Houston Texans In-season Thread (1 Viewer)

[godgers12]

I still really think that the next test is that Bears game. A defense that is going to force Matt Shaub to make plays, plus they have a offense that can put up points with the best of them.

But on the flip side of course if JJ Swatt even gets a sniff of Cutlers ###### he will start peeing all over himself and the Texans may have like 14 sacks.

 

[GregR]

Texans fans, go give a salute to the military on behalf of the Texans. Can lead to extra benefits for area servicemen: http://www.millionfansalute.com/

 

[GregR]

Sharpton close to returning, Tate may not play.

Three Texans players missed practice on Monday as the team returned from a five-day break for the bye week.Running back Ben Tate was out with a hamstring injury. Inside linebacker Darryl Sharpton has still not been removed from the Physically Unable to Perform list because of a quadriceps injury. Nose tackle Shaun Cody, who has had a back issue in recent weeks, was held out for rest.Texans coach Gary Kubiak expects Tate to miss at least a couple of days and isn’t sure if he will be able to play against the Buffalo Bills in Week 9. Kubiak said the Texans are confident in third running back Justin Forsett and may have to consider signing rookie Davin Meggett from their practice squad.“He’s going to miss some time here,” Kubiak said of Tate. “You’re not going to see him back all of a sudden in the next day or two… The fact that we come back from the time off and we’re back on the field and he’s not quite ready to be working with the trainers and stuff tells me that he’s definitely a few days away. I’m not going to rule anything out, but I don’t know if he’ll be back Wednesday, neither.”Sharpton tore his right quadriceps tendon last season in Week 8. He suffered a setback in his rehab in the first week of training camp, a hip issue that landed him on the PUP list. Had he been healthy this offseason, he would have competed with Bradie James for a starting job.The deadline for Sharpton to return to practice is Nov. 7. From the day he starts practicing, the Texans have three more weeks to activate him. If either deadline passes, Sharpton will remain on PUP for the rest of the year.“Sharp is very, very close to going on the field,” Kubiak said. “Remember, we control his clock… We’re not going to put him out there until we’re ready to find out if he’s ready to go and help us actively. We do not feel that way right now. How we feel that way Wednesday, I don’t know, but not yet. We have not turned him loose yet.”

 

[GregR]

Arian Foster ‏@ArianFosterLol I actually do. RT @jerdythekid: @ArianFoster do you ever find yourself looking for running lanes in a crowd of people?

 

[GregR]

Feel kind of sorry for some of the Texans who ended up on other teams this year:

Eric Winston - Chiefs 1-7

Demeco Ryans - Eagles 3-5

Jason Allen - Bengals 3-5

Mario Williams - Bills 3-5

Mike Brisiel - Raiders 3-5

Joel Dreessen - Denver 5-3

Only Dreessen has ended up on a team with a winning record.

 

[GregR]

As expected, the Texans have cleared inside linebacker Darryl Sharpton to return to practice.Sharpton will remain on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, which means he does not count against the 53-man active roster. The Texans have three weeks to decide whether to place him on the active roster or leave him on the PUP for the remainder of the season.The earliest Sharpton could return to action is this Sunday at Chicago. The latest he could be promoted to the active roster is the week leading up to the Texans' Week 13 game at Tennessee. The Texans would have to release another player in order to create room for Sharpton, a third-year pro out of Miami (Fla.).

 

[GregR]

Probably minor note... Bears DB Charles Tillman is expecting a child any day now. There's a chance he'll miss the game if she comes Sunday.

 

[kuha]

Looking to trade for a handcuff to Foster before trade deadline in a week. Anyone know how serious this Tate injury should be expected? I'm already pretty much into the playoffs so all I care is that he would be back by playoffs before I go trade Michael Bush or something for him. Thoughts?

 

[GregR]

Looking to trade for a handcuff to Foster before trade deadline in a week. Anyone know how serious this Tate injury should be expected? I'm already pretty much into the playoffs so all I care is that he would be back by playoffs before I go trade Michael Bush or something for him. Thoughts?

