You get the salary cap room in 2013 regardless if you cut him after the season. So given that, it really is that simple...you're weighing depth with Demeco in 2012 vs. a 2012 4th round pick.
This. In listening to callers and internet posters, one would think that the first game of the 2012 season is in 2 weeks.
What is the deadline for "cap rollover" when cutting/trading players? Edit: found it, June 1st... if we let him play out the season, we'd be screwed on the cap hit for 2013.
Salary cap relief is salary cap relief. I don't know how you can overlook that. If we took a $2 mil hit this season but save 9 next year, that's a cap win. You can't overlook that or discount it. And it's not the same as just trading him next season. Ryans has 4 years remaining on his contract - the trade means that his bonus which had been spread out through the long contract in terms of cap hit, now counts all against us in one lump sum. That hit is then deducted from the savings from his salary, meaning less of a savings this year but we're free and clear of his contract for next season. On the other hand, trade the guy next year and you get the same bonus accelerating cap hit next year, meaning that you probably take a loss or save very little next year in that scenario. It doesn't result in the same benefit, not at all. You need 2013 savings if you want to keep your left tackle, who actually does still play at an All-Pro level, and your starting QB. Depth at LB is a luxury that can be filled in the draft easier than replacing those guys.
Yeah Max, I think the guys on the radio this morning were missing this point which was odd. They seemed to understand that if you cut/trade a guy you take a prorated cap hip for the signing bonus owed, but made it sound like it would only happen in 2012. Unless there's something I'm not seeing, this same thing would happen if you did this next year. Then you'd be screwed because you need to make moves next offseason. This move was about Duane Brown in my opinion. They don't want to be in position with him they were with Mario.
Actually, you're suppose to always be able to reload your depth through the draft. We got an extra 4th round pick and a higher 3rd rounder. If the Texans scout well, one of those picks should be an ILB that can pick up the slack. I personally always advocate letting players go at positions you're good at developing. The Texans seem to be able to develop players well at LB, OL, TE, and RB. So I don't mind that they let players go at these positions. The Texans also seem to suck at drafting receivers and DBs. So it might not be a bad idea to use whatever money they have to get one or two on the FA market.
You're talking about a veteran linebacker with a bloated contract that played in just 58% of snaps last season and is coming off a torn Achilles. Can you please show me a comparable player that got more return than a fourth-round pick and swap of thirds? Thanks in advance.
Slightly off topic, but isn't it kind of sad that you have to know this kind of stuff to be a pro sports fan these days?
There's this thing called a salary cap. You might want to look it up. If you want to keep a good team together, you can't take a $9 mil cap hit for a part-time, aging linebacker. That would be lunacy. This is what good teams do. Shed overpriced veterans, and replace via quality drafting. The Texans now have five picks in the first four rounds. Use them well, much like Watt and Reed a year ago, and you can be just fine with your linebacker and OT depth.
on a different note, Wade's interview on texans all access was pretty epic. That with a full off season, he will be able to implement more wade awesomeness. This is one man that is untouchable! cannot lose this guy!http://houston.cbslocal.com/2012/03/20/wade-we-just-want-to-draft-good-players/
Just got to posting this. Heard it last night but wasn't able to follow up...and i'm still unclear on all the details but it seems that 1. Texans did alright for themselves by moving up in the 3rd and getting and early 4th round pick. I know people expect more but that's just not how the NFL works. When a player makes a lot of money it actually tends to lower what draft pick he's worth. 2. It seems that although the texans do take a short term cap hit this year they make a bigger gain next year, which is huge if true. As much as people want to focus on this year, you have to make room for Brown and Barwin. I hate to see DeMeco leave and I'm still a bit surprised by it to some extent. I understand why but I still in shock a little...mostly because he was one of my favorite players on the team and the guy was just awesome off and on the field. I've been a Sharpton believer for a while so hopefully he can return because I do think he can give you quality play at the same position.
It is amazing how little some fans value moving up 13 spots in the 3rd round of the NFL draft.....That alone may be equal to what DeMeco's value to the CURRENT Texans roster and scheme is. Throwing in a high 4th round pick was a bonus probably due to DeMeco's reputation. His injury is up there with other Houston sports tragedy's and he will surely be missed as a leader and a mentor, but to call this trade the worst move of the offseason is completely absurd.
When you look at our moves in a vacuum, 1 at a time... like this: we lose Ryans we lose Allen we lose Williams we lose Brisel we lose Winston we lose Leinart etc... case-by-case yes, I see the positive. But when you add them all up. Realize those moves don't free-up caproom this year, take into account your team is on the cusp and is doing nothing to get better this year -- that kind of hurts.
and they draw a gut reaction from fans when they don't see any moves in the other direction. not saying that's fair...but just reality.
Give it time. They do free up cap room this year - at least not re-signing the likes of Williams, Brisiel, Allen, etc. - by not putting you completely up against the wall. How many times have we praised an April or May signing from a team like, say, New England, of a free agent that slipped through the cracks? I think case by case is the only fair way to look at an offseason until May or June, when you know who your draft picks are and 95% of late-signing free agents have committed. There's still much to be determined on what the 2012 roster is.
Be careful. You're trying to use logic on an internet forum. You could hurt someone with that. DeMeco was one of my favorite Texans from the moment he got drafted. Unfortunately, he got hurt and is clearly not the same player any more...add that to a very expensive contract and you get to where we are now. Bad teams are the ones that try to hold on to these guys for their leadership but they end up killing them on the field. The team proved it could remain very successful without Mario and DeMeco this past season. Good move, IMO. I still get to root for him as an Eagle and the Texans get an extra pick and move up on the other. What's not to like?