However, that said, I think this is probably Mercilus and JJo's last season with the team unless they show something and Brice McCain should be cut. Also interesting to note, Foster can be cut as soon as next season if he doesn't return to form.
I hope we hold on to Owen Daniels because I met him when he was a rookie...before he caught his first pass in the NFL. He seemed like a great kid at the time. I didn't think he had a chance to be the player he turned out to be, due to his size. But looking back, I see how he became such a dominant target for Shaub. And it comes from his hands, his leadership, and the fact that he played a quarterback at a point in his college career. The play he's been showing on the field is phenomenal. And Owen, if you're reading this - no matter where you end up (hopefully here in Houston), I will always be a fan of yours. All the best of luck to you.
So, I'm not familiar with the NFL's financials. Texans can cut anyone without having to pay out the rest of that player's contract, or...?
They have to pay any signing bonus money and any "guaranteed money" every player's situation is different, spotrac is a good tool for figuring out where they stand.
I'll agree that Newton can't remain a starter, but he's only making around $600k next year and would still be a far more valuable back up than Gardner or Harris. You need to be careful tossing players to the wind only because they aren't cutting it as starters, you never know when someone's going to get hurt. Just like with Keo. Now, when they make a huge amount of cash and can't give you quality play? That's who you look at. Schaub needs to be gone. It's time to replace Daniels. With the cap going up, I'm not certain if they'll feel pressed to carve much beyond that.
Newton was just plain bad last year. I don't think he's even a serviceable backup. He'll make $1.4 mil and we'd get pretty much the full amount in cap relief if we cut him cause he's only guaranteed $15,000. That money is much better spent on another player. Newton is the biggest no-brainer cut on the roster as far as I'm concerned.
If he's due $1.4M and we can replace him, than I agree. Hopefully Quessenberry pans out (I have little hope regarding Williams' knee).
There aren't very many football players that "only" make $1.4MM; especially fringe-starters. He was a 7th round draft choice. Newton might eventually be cut; my guess is that it'll be for performance reasons not financial. $1.4MM just isn't enough incentive to toss a still-young tackle with NFL starts to the curb. Same goes with Keo, btw. These cuts over the next several weeks will *all* be financial. There is almost zero reason to not take guys like Newton and Keo to camp.
Newton isn't even a serviceable backup. Also, we signed Joe Mays last year for $1 mil and I think he did a decent job at ILB. So if I can take a liability like Newton and turn his $1.4 mil into someone like Joe Mays, I think that's a pretty good idea.
