
No, I get that. I'm saying reasonable parties can come to an agreement by not being so entrenched in their positions. If the Texans are worried about being soft, they can always play the AJ card (i.e. have the career he had then we'll talk) or structure it in a way where it is all about the team and their performance/goals to set a new precedent. Just get it done. We want them to be all about football come Training Camp. Need more Happy 'Dre before he switches into Beast Mode aka Angry 'Dre once the season starts!!
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Andre Johnson's ongoing dispute with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> is about much, much more than a $1 million workout bonus. Window dressing.</p>— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronBrianSmith/statuses/487271336838848512">July 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Always two sides (or more) to every story and, right now, media-shy Andre Johnson is winning public media battle vs. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a>.</p>— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronBrianSmith/statuses/487271625725714433">July 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Andre Johnson wants compensation for everything he's "given" rebuilding Texans. That was the story months ago. Little has changed since then</p>— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronBrianSmith/statuses/487272358101536768">July 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I think AJ80 has been the only one talking. BO'B only said he respects AJ80, and we haven't heard anything from Rick Smith or Bob McNair. Weak take by Brian T. Smith.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Andre Johnson is guaranteed about 10.5 of the 45.3 left on the last 3 years. Not too hard to figure out what the issue is. Guarantees.</p>— PDS (@PatDStat) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatDStat/statuses/487272485407047681">July 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Yup, it was always obvious this whole issue was a contract dispute and you can't give in if you are the Texans. It sends a really bad precedent.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Taking a look at the teams that would, could, should be interested in Andre Johnson <a href="http://t.co/oO2MyEp4eO">http://t.co/oO2MyEp4eO</a></p>— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProFootballTalk/statuses/487273785213849600">July 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
LOL. "Given". Um, yeah. Actually, the Texans are the only ones who have actually done any favors up to this point. They gave him a fat contract after his stupid uncle screwed up his first big extension. When has AJ done something above and beyond for the Texans? Sorry bro, but we're not going to pay you based on what you did, especially when it was part of your day-to-day duties, and ESPECIALLY when we're in the middle of a reboot. If I'm the Texans, I hold firm on this. Let him sit out the year unless someone offers you a Moss/Gonzalez level deal for him. Cut him next year and let him try to negotiate that fat contract after taking a year off and see how it goes.
the situation sucks and I certainly understand AJ's apprehensions as well as the texans not yielding. I'm not going to take sides on who is right or wrong, but boy, some of you sound like jilted exes.