Don't know. Hamstring injuries are tough to predict.

 

[GregR]

How JJ Watt is comparing to some all time greats in the beginnings of their careers: http://blog.chron.com/fantasyfootball/2012/11/how-j-j-watts-first-two-seasons-stack-up-against-the-greatest-players-of-the-last-20-years/

 

[scrumptrulescent]

I still really think that the next test is that Bears game. A defense that is going to force Matt Shaub to make plays, plus they have a offense that can put up points with the best of them.But on the flip side of course if JJ Swatt even gets a sniff of Cutlers ###### he will start peeing all over himself and the Texans may have like 14 sacks.

Speaking of peeing, will the Texans collectively be yellowing their pants once again in primetime against another NFC North opponent?

 

[dhockster]

I still really think that the next test is that Bears game. A defense that is going to force Matt Shaub to make plays, plus they have a offense that can put up points with the best of them.But on the flip side of course if JJ Swatt even gets a sniff of Cutlers ###### he will start peeing all over himself and the Texans may have like 14 sacks.

Speaking of peeing, will the Texans collectively be yellowing their pants once again in primetime against another NFC North opponent?

Less so this time. Bears are just as likely to have a let down game against a non-conference opponent as the Texans are. Against the Packers, the Texanswere prime for a letdown and the Packers were desperate. As long as the Texans hold onto the ball, and put pressure on Cutler, they have a reasonable chanceto win this game. Even if they lose, it won't be the debacle that the Green Bay game was.

 

[GregR]

It's heartening to know that our country has a such a great infrastructure that apparently the internet is even available beneath bridges.

 

[TheFly06]

Ben Tate & Shaun Cody out this week vs Bears. I know Cody isn't an all-world DT, but I always hate not having him in there. I don't have any stats to prove it, but I always feel like the run D isn't quite as solid when Earl Mitchell is in there. Maybe it's just me.

 

[Raider Nation]

Rick Smith released the new Billy 'White Shoes' Johnson.

 

[GregR]

Whew. That game was a near heart attack for me. Never trailed, but with the rain and the field in such horrible shape, anything could have happened.

 

[coolnerd]

Whew. That game was a near heart attack for me. Never trailed, but with the rain and the field in such horrible shape, anything could have happened.

Ultimate trying not to lose football. when you win at it can't complain.

 

[dhockster]

This is a game that good teams find a way to win. On the road, against a 7-1 team, without one of your top receivers (Owen Daniels), without your defensive line coach.

I love the way Manning played coming back to Chicago, and I loved Kareem's interception. That was an interception based on film study. He dropped off his man because he knew where Cutler was likely to throw it. Excellent play. He is not only playing better this year, he is starting to play close to where a first round pick should play. For all the grief he took, fans need to give him credit for how he is playing now.

 

[MASSHOLE]

As a Foster owner, and with Houstons record, I'm a bit worried about them resting Ben Tate during FF playoff games. I'm looking for more information on Ben Tates injury. I've read hammy injury, other sources reported turf toe. Is Tate the handcuff or Forsett? Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[GregR]

As a Foster owner, and with Houstons record, I'm a bit worried about them resting Ben Tate during FF playoff games. I'm looking for more information on Ben Tates injury. I've read hammy injury, other sources reported turf toe. Is Tate the handcuff or Forsett? Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

The turf toe was an injury earlier in the season. He was said to be completely recovered from it, then injured his hamstring against the Ravens. Tate is the backup if he's healthy. It's very possible that both Foster and Tate could sit if the Texans have nothing to play for. Last year they played a 3rd string tight end at linebacker in the final game to avoid having any normal contributors in the game.

 

[GregR]

LB Tim Dobbins fined $30k for the hit on Cutler. Not surprising, he spun Cutler's helmet around with the initial hit.

 

[GregR]

If today's game would have been against a top caliber NFL team and not against the Jaguars, it might have been the best game in Texans history. Not saying that as a dig against the Jags either, I feel for their fan base, having been through with the Texans the stuff Jacksonville is going through now (horrible record, horrible QB the club won't close the book on).

