Is there someone else the Texans are looking to restructure? Perhaps this is a message to those players and agents - take the deal.
Clemons can play free safety. The Dolphins played a lot of 2 deep safety. So even though he lined up on the strong side of the field most of the time, he was in coverage a lot and didn't spend a lot of time in the box playing the run. Bill Polian said he can play either position. At this time, you have to think that Clemons is the favorite to start at FS with Swearinger at SS. Kendrick Lewis was also KC's starting FS.
It only makes sense to restructure other deals if you have something in mind for this season. Restructuring does nothing but push money into future years, so it doesnt really solve any issues for the Texans, just makes it worse. Maybe the cap saving by cutting Manning has to do with something the Texans are planning on draft day. Maybe they are willing to trade for a player that has a cap hit around 4-6 million. No idea who that could be, but just trying to figure out what the Texans are doing here.
That's not necessarily true. A restructure can include a paycut, as the deal with Manning was supposed to be.
I think you can take cap space you saved this year and push it to next year. I'm probably wrong about that but if that's the case they're loading up space to pay Watt that big money contract he is going to get(and deserves btw)
Main memories will be... -Great return vs BAL playoffs -Illegal hit SNF to knock out Cutler -Being caught from behind first play vs NE playoffs
This. Teams go from crap to the playoffs in one year. We always build through the draft anyway. Better get it right.
Manning: We were talking/negotiating about a week. Today was the big day. Couldn't come to an agreement on a pay cut. This was the best decision for both sides. This is the best thing that could happen for me at this point. ... Bittersweet day. We couldn't come to a common agreement. We talked twice (with O'Brien). He understood the business and offer on the table and hoped we could come to an agreement but if not, he respected my decision. He(or Rick Smith?) said what's best for you is best for us. Still doing rehab. If the season were to start today, I wouldn't be able to perform. I may be 6-8 weeks out from participating in football. Okay with the timing? Umm...good question. Out of my control. I was still under contract. It was best for me to keep quiet and keep training/rehab. Scheme of things, you'd want them to come to you earlier. I came in knowing I may not see the life of the contract. That's why you want up front money, more money guaranteed or signing bonus. You want to come out with as much clothes on as you can. Also understand no hard feelings. Tremendous experience. So surreal. This is my home state. To play in front of family, to bring them here...I wish I could take these fans with me. The Texans will do the best for the city. I feel they'll do what's best for them and the city of Houston. Fan perspective and player perspective, when you're a player and see guys you play with and you lose them, it's hard to fathom that "Man, we'll be better without this guy" but have to trust the organization. For the fans, they have to trust too. When you talk to Rick, Cal, Bob, they'll do what's best for the organization and fans. They treated me the same from when I signed here to when I was released.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>O'Brien (on Manning's release): Danieal is testing the market right now. May not be the last time you see him in a <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Texans&src=hash">#Texans</a> uniform.</p>— Deepi Sidhu (@DeepSlant) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeepSlant/statuses/450764325242687488">March 31, 2014</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>O'Brien (on DBs): Clemons and Lewis would compete for FS. Swearinger will be the strong safety. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Texans&src=hash">#Texans</a></p>— Deepi Sidhu (@DeepSlant) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeepSlant/statuses/450764730785730560">March 31, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The majority of the time, a restructure is referred to as lowering a base salary for an upcoming year(s) and pushing it into future years. A paycut is technically a restructure, but it's mostly referred to as a paycut instead of a restructure. In any case, whether it's a paycut or a restructure, the intent should be to save money for something this offseason since it's the last year of his deal.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Danieal Manning's first visit will b 2 Cincinnati on Tuesday and Wednesday.</p>— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/McClain_on_NFL/statuses/450833887640305664">April 1, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Why are fans caring so much about this season? Cuts free up much more money in the NEXT season rather than the current one. If the Texans want to win this year, they'd be restructuring contracts rather than releasing them. The Texans put themselves in a cap situation that no amount of cuts would free them much money this season. The NFL rules prevent this from happening. Edit: My mistake. For some reason I thought there were 2 years left in Manning's deal.
Most of that is true but the Manning cut is giving us more space for this offseason only. His contract ended after 2014 anyways. Think we need the space to go after some more under the radar, cheap, depth signings like Clemons and Lewis.
Pushing pay out in years anticipates the upcoming rise in the salary cap Gathering cap space allows the Texans to sign some lesser known FA's to cover holes as needed. There will be some good players cut after teams draft their replacements, even the last cuts from camp. I assume you could get a veteran RB late in camp. But they will need another Saftey to replace him so it's kind of a wash.
This cut only makes sense if they want to add talent right now, in order to compete for 2014...regardless of how far off the path they are at the moment. If Im correct, the Texans are about 13 million under the cap. They already were under the cap enough for the rookie class + a couple cheap FAs...but now they have even more money to play with, so clearly, they have something in mind.
Available free agents the Texans may consider: RB Andre Brown RB Michael Bush FB Vontae Leach WR Davone Bess WR Jacoby Ford WR Robert Meachem TE Dustin Keller TE Fred Davis TE Ed Dickson Handfuls of possible OLineman DE Robert Ayers DE Will Smith DT Kevin Williams DT Pat Sims DT Terrence Cody OLB Michael Boley OLB OBrien Schofield OLB Rob Jackson ILB Pat Angerer ILB Jonathan Vilma ILB Nick Barnett ILB Bryan Kehl There is also decent secondary help as well for depth. Plus, all the cuts that will be made later. I think with a solid draft and a couple more FA pick ups, the Texans are actually not that far away from a 9 win season and possibly a run for one of the wildcard spots.
Next offseason will be great...we'll cut Joseph and save 9 million, cut Foster and save 4 million, Cut Myers and save 6 million, Cut Fitzpatrick and save 3 million. That comes out to 40 million in cap space heading into 2015 free agency with these simple cuts. The Texans will be right back in the playoff picture in 2015.
