Spot on, and you can say the same about Kareem Jackson. The franchise is about making money. I won't be surprised when they come out this coming season and stink it up, and they won't be surprised that I turn off the television and never come back.
Bernard says it himself -- the trend in the league with the 3-4 defense is having interchangeable safeties (IE two guys that can cover). You don't really see any good 3-4 defenses that have an exclusively "inside the box" safety. http://www.1560thegame.com/media/ I don't think it will be easy to find another starter, because we have proven through the years that we suck at secondary evaluation, but Bernard is not indispensable by a long shot.
[rquoter]After agreeing to terms with tight end Owen Daniels on a four year, $22 million contract that included $6 million guaranteed, the Texans have signed running back Derrick Ward to a one-year deal, a person familiar with the situation said Thursday. In his first season with the Texans, Ward averaged 6.3 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns behind starter Arian Foster, who led the NFL in rushing.[/rquoter] http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl...(chron.com+-+Top+Stories)&utm_content=Twitter
Right..and what I'm saying is that I have very little faith this group will go find an adequate replacement. I'm not saying Pollard is indispensable...I'm saying he's the best safety in this franchise's history (no matter how sad that is) and I doubt seriously they'll truly upgrade.
I think if we ran with Troy Nolan and another safety that has better cover skills than BP (which should not be hard to find considering how poor his cover skills were this year), we will be better off. Focus on improving the pass defense, and worry about the luxury of a blitzing safety later. I know we all have little faith in the front office, but if they can't find a better cover safety than Pollard that might just be the death of them, because he is well below average in coverage.
Think they'll either move GQ to safety or make a strong push for Eric Weddle who played under Wade in San Diego to pair with Nolan. Of course, that means they really, REALLY need KJ to take a huge stride in 2011 and they need another starting CB.
Exactly. If you want a good example you can look at Gerald Sensabaugh who Wade had in Dallas and is a free agent. He would be a much better fit for what Wade does.
Yes. I think based on his 5 years, he should be one of the people who should have had unrestricted free agency last year but didn't because the CBA expired like Owen Daniels. That is, he will be unless the players get screwed and free agency is made 6 years again.
Oh, come on, emjohn: He quit on his head coach and teammates. You can try and rationalize that however you want but its not going to change what he did. You don't want guys like that in your locker room, especially with a young secondary around him.
But if full free agency returns to 4 years as it did for the last CBA (I think the players even want to push it down to 3), that won't mean anything. It is a lot like the franchise tags at this point - the tenders are made based on the CBA that has expired as a "just in case", not the system that is being negotiated now. Unless the NFLPA totally caves, he will be unrestricted. That having been said, I think if they spend big money on any free agent, it will be a corner. I don't think they're going to drop $7 or $8 million per for a safety. Keep in mind there will be a salary cap again, and the owners have dug their heals in and are adamant that it be smaller than the last one. The Texans have too many other holes to fill to drop that kind of cash on a safety when they need two starting safetys, at least one starting corner, one starting OLB, and probably a starting NT.
If this hapless franchise upgrades the position, than I'm fine with it, but to pretend that this is addition by subtraction when we're talking about a Hall of Fail defense and a guy that still tallied well over 100 tackles is stupid to me. What he did wasn't on the same planet as the Pay Me Rick business. Far worse happens every season to every team. This is also the same guy that publicly leaned on his younger teammates NOT to mail in the season because a new coaching staff wouldn't necessarily want to keep them around. I'm taking your word(s) that he Tracy McGrady'ed week 17, but I think it's over the top to make him out to be a cancer. To clarify (seeing as this forum LOVES to make any debate radically bipolar): I'm NOT saying Pollard is a star SS that we have to hold onto I'd LOVE to see them upgrade SS I agree Pollard blows in coverage I don't have optimism that this franchise is going to install 3 new capable starters in the secondary, given their history. I'd rather try and retain Pollard on the cheap on a one year deal to at least have fringe starting safeties (BP+Nolan) in hand - add a top shelf safety (cover or strong) and you've got a good rotation. There aren't safety prospects in this draft that look like opening day starters....and I just don't see the Texans pursuing, paying, getting two starting caliber safeties in free agency, especially not this coming one. I hope the Texans shock me and the world and sweep through the offseason and revitalize this D. But that goes against everything I've seen in the 9 sad sack years of this franchise.
McClain_on_NFL Shaun Cody signed a two-year, $5.75 million contract with $1.5 million guaranteed. Cody and second-year DT Earl Mitchell will move to NT. Phillips likes both of them, especially Mitchell, a 3rd-round pick last season And there you have you're starting nose tackle for next yearso those looking for one or an upgrade, I'm sorry to disappoint you.
When Rodgers wasn't even looked at as an option, I figured they'd go this route. As long as they upgrade their other glaring holes on defense, I'm okay with this.
