Texans sign Daniels to one-year deal TE, team talk about securing longer contract By JOHN McCLAIN Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle June 14, 2009, 7:50PM Pro Bowl tight end Owen Daniels has signed his one-year, $2.79 million tender with the Texans, but his agents, Alan Herman and David Butz, will continue negotiations on a multiyear contract they hope will make him one of the NFL’s highest-paid players at his position. Daniels, a third-year restricted free agent who caught a career-high 70 passes for 862 yards last season, skipped the last week of organized team activities because he was unhappy that a new deal hasn’t been reached. Those familiar with the negotiations said the Texans made a new offer last week that would rank Daniels, 26, second among the NFL’s highest-paid tight ends. Figures were not available. The three most important parts of a contract are guaranteed money, income over the first three years and average per year. The total value of a contract isn’t as important because a player usually gets an extension before the deal expires. Tampa Bay’s Kellen Winslow ($20.1 million) is first among tight ends in guarantees. After he was traded from Cleveland to the Buccaneers this year, he signed a six-year, $36.1 million contract. Indianapolis’ Dallas Clark ($27 million) receives the most money over the first three years of his contract. He signed a six-year, $36 million deal last year. Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez ($7 million per year) leads in average per year because of the five-year, $35 million extension he signed with Kansas City two years ago. Daniels (6-3, 247 pounds) hasn’t been available since he skipped the OTAs, but he did comment on his contract situation on the first day of the offseason program. “I’d be a little upset,” Daniels said in May about the possibility of playing for the one-year, $2.79 million tender. “I think I’ve earned more than a one-year (contract). I see myself being here for a long time. I don’t want to be anywhere else, but every player wants security.”
An interesting word from PFT.com... http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/06/14/texans-dont-plan-to-negotiate-with-daniels/ Interesting that Dunta and OD are both represented by the same guys, and both have seemingly turned down seemingly reasonable contracts (Mcclain says we offered to make OD the second highest paid TE...Dunta was offered top 5 corner money IIRC). OD is good, but it is a huge pill to swallow to make him the highest paid TE in the league. That should only go to guys who are true game-changers, and I don't feel OD is worth that as good as he is.
OD is good, but is he second best TE in the league good? Guys like Dallas Clark and Tony Gonzalez both have playmaking abilities that can change a game, and I have yet to see that from Daniels. I wouldn't mind signing him to something that gives him about a $6MM a year average, with some heavy incentives if he breaks certain milestones in the year. As far as Dunta goes, I think he's really starting to rub people the wrong way with his attitude about the whole situation. I understand that he feels betrayed, and that all he wants is a long-term deal, but there are certain ways of going about it. DeMeco wants the exact same things Dunta does, but he's been nothing but professional about it, and has still shown up and done his job.....in fact, he's gone so far as to mentor Cushing even though he's unhappy with his situation here. I think in the end, we'll see DeMeco get rewarded far earlier than Dunta, and it will be well-deserved.
Completely agree. I just hope Demeco and Daniels can be "happy" with an above average extension and not hoping to be compensated in a way that is comparable to the top earner at their position. They have to be reasonable as well...
I like Daniels but you can't keep everyone The best teams (Pats for one) identify a few guys that are irreplaceable and then let others walk Texans have Schaub/Johnson/Slaton/Brown/Winston on O and Williams/Ryans/D-Rob maybe Amobi or Cushing Daniels is a nice player but if Casey looks to be able to fit that roll you attempt to get draft picks for OD or let him walk and slot in a guy who can do the same thing for less pay
Agree also. I like Dunta - he's actually one of my favorite Texans - but let's be realistic. Being the best CB on the Texans roster doesn't automatically make you an elite CB in this league. Some of us Texan fans need to take off our Blue Steel colored glasses.
I have been nothing but ecstatic about OD's play last season. With 70 catches and 862 yards he does rank in the league's top 5, the other contenders being in their sixth or more seasons, which is spectacular. Maybe it is the playmaking ability that commands the top dollar in this position, which Owen has not really shown in spades yet, but he's got everything else and has been showing up to play since game 1. He's not top tier but being the youngest TE with this much production should be a logical reason for top dollar. I'm not liking these Herman and Butz guys at all but in this case they may be right. Maybe theyll be less d*ckheads with the Dunta issue if the Texans pony up here.
I agree and would probably like A. Johnson & Mario as the irreplaceables. Slaton too, to a lesser extent, but he's still got a little more to prove.
The TE is the most important position on offense for a passing game. Guys like Witten, Gates, Gonzalez and Daniels, who are all big threats with the ball in their hands, open up everything else for the WR's. Pay him what he deserves. A mediocre TE who isn't part of an offense's passing games usually signals you're not that good of a team.
I hate to play this card, but I really think that guys on a team that has never had a winning season or even sniffed the playoffs need to STFU about their contracts and actually achieve some team success first.
so he shouldn't ask for his maximum value because he was drafted by a team that sucked and he's helped improve but they have a ways to go?
Funny, I'd have thought the Quarterback. Yeah, the TE is what makes the passing game so great! Remember that amazing Patriots passing attack, headed up by stalwart TE... uh... Christian Fauria? Daniel Graham? Jermaine Wiggins? How about those prolific Saints passing game with Drew Brees and his great TE uh... hmmm... whats that guys name? isn't Billy Miller there? Don't say Jeremy Shockey, he hasn't been worth a **** since getting traded. Reggie Bush sure is the best RB in all of football though! Lets seeeeeee, lets look at the teams who made the playoffs last year and assess just how vital the Tight End's pass catching ability is to their offensive success. #1 seed Titans... running team. #2 seed Steelers... Heath Miller? Hmmm. Probably the 3rd option on the team at best. #3 seed Miami Dolphins... Uh... Can anyone even remember who they had at TE? #1 seed Giants... Kevin Boss? #2 seed Panthers... Yeah not even remembering who they have at TE. Super Bowl loser Cardinals? Yeah I think they have some guy named Tuman or something. Falcons? Eagles? Damn, I'm starting to wonder now.
You don't need a great TE to be a great offense. If OD wants KW2 money, I'll let him walk. I think the 4th TE money is pretty fair enough.
You need to focus on popping those pimples on your face. Titans: Scaife had 58 catches. Steelers: Miller had 48 catches Dolphins: Fasano had 34 catches, 7 TD's Giants: Boss had 33 catches, 6 TD's You just can't always run the ball, a good pass catching TE opens up a passing game and allows you to take use of the TE as an option if he's a pass catching threat when your #1 WR is double teamed. I'll take a TE being covered by a LB any day of the week. Cardinals have two #1 WR's and a Breaston had 77 catches for 1,000+ yards. A rare exception. Don't a TE option in that offense. Saint's TE's combined for 95 catches and 1062 yards. Eagels used Westbrook as the other option since he's so versatile. 54 catches. Most teams don't as a RB as the second go to passing guy. Another rare exception. And the Pats have Wes Walker, an outstanding third WR. How many teams a threat #3 WR like that??? Thanks for coming out. The Management.
Even more ironic from his post is that none of the four tight ends he listed have even been to a Super Bowl. He actually made a great point against having a high-paid tight end! Ha! The more I think about it though the more I want to save that money to pay DeMeco and maybe Dunta, without tying up money in a position that is not crucial, especially for a guy that isn't one of a kind.
