texans probably didn't guarantee him a starting position even for preseason. told him at most 7 carries and in some cases, was not even going to be on the field. =) I think blue and grimes can get it done running the ball. It's the the pass blocking that worries me.
Wow Pierre... Leverage or not.. how much can "staying at home" be paying you? What other offer is he getting? Even if it was only a one year deal, that's better than nothing.
I was going back and forth with someone on here about the Texans drafting a RB in the first round this year. I was wrong. They so should have gotten their RB in this draft. And I don't mean in the 7th round.
It's easy to look back and say that, but who would you have not picked in order to get a RB? Which RB would you have picked?
Doubt it had anything to due with money, seeing how they still have a little over $8 million in cap space. I tend to lean more towards it being a guarantee of roster spot and or playing time. He may have wanted to know that he would be given a roster spot out right, without needing to prove his viability in the system. He would have only received the vet min or slightly over it. He may have thought he was walking into a situation where he would be the clear cut back to take over as Foster recovers, and O'brien obviously doesn't run his ship that way.
Typical agent cutting off the nose inspite of the face. I wouldn't bet against the deal getting done. Throw in some season tickets Texans, done deal!
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nothing heating up between Texans and Chris Johnson and Benjarvus Green-Ellis at this time but that could always change quickly</p>— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/AaronWilson_NFL/status/628975821215019008">August 5, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">O'Brien quote after practice today about what they are looking for in any RB they bring in. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> <a href="http://t.co/EMfG3y6W8j">pic.twitter.com/EMfG3y6W8j</a></p>— Will Grubb (@GrubbReport) <a href="https://twitter.com/GrubbReport/status/628975619682906112">August 5, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> This pretty much reiterates my thoughts on why a deal didn't happen. O'brien wants a guy that's going to come in and do everything possible to make the team, and to help the team be better. A 30 year old back just isn't going to do that. Probably feels like it's beneath him since his a long term vet. Something a young guy wouldn't think twice about doing, just to make a squad.
But there was someone on here who was insisting the Texans drafted one early. Moving up for one of the two top RBs is an option but if not that, there were Coleman, Jay Ajayi, TJ Yeldon, Ameer Abdullah, Duke Johnson, etc.
Both are completely finished and don't fit the philosophy of the team. Johnson is a soft runner who only gets gains when their are mile wide gaps. He still has speed but the guy is by no means a grinder willing to help out however he can. Ellis wasn't even in the league last year, I doubt a 30yr old back 1 year removed from the league is going to help much. He also started to have fumbling issues his last two years, with his minimal touches. His ypc have basically continued to decline and he has bricks for hands.
Kind of weird that Pierre Thomas was even considered if special teams was a pre-requisite. It's even weirder to have that as a pre-requisite when you're replacing an All-Pro...
Not that weird when you consider that they'll be going to running back by committee. You aren't going to have a guy back there average 25+ carries a game anymore. At least not until Foster is back and healthy. Everything is now situational. Blue is a good back on the first 2 downs, but he lacks receiving ability and was bad at pass protection last year. But you can't have guys coming in to do 1 job for you, and then not contribute any other way. The Texans are way too thin in other spots to carry a bunch of one trick ponies.
It's just too bad we didn't sign Vereen like I wanted this offseason. He would have been a huge compliment to foster, and would be perfect in this current situation.
I think that's exactly what they should be looking for. Was Foster going to play special teams, or did I miss something? If you can replace Coke with Diet Coke, go ahead and do it. No reason to reinvent the wheel here. Give me a guy who can deliver 10 competent touches a game and I'll worry about ST later.
