I'm worried. This team is far to close to having it's first taste of real success, so the possibility of losing Ryans, Daniels and or Pollard is a scary thought. If signed to offer sheets and then not retained, I think this orginization takes a huge step in the wrong direction. The picks are nice but does absolutely nothing for right now. I know business is business, but they are rolling the dice here taking a huge chance imo. I hope the Orginization knows what they are doing. I wasn't happy with Dunta's play, and he's not worth big money at this point imo, but that's already one hole that needs to be filled. So the possibility of losing key contributors on a team seemingly ready to take the next step could spell disaster. Yes, pretty damn worried.
The problem I have with paying Daniels and Ryans big money is that the Texans haven't won anything yet. I'm not taking away from their play and their roles as contributors to the team, but what have they won? If I'm not mistaken both were offered long term deals and both refused because the money was not top five (at least in Daniels' case). Just because the Bears were stupid and gave Urlacher a bunch of money and the Bucs were stupid for giving Kellen "The Chosen One" Winslow a ridiculous contract does not mean the Texans have to match or go above that to pay these guys. Do I believe that Ryans and Daniels deserve a raise? Yes. Does it need to be record setting money or top five player in the league money? No. I especially have no sympathy for Owen Daniels because he had an opportunity to secure a long term contract, now he is coming off a serious injury and the Texans are well within their rights to tender him a one-year and see if he gets back being productive. If I had to pay one guy right now, its Demeco Ryans. Demeco is unquestionably the leader of the defense, but I don't believe he is a top 5 linebacker in the league. As for Bernard Pollard, he was a great pickup and I again have no problem with the Texans taking a wait-and-see approach. The Texans have given out some stupid money to free agents who were big busts (Ahman Green, Chris Brown, etc.) and wasted a lot of money on David Carr. However with the league coming up on an uncapped year, the tide is turned in favor of the Texans. No team will be willing to give up a first and third round pick for any free agent out there, so theres no need to worry about that.
Dont worry...the odds of a team offering OD or Ryans money is very, very low. In fact, I can almost guarantee that both will be Texans next season. However, in some ways, I wouldnt mind if we were compensated for them...1st and 3rd round pick? Thats huge! Middle linebackers arent too difficult to replace...and, although OD is an awesome tight end, I wouldnt mind giving Casey more shots at it. You can essentially pick up 2 starters with a 1st and 3rd...therefore, even if they were signed, I feel like the Texans would be better off. However... Ryans and OD will be Texans next season.
Right, it is the best move. Tender them both the max allowable and let them test the waters; setting their own market value. Teams they talk to will know signing them will cost whatever the contract is plus a first and third if the Texans don't match. That makes it less likely other teams will be willing to overpay. Both should be back and at a very respectable rate in this system.
The Texans are making some really smart business decisions. I'm getting really tired of "the sky is falling" crowd...
Wow, Way to appreciate your Captain on defense and the TE that gave his knee for the team. I hope someone snatches Ryans and teaches Mr. horse owner a lesson.
What bothers me is that this is one of the richest franchises in football and we are in an uncapped year, yet the Texans are not expected to be players in Free Agency. Bob McNair is a big proponent of a better collective bargaining agreement for the owners, so he is not going to let the players benefit from this offseason if he can help it. I mean seriously this is an offseason where there are players he can go sign without damaging his cap that will help put us in the playoffs next year yet all we've heard is that the Texans expect to operate with their own internal budget that and won't be big spenders in FA.
OD made his own bed. He could have signed a long term deal last year but he was trying to hold out for more money. SUcks what happened but it was his decision not to sign a long term, and good deal, last year. As for Ryans...this is routine business in the NFL. He isnt going anywhere and he will be a texan.
This is a ridiculous argument. There is almost no talk of any owner going out and blowing money left and right on free agents just because it is an uncapped year. The usual suspects, Washington and Dallas, will probably still spend the most, and they might exceed what they would have in a capped year ... but other than that, I don't think you'll see much more than the norm. What happens if we overspend and then next year have to get under the cap again? We'll end up cutting players that we need and/or eating a lot of money. Not to mention there are really not that many free agents worth going for, besides Peppers. Dansby? Terrell Owens? Thomas Jones? Please. (Jones is good but not worth crazy money). Also, to those freaking out about the tenders on OD and DeMeco- we have the right to match any offer! Tell me why it would make any sense to give them long-term, high-priced contracts when we can get them cheaper for one more year (potentially), and wait to see if there is a market for them before paying them. That is essentially what they are doing...they'll match if anybody else comes after them, unless it is just a crazy offer ... and then we get draft picks as compensation. So somebody would have to be willing to pay much more than what we would match for AND give up high draft picks. You almost never see restricted free agents leave their team- last year we retained David Anderson after tendering him low and matching what Denver was offering for him.
I'm not asking them to go spend crazy. But, Thomas Jones, Aaron Kampman, Bodden, Sharper...those are four guys off the top of my head who are available who would be marked improvements for this team in areas of need. In addition to free agents, now is the time to renegotiate deals. Re do Mario and AJ's deals to give them chunks of money this year to save you money on the cap in future years. Owners aren't interested in doing this stuff because they want this uncapped year to help break the players in CBA negotiating, even at the expense of the team's fortunes on the field.
So the Saints put a 2nd round tender for P. Thomas, thats interesting. I think the Texans should look into Thomas if all you're giving up is a 2nd and decent team friendly contract.
I'm sure they are considering Thomas Jones, but he's at a position in his career to basically pick where he wants to go. The only way for us to have a clear advantage to signing him is to offer more money, so we'll see exactly what the market dictates for him. Aaron Kampman is coming off of an ACL injury, and he's 30. He's definitely more talented than Antonio Smith and Barwin, but there is no guarantee he'd beat them out of a starting job coming off of his injury. Not sure why he would want to come here...again, unless we offered a boatload of money. Bodden is pretty solid, but Corners are always overpaid in FA. He's going to command pretty good money. I think we'll end up with a corner in the 2nd or 3rd round if we don't get Thomas and they'll be expected to start. Agreed on the renegotiating, but there must be a reason that teams aren't doing it because I haven't read anything about that happening.
Yeah there is a reason. The owners have been very clear in their position. The uncapped year is going to "hurt" the players. They've been putting that out there since last season. They've wanted the media to run with. The owners are going to lock arms here and make sure the players don't benefit from this. I get it from their perspective, it just sucks as a fan.
They'll match any offer unless it is just absurd. And then, you'll be overpaying AND giving up a 2nd rounder.
Yeah Thomas is a no go. You don't get restricted free agents on team friendly deals unless you do a poison pill type thing, and I honestly cannot imagine Bob McNair, being that he is all class, approving of a poison pill contract.
I'd agree except I keep hearing all this movement will happen with restricted free agents because of no salary cap this offseason. I wonder what type of offers he will recieve and at what point the Saints won't match.
