Just so we're clear, you're upset that we're not paying a guy $8m a year when that guy is: (1) coming off an achilles injury (2) in a system that doesn't utilize his strengths (3) playing for a coach that doesn't like him (4) and playing a limited number of downs. We're not switching the system, we're not switching coaches, and Ryans wasn't going to see much more time on the field, even if he was 100% back from the injury, which he's not. You simply can't have a guy like that making one of the top 5 salaries on the team. Even if you think he was underutilized, even if you think he's better suited for a 4-3, you have to admit that.
Not unlikely- this is really a good move for his career. He was a huge risk to be cut next year anyway, and after two seasons in a system that didn't really fit him who knows what the market would be like. Now he gets a chance to play out his contract.
Exactly, our cap situation hasn't been managed well at all. We're losing players and gaining nothing. Will things be better in 2013? Sure, we're setting up a foundation for that. But right now, there are no immediate positives. The Texans haven't improved in any single area, and we do not have any meaningful cap space to use this year. That's a bit ridiculous for a team on the cusp. I can see what we're doing with 100% clarity. I can see how we are strapped for cash and need to prepare for 2013. Fine. I'm still upset about it. Every playoff team from last year has done something to improve except us. Sure we have a draft coming up, so does every other team in the NFL. WR2, oline depth, CB2, secondary depth -- those are areas late-round rookies rarely excel at. I'm not sure why I catch flak for being concerned about 2012. Its simple, we haven't done anything to improve for 2012. Simple. Done. Stop crying about and trying to make up excuses. Easy that. Hopefully we get some talent in here by OTA time.
Actually, I don't know much about NFL trades overall, just trying to apply common sense. Your take was helpful in better understanding the deal. I wish they could have gotten more.
Hopefully we are all excited to see the Texans draft a player at pick 77 this year that would not have been there at pick 90, because of this trade. ....or package the extra 4th with a combination of other picks to move up and draft another difference maker. In an ideal world, we get to see all of our favorite players retire as Texan HOFs, but when circumstances do not allow we have to be objective about reasons that prevent that. In this case, outside of how we feel for him as Texan icon and leader, we got a very nice deal for a player who was and is not an integral part of the Texan's success last year or hopeful future.
what have the Ravens and Steelers done to improve? signing Lloyd is the only move the Pats have made... be patient...it's a long offseason and good players will become available.
No - I've never said that I'm upset with the FO about the move. You haven't, nor will you see any Rick Smith Photoshops from me. My initial post last night even stated that we're at the point where we've got to let go of guys we like to play hard cap moneyball. I also said that Sharpton and Alexander will do fine. I do think it stinks that we had to lose him...but I was mentioning last month in one of the Mario-Foster-Myers threads that Ryans head was probably on the block because of cap concerns. After they cut Winston, it was clear that no one was safe (unless you're a Kubiak bahdlefigher like Jacoby) What I was reacting to just now was the wave of post-trade rationalization trying to bury Ryans as a wash up. Again, he was third on the team in tackles, despite only getting to play on 2/3rds of the downs. The guy that was running the defense's lockout workouts at Rice and organized most of the defense to stay in town this offseason to do it again did not ask for a trade. The stunned reactions from his teammates is also a tipoff - he was not looking to leave. The move is done. Time to look to what's next. I'm hoping for draft magic.
No, I'm with Sam, and Donkey, and ima, and others . . .you pay when it warrants, and if it doesn't then you cut the fat ...Attrition was painful but needed as the team refined itsself from the 4-3 to 3-4 . . . Going forward, you draft better for the system we have in place. I don't have a prob. when you pay based on production. but will miss Ryans positive lockerroom prescence, but it made sense to part
I doubt that seriously. I wouldn't be surprised if he turned down a paycut for a chance to stay, but I can't imagine DeMeco asking for a trade. He was the clubhouse leader for the defense.
OK I keep reminding myself that this isn't offseason 2005 because we have a world class DC and a good GM. But remember when in 2004 the defense was actually pretty good, then they took it apart anyway? Yeah, I hope this doesn't end up like that.
Well right now the defense will look a lot worse since we're going up against way better quarterbacks in 2013. That's just by default... even if we had the entire lineup back from last year. So something needs to change. I do know we'll be more acclimated to the system after 1 year and a full training camp. That's about it though. So far...
I will reserve judgement until after the draft. I would assume whoever we draft in the first round will be annointed a starter, so the opporunity to improves still lies out there for the D. the O has taken the most lumps this offseason...but just getting Schaub back will be a shot in the arm.
The Texans had a great defense after Week 4 of last season, and have lost all of two part-time players from it. It's not like they're taking it apart. I remember well the 2004-05 offseason, but these are tweaks, not large-scale changes.
Was discussing the value of "leadership", not so much Ryans to Pollard. I'm not worried about our ability to find another event coordinator.
I don't think anyone here is saying he's a wash up. Just that he doesn't fit the 3-4 as evidenced by him not being on the field for a lot of snaps. Why else would Wade not use him as an every-down ILB? I mean, DeMeco Ryans isn't the type of person to rub anyone the wrong way, much less the laid-back Wade Phillips. So it must be because of football reasons and not personal. And I think Wade Phillips has the defensive acumen to make a decision like that. More so than any of us sentimental Texan fans (myself included). Again.....I LOVE DeMeco. One of my all-time favorite Texans. He will be missed. (what am I going to do with my Ryans jersey?) But a lot of people are acting like we just traded a Pro Bowler for a 4th round pick just for the hell of it. He hasn't been a Pro Bowler for 3 years. And I haven't even mentioned his contract.
Granted, no other playoff teams has cut 3 long term starters, but this is just an asinine argument. It gets proven year after year that you don't improve your team through free agency (see the Redskins every year, Eagles last year, countless other examples). We actually did improve last offseason with JJ and Manning, but look where it got us now. We made a huge sacrifice financially to get them (and I'm sure they saw it coming at the time but had no choice but to save their jobs) and it's showing now. I'm not sure what you want them to do? Don't say you weren't excited last summer when we got those guys ... this is just the fallout from that. Now we're expected to go out and overpay a WR2 or CB2 so we can sacrifice more players (Brown? Butler? Quin?) next year? We finally have more good players than we can afford, that's all there is to it. It's silly to bash the front office because they are up against the cap when we literally have no bad contracts on the roster (other than Jacoby, who is relatively small). All of our players were worth their contracts, it's just that you can only give out so many. It's the nature of the NFL. Draft well and you'll be good, don't draft well and you'll pay the consequences at some point by having to overpay in Free Agency and make tough decisions like we are doing now. If you want to blame anything, blame the poor drafting from '07-'10 -- but don't pretend that we weren't in love with this front office two months ago and all of that was not forgiven. Edit- i also want to point out that I absolutely love DeMeco. It's a punch in the gut to know he's not going to be around for more playoff runs and a possible Super Bowl. I've got a desktop wallpaper of him on my 2nd monitor right now. Definitely the toughest to let go of other than Andre, but this decision was made for the long-term.
off topic... this is how you do Clutchfans.net, Clutchfans. honesty...humility. not arguing for the sake of arguing. huge win and rep from me.
Agree with that. Initially, I thought solid was complaining for the sake of complaining. Definite respect for someone that's open-minded enough to listen to the other side.
