Source: Texans plan to cut Andre Johnson if he refuses pay cut

If that's the case, they already have a better WR than Andre Johnson on their roster; case closed.

The Texans are a better football team today than they were yesterday. Even if they blow that money on bad signings, it was the right move.

 

Andre wasn't necessarily dominating coverage last year... Texans opponents will still largely be game-planning against Foster and the play-action regardless of the WR's.

They'll also likely add a veteran slot WR like Welker to replace Demarius.

 

And we'll see if they will be better off for that decision.

 

Every team has a weakness. You can't fill every void.

I'm more comfortable with our weakness being WR depth than anything else.

BOB's offense is not predicated on WR superstars. It's quick passes, timing, spreading the ball around, and having RBs and TEs that can catch.

 

Who took coverage away from AJ all those years he was posting 100+/1,400+ seasons? The answer is: it doesn't matter. Systems rule the NFL, not players. Hopkins will be just fine.

 

We'll see. That's the great thing about sports. It all plays out... Didn't you argue last year that Clowney was a can't miss prospect and they missed. So please forgive if I don't take your opinion as law.

 

I understand the cap hit but to tell the face of your organization for 12 years that nonsense wasn't good for business. Dude 85 catches with 4 mediocrity quarterbacks last season. Just be real and tell him we can't afford to keep you around anymore.

 

Not in the least. AJ and his salary makes sense for team like the Broncos or the Pats both of whom have established QBs that can really utilize AJ properly. In my mind, an "elite" QB can take a talent like an AJ or Dez or C. Johnson and really elevate his team's passing game into a nigh unstoppable force. That was not happening with AJ here because of the QB situation. As such, his salary makes no sense - until they solidify the QB position, they'd be better served to stumble along with younger, cheaper players. Houston currently lists 4 jerseys under the heading of Quarterback which tells me they have no QB. As for Hopkins, let's see what happens when the opposing team no longer has to worry about AJ and can concentrate their defense on taking him out of the game.

 

AJ's salary at his age makes no sense for no team. Only Calvin Johnson's salary is "higher", and I would not consider him to have an "elite" QB throwing to him at the moment (nor do I think his salary is justified either based on the amount of games he misses).

AJ was an all-pro here... achieved that despite "no" elite QB's... but that time is certainly passed regardless of who is throwing to him. He's not washed up... but he's not worth a $16 million cap figure.

And the Broncos or Pats make tough decisions like this all the time... they've let much better players (and more affordable players) go due to the cap.

As far as your fear of Hopkins, there were very few instances last year where Andre was drawing "extra" attention. Foster is the one who makes this offense go, and helps open things up for others.

 

Trading him last season would have been a huge cap hit. If trading him last season had the same financial savings as this season he would have been gone.

 

Yeah but thats Andre Johnson. Hopkins is not him at this stage and don't think he'll ever reach that level. I hope i'm wrong though.

 

I'd rather have eaten the turd sandwich that was AJ's cap hit in a trade last year than eat it this year.

Last year was the time to do it. Better trade value, lost/transition season with low expectations, and you free up more cap room for a year that you really need it (2015 FA > 2014 FA).

 

You're overrating Andre Johnson/WRs in general. And underrating DeAndre Hopkins. Here are their 2nd-year numbers;

AJ: 79/1,142 6 TDs
DH: 76/1,2120 6 TDs

Hopkins is right in line with AJ's development.

 

lets trade AJ and a mid round pick for Adrian Peterson

 

Hell no. You don't get anything in trades in the NFL and the cap hit would have hurt the team. Doing it this way the team gets to save 9 million dollars and was competitive last year (would have made the playoffs without the 2 games that Andre Johnson cost the team with fumbles and drops actually). That's MUCH better than taking the hit last year. Sure Andre Johnson would have liked it more, but who cares?

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Andre Johnson's agent says he never asked for a trade <a href="http://t.co/pmjub4obcL">http://t.co/pmjub4obcL</a></p>&mdash; ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProFootballTalk/status/572831688574808064">March 3, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

You're vastly overrating WRs in today's system-first NFL. Those three, specifically, have played on perpetually bad teams. Not their fault; but WRs don't elevate teams. There wasn't a single first round/big contract FA WR starting in either championship game earlier this year.

Drew Brees has never had an elite WR. Neither has Tom Brady, save for the Randy Moss era. Nelson and Cobb are elite WRs right now - but I think Rodgers in the reason, and the fact GB is letting Cobb walk underscores that. Remember Atlanta giving up the farm for Julio Jones - how's that worked out?

There is no position more overrated than WR.

 

He has no trade value; then or now. His contract is too much of an anchor. The Texans have already said they'll trade or release him, effectively killing any chance he'll be traded.

 

Isn't there? QB?