They're not a good organization. And I'm absolutely a fan. I've been a season ticket holder...but I don't have to check reality at the door. I'm aware I'm a fan of a bad franchise....and there are fans of teams all across the country who are able to recognize when their favorite team is being run well and when they're not.
Extending Schaub and Cushing when they were coming off injury, paying Foster when they could have waited and had him for much cheaper, hiring a head coach before they hire a GM (twice) _ those are clown moves brah. Pointing out the obvious doesn't make someone less of a fan. It's not like this organization has a winning track record like New England, Pittsburgh, etc that we can have blind faith in. Just to add, the Texans got to have a H.O.F. caliber receiver for a decade for peanuts compared to what Arizona had to pay Fitzgerald and what Detroit had to pay Calvin... Although that was AJ's fault for not playing out his rookie contract _ the Texans still got to have him on the cheap compared to other high quality receivers... At least he was out there earning his money compared to Schaub, Cushing, and Foster but because fans are upset _ that goes all out the window. Anyway... If AJ isn't here when the season starts, do you still think you're going to be serving that "stew" Baller...??? Do you think the Texans can be successful without him...?
My understanding is they can't trade him without destroying their cap. I don't think trade is an option.
They can trade him but his cap hit will stay with the Texans this season. There was some discussion about AJ's trade value back on page 8. I think you could get a 3rd and some change for him. Possibly a 2nd if someone is desperate or a star-chaser (read: Snyder, Daniel).
If Jackson was cut and Jackson is younger and as productive as dre what makes you think we can get anything for Dre?
There's a reason so many people were surprised Jackson was cut. That kind of thing doesn't happen every day. So many weird things came together for that to happen. A new coach who didn't like him, the whole gang ties thing and super sensitivity after the Hernandez ordeal, a contract dispute, plus the fact that the Eagles were only on the hook for 250K, and the possibility Eagles could very well have been asking too much. If you're an NFL owner counting on AJ to get cut so you can scoop him up, that's a pretty dumb gamble for two reasons 1) the Texans gain very little from cutting AJ this year (as opposed to next year, when the hammer will undoubtedly fall) and 2) letting a player hit FA means you're competing against 30 other teams for that guy on an open market. Not only does it lessen the chance of you getting him, it also drives up the cost of the new contract.
you lose value the longer this plays out. If you had traded him before OTA's, I'd agree with your assessment. Now you're probably looking at a 4th (at best) and that will continue to drop. The Texans have no want to trade him or they would have done it. It's a game of chicken now and I'd bet there's a compromise that's made shortly before the season whereby the Texans largely guarantee Dre's final year.
You never know until you start picking up the phone. When a 34 year old, contract-seeking Randy Moss went from NE to MIN, it was in October, for a 3rd rounder.
but IIRC, his cap figure was much lower. Sota was also going for the gold with Favre at the QB that year. We've already seen the list of teams available to trade for the contract and it's pretty small and I don't recall a team in win it now mode. (but quite honestly, off the top of my head, Cleveland is the only team that stuck out - can't really remember the others)
His cap figure was zero. His contract ended that season. I already discussed the benefits/drawbacks of this here. I think it's pretty obvious that any trade for him will involve a new/restructured contract.
semantics - i misused cap hit when I should have simply said teams with available cap room able/willing to assume his contract.
You can love someone or something and know they have disapointed and have not really been successful.... ask most Cubs fans or Browns fans. I said OBJECTIVELY I wouldn't want to play for the Texans if I were in AJ's shoes. Take that logo off the helmet and ask yourself: If you were told, that you would be one of the 2-3 best receivers over a decade time and you would make the playoffs 2 times in 11 years, and would play with mediocre QB's for most that time, would you be happy about it?? Now AJ signed a contract, and the Texans can penalize him, fine him and even cut him if they choose, and if they do so, I won't be mad at them for doing it... they want to win, and they don't like having their franchise player (for now) tell them "Yeah you guys suck".... but I also understand where AJ is coming from and as much as I want him to retire a Texan, I get where he is coming from.
Andre's Dead Money is ~$12MM, but his Base Salary is $10MM.. You are netting an ~$2MM cap hit. We are sitting somewhere around $10MM in cap space currently, so you would still have ~$8MM available.
It seems to me that it's up to Andre and his agent to find a deal: a team he wants, a contract renegotiation he'll do, convince them of his value to get them to offer something. The Texans have no obligation in that, though they would probably go out of their way some for him.
agreed... and it is most likely occuring as I type this response. This was my first thought given his uncle's comment that sitting out is all they can do for now. I would hope they put this to bed now before the city completely turns on AJ. I have too much respect for the man to see that happen.
meh - we turned on Hakeem for a minute only to reimbrace him after his career. I also heard the framing of his uncle's comments differently, but appreciate the insight as to how you've interpreted them. To me, they came off as there is nothing for Dre and team to do but wait on Texans. To me, that means either renegotiate the contract or find a trade partner to a contender. The emphasis on the relationship with BOB also infers a belief in that they'll be a working duo. So I'm in the restructure mode. I also wouldn't be surprised if it's, don't you dare fine me a dollar, I'll show up when I'm damn good and ready, and you will guarantee my final year. Now keep your mouth shut and I'll join you in time.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>O'brien on Andre: I've spoken and texted with him. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Texans&src=hash">#Texans</a></p>— Randy McIlvoy (@RandyMcIlvoy) <a href="https://twitter.com/RandyMcIlvoy/statuses/478956341927874561">June 17, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>O"brien on Andre: "He's been here in this league. difference systems no concerns" <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Texans&src=hash">#Texans</a></p>— Randy McIlvoy (@RandyMcIlvoy) <a href="https://twitter.com/RandyMcIlvoy/statuses/478957237369466880">June 17, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Bill O'Brien says he isn't concerned w/ Andre Johnson missing practice because he's played N a number of systems & played a lot of football.</p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/statuses/478957487828115456">June 17, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I am most curious as to what you consider to be the best "interests" of this franchise at this point in time of uncertainty. At any rate, I, too, used to feel that way about that other Houston professional football franchise because I was a "fan". Oh yeah, that really worked out well for myself and all the other fans.
