You're missing my point. The "change" can happen without changing actual ownership. It's a change in attitude. When I first started a dental practice, I was lenient and let a lot of things slide. The business didn't grow like it should have. With my second practice, I changed the way I ran things, and it has grown above expectations. How you run a business determines it's ultimate success. All it takes is for Bob or Cal to wake up one day, say "**** this ****", and do whatever it takes to bring in a QB (or whatever else would be needed to make this team a contender). If that means spending multiple first round picks to get a quality QB, so be it. Now, as far as OB is concerned, its okay for McNair to let him do his thing, but another year or two, max, of this patty cake action with QBs without getting results, then it will be time to cut the cord and move onto someone that won't come here without significant resources being spent to bring in a QB. So no, we don't need new ownership, we just need winning to become more of an urgency for these guys at the top. It may or may not happen, but as a fan, I have to remain hopeful that they will finally understand the importance of a QB.
What would they do? Call in even MORE to sports radio to complain? Would they burn copies of the Hard Knocks DVD on Kirby? BOB hears what the media pesters him about.... and he's gotten quite good about not answering any question he doesn't want to.
The whole city being against them would be a distraction, even if you don't acknowledge it. It could also cause some locker room division.
So you want him to be more of a hands-on owner? Neuter the coach he hired to build the program? Or even better, be like Jerry Jones and put in a yes-man coach to do whatever he wants? (as it takes even longer to build a consistent winner in Dallas than it has in Houston). Who do you feel they should have gotten as QB? Bridgewater? Manziel? It obvious that's the only chance they had to upgrade the position and they "didn't" do it then.
In what form will the "whole city be against them"? Protests outside Reliant? Texans stock exchange dropping precipitously? The Stay Puft Marshmallow man stepping on Reliant? The traveling Texans crew in Charlotte refuses to take the group picture they always do? Hell, the locker room already likely knows who the starter is.
I get it, you don't understand the distractions that an angry fanbase can cause, as such we should just end the conversation here because there's a fundamental disagreement that cannot be bridged.
I just stated for McNair to let OB do his thing for a few years…but when its time to cut the cord, cut the ****ing cord…instead of letting it linger 3-4 extra years. And get a GM that is actually a GM…because part of the problem here is that the coaches get too much power. They're paid to coach, not to evaluate players. Again, give OB his chance, but if 2-3 drafts go by and we see that not much progress is being made…move on. As far as QB…we had the opportunity to get Foles. And Bradford was on the market too. As far as the draft, I don't hold it against teams for not trading up to get a player…so I don't hold it against the Texans for not getting Bridgewater. They could have had Carr. The point is that you HAVE to take chances to bring in a QB that could win you games. Bringing Hoyer in is just a worthless move and makes no sense. Fitz was a better option.
He didn't let it linger with Capers/Casserly... he waited it out for Kubiak who ended up building decent enough playoff teams. Did you just start watching the NFL? You want to get a high profile college coach or coordinator, you better damn well be prepared for them to want the final say in personnel. Parcells put it best. You want them to cook the dinner, you better damn well be prepared for them to shop for some of the groceries as well. Huh? They were traded... for each other! Hell, why not just complain about them not trading up for Winston or Mariota... or some other make-believe scenario. Ok... so you wanted them to use the first pick of the 2nd round on Carr... not saying it would have been terrible (especially given the nothing that XSF is offering), but if THAT is where your ire stems from... that they didn't use a 2nd round pick on Derek Carr... then that is where your ire stems from. But Fitz was also not "taking chances"... he was the Hoyer of last year's FA class. This is all just one big Hoyer rant, I see.
I get that the fans believe they're creating distractions by discussing things on an internet message board. I just want you to tell me what actual physical distractions the team will face, other than the endless questions from the media (which they'll get about this situation regardless of whether or not a starter is named).
Exactly the fanbase would be livid. Some are getting impatient with the way this organization is ran.
If you wait it out long enough, any regime will eventually make the playoffs. A broken clock is right twice a day. Look at the Ravens and Steelers and Seahawks and Packers…do their coaches make the final calls? They have GMs that make the majority of moves for those teams. Sure, coaches have input, but it's the GMs that actually scout and make decisions. Does Elway do what Fox or Kubiak want? No, he doesn't give a ****. Does Steve Kelm defer to the coaches? Very, very little. The Texans have a "GM" that doesn't scout and doesn't know how to manage the salary cap….BUT, he's the godfather of Cal's son, so lets keep him around instead of bringing in someone that can actually do the job they've been assigned. And before the Foles/Bradford trade, Foles was on the market and the Texans were linked to him. A first round pick would have definitely been enough to bring him in. The Eagles were willing to depart from him bc he didn't fit exactly what Chip wanted. He was available to us, but we failed to make the move. And the point regarding Carr is that you have to take your chances on a highly valued QB coming out of college. Dont wait until the 4th round to take one…whats the point of that? Take one in the first few rounds. The Texans are waiting for a QB to fall into their laps….and that's the most idiotic approach. Not sure how you don't see that.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Watching starting QBs Kaep & Bridge sail several high balls, funny how Mallett killed for coming off the bench, going 80%, then sails 2.</p>— Jayson Braddock (@JaysonBraddock) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaysonBraddock/status/643620902601490432">September 15, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The GM needs at least to bring a fresh point of view to the table. You'll never succeed with a bunch of yes men around you, people who just repeat the company line without contributing a single piece of insight. That's all we saw Rick Smith capable of doing on Hard Knocks. He just regurgitated whatever opinion O'Brien had, regardless of context or situation.
If you're just now realizing that Rick Smith was never brought in to be an actual GM, I'm not sure you're really following all that closely. As far as your other teams, Harbaugh and Carroll have a VERY big say in personnel and other members of the coaching staff. Mike McCarthy has chosen not to... but he's almost virtually the exact type of coach you seem to dislike in Kubiak (a great coordinator/play-caller). Pure conjecture and made-up possibilities. Did you really want Foles at that price? Is that the big gamble you'd like McNair to take? Hell, even Schaub only cost a 2nd and 3rd. Like Johnny Manziel, or Jake Locker. or EJ Manuel, or Christian Ponder, or Blaine Gabbert, or Geno Smith, or Brandon Weeden? Again, you have to look at the specific player... can't just take "anybody" there and expect them to work out because you happened to use an early pick on them. I presume BOB knew the college QB's that year better than most... only player he was directly linked to liking was Jimmy G, and would have cost them the first pick in the 2nd round (much higher than anybody had him rated).
Anybody else watching Kapernick vs. Bridgewater? Man, this is such an exciting QB matchup... and the future of the NFL... I'm surprised they didn't sell it on PPV???!!!?
It's shocking that an offense can look THAT bad with the deadliest RB in the NFL, the Vikings really need to think about spending a pick on a franchise QB.
Peterson aint the deadliest RB in the NFL... you may need to get that part of your brain re-calibrated as its a little off. Agreed on Bridgewater though... hell, if he can get as good as Kapernick, that would be something... even if Colin is actually not the revolutionary QB that everybody thought he was just 1 year ago.