steddinotayto- i'm curious: do you really think marvin harrison would be an upgrade over kevin walter? or do you maybe not know much about kevin walter? i'm not trying to be flippant; it's a sincere question that i'm hoping you'll answer honestly (others, too). i ask because i'm starting to think that, as a fan base, we're not over the casserly era yet; that many of us still assume our players must be universally inferior to nearly every other teams' players. (or is it merely a symptom of our insatiable need for change or something new?) (or is it more a case of me not recognizing that some fans are merely casual fans; ones that may know schaub or mario, but not walter and daniels types?) (or is it maybe something else entirely? like steddinotayto is marvin harrison's cousin?.....) because i can certainly understand wanting... you know, albert haynesworth to upgrade travis johnson, for instance. but marvin harrison over kevin walter?... that's an undeniable downgrade. and i'm not picking on you, steddinotayto - all throughout the season, we saw countless threads about "should the texans sign (fill-in the blank QB)?" while schaub was putting together the best (if incomplete) season ever by a texan QB; "should we fire kubiak and hire (so-and-so)" even though kubiak had turned a 2-14 laughinstock around in relatively quick time. i have this theory that fans - not all fans, and not just bad fans or anything like that - can lock into an idea and never let it go. case in point: i continue to be dumbfounded by the "drayton is cheap" crowd - and i don't mean getting stuck on a behavior a player consistently reinforces (like mcgrady and his drama). i'm talking about when a reputation persists in the face of mounting evidence that the person or franchise or whatever have turned a corner. i just see too many "let's replace productive texans" sentiment, and it makes me wonder why... (note: i recognize that some of it is because the franchise as whole has lost so consistently so there's a sheen of frustration; but is that all?)
Uh, yeah I know their contracts aren't guranteed, and that he will get a new deal. He will still get a lot of money on the open market because of his name. He and his agent will also make a case for him being injured, yada, yada, yada. He will still get a decent contract from someone. And if you read my post, I mentioned him being on the decline right now and that he has been on the deline with the best QB in the league which should tell you where he is headed for production with a new team. I think he'll end up in Philly, but what do I know, I don't even like the guy.
He won't get paid **** compared to what he was making. The NFL is the most ruthless when it comes to paying based on current performance. We are talking about teams who will cut good players just because they aren't playing at the same level they were before. I don't care if Marvin Harrison saved my entire family from drowning, if he can't hold onto a football and he's making Larry Fitzgerald money, he's gotta go. Any GM that would give him anything that is more than a blip on the radar screen capwise is a fool.
I think you're right as far as casual fans being locked into the idea that we have inferior players. Because we don't get a lot of national media pub, even fans that support our team don't realize how good some of our guys are in their role, like Walter. They don't see our guys on Sportscenter's Top 10 making highlight reel plays every week, so they think our guys are all inferior. Houston fans have suffered through a lot of heartbreaking football teams, so I think they don't get as attached to the players like they do with the Rockets or Astros. If we traded someone like Kevin Walter or Owen Daniels, you wouldn't see near the uproar like you did with Rafer Alston. Also adding to that fact is a lot of the names suggested are big name players that don't produce like they used to, like Harrison or Derrick Brooks. NFL players decline a lot faster than any other sport, so two years after having a pro-bowl season a guy might be barely hanging on in the league. I think had he not been in trouble with the law, Marvin would get a decent offer somewhere, but heavy with incentives. Some team would take a chance on him regaining his form. But with the legal issues I wouldn't be surprised if he's unsigned up to training camp.
To be honest with you, I forgot about Kevin Walter. Of course, this might seem as though I think less of him but that isn't the case at all (think of it as "Wow, Harrison got dropped" kind of reactionary thinking). My train of thought is that this team still has room for improvement. Albeit it's a position that already is manned by one of the top 3 WRs in the game, but another good receiver wouldn't hurt. As far as me "locking" into this idea, it was more of a passing thought than anything else. I wish I could have taken credit for that but, no, it was by accident hahah.
Actually, it could hurt, because it would take up valuable cap space and a valuable roster spot. He'd be 3rd on the depth chart at minimum, and I'm pretty sure Kubiak expects a 3rd WR to be able to play some aspect of special teams.
Walter isn't getting replaced in the starting lineup. And Harrison isn't going somewhere unless he's gonna get paid like (and play as) a #2. So he's out of the picture here, barring an injury very soon. (If he was gonna be a #3, he'd have gone back to Indy)
I like our current WR group and as good as Harrison is, I doubt he is willing or able to play at the Kevin Walter plays at and for the same amount of money.
Kevin Walter is obviously our #2 WR option. The thought of going after Harrison at this stage in his game is just chasing a name. We're good enough at WR not to waste precious dollars on a one-time great who would be fighting Jacoby Jones for the #4 spot.
I'm not exactly sure, but the only bad thing I've ever heard about Harrison I heard was that gun incident a few months ago
Wouldn't this be like Webster Slaughter part II? Older receiver, great years behind him, from a division rival, being put out to pasture at Houston's expense?
Slaughter wasn't this far past his prime when we got him. He still had productive years.. shoot, i'd take that Slaughter from the year we signed him over current Harrison..
The fact Harrison wouldn't renegotiate his 13 million dollar contract to play with Peyton Manning and a sure playoff spot shows his pride is to big to play for less than 10 million. Not to mention after 13 years and recent injury problems for the last couple years, everyone knows he's on the decline except for him. When you compare him to comparable WR's of today like TO and Chad Johnson, he's a total stand up guy like Andre Johnson has been while playing on a losing team that has trouble utilizing him to full potential and not complaining. However signing him wouldn't be worth the price i assume he wants no matter if we think our #2 is already better than him. If he only wants 5 million for a year, i'd say move Walter to the #3 spot. But i think teams like Phili or Washington could really use and pay him more.