But when Jacksonville scored to go up 14 points in the 4th I turned to the people beside me and told them Houston was going to win the game, and I never doubted it the entire time.

Because watching the Texans through their first 7 or 8 years taught me that bad teams find ways to lose games like today and good teams find ways to win them. Gotta give some props to Schaub for his play down the stretch. Heard he had 16 straight completions, not sure if that was to finish out the game or if it was just a stretch in the comeback, but he really masterminded those drives.

 

[GregR]

Not feeling good about this week. Long, emotional overtime win, and then have to go on the road with just 3 days between. And Jonathan Joseph with a strained hammy and either not playing, or if he does he probably won't be at his best when we're up against Megatron.

Texans can win... but I think Detroit is going to pull the upset just because of how things have fallen out.

 

[FF Ninja]

Not feeling good about this week. Long, emotional overtime win, and then have to go on the road with just 3 days between. And Jonathan Joseph with a strained hammy and either not playing, or if he does he probably won't be at his best when we're up against Megatron. Texans can win... but I think Detroit is going to pull the upset just because of how things have fallen out.

Detroit didn't exactly have a cake walk on Sunday, either. The only thing that really gives me pause is the Joseph injury. If he's not healthy then we're in trouble. Would probably be smart to just hold him out. We need him healthy long term. Conversely, didn't Backus get hurt last week? I didn't see if he came back in or not. Maybe our pass rush can help out the secondary. If their LT is gimpy or out, that could offset a CB injury for us.

 

[GregR]

Glad I was wrong, though the things that worried me seemed like they played a role in the game.

The injuries are worrisome. Hopefully the 10 days off until the next game now will be enough for them to heal up.

Really need to start getting some production from the OLBs.

 

[TheFly06]

Glad I was wrong, though the things that worried me seemed like they played a role in the game.The injuries are worrisome. Hopefully the 10 days off until the next game now will be enough for them to heal up.Really need to start getting some production from the OLBs.

BARWIN in particular has been a ZERO this year. I don't want him back next year, especially with a new contract. I still feel like Kubiak forgets about the run at critical times. When Schaub threw the INT in overtime, Foster carried the ball for about 10 yards on the previous play. Plenty of time left in the game, tied score, yet Gary isn't even looking at the running plays on his Waffle House menu it seems. I know Foster can't touch the rock 35 times a game, so get Forsett more carries. And obvious runs to set up a FG with the D-Line stacked don't count. Andre is the man, plain & simple. It was frustrating reading these boards, to see people saying he lost a step or wasnt the same player, when it's obvious most of them have only observed him play in the Jets & Packers game. Watch a team for the first time all season in week 5, make outlandish proclamations of Andre The Giant being washed up. Ummm, no. He's still a beast. He's just got a different role now. Special Teams is STILLLLL terribad. Joe Marciano needs to be let go. Good man, but it's clear that his unit is clearly the big weak spot of the team. Especially frustrating to watch Jacoby/Holliday thriving. Manning might be my 2nd favorite Defender, next to Watt of course. Remember when some Texans fans were critical of Rick Smith for missing out on Nnamdi, only to settle for Joseph?? Well 'missing out' left us the extra $$ to go and get D. Manning. Dude has been ballin' as of late. My Dad, who loves Bum, Earl, Columbia Blue, The Astrodome, Dante Pastorini, Warren Moon, And loathes Bud Adams, said it best after yesterday's crazy game: THIS is the stuff that Champions are made of. They are showing that they can overcome adversity and can handle the pressure when the chips are down. I hope we continue this run all the way to Cajun Country...

 

[godgers12]

Glad I was wrong, though the things that worried me seemed like they played a role in the game.The injuries are worrisome. Hopefully the 10 days off until the next game now will be enough for them to heal up.Really need to start getting some production from the OLBs.

BARWIN in particular has been a ZERO this year. I don't want him back next year, especially with a new contract. I still feel like Kubiak forgets about the run at critical times. When Schaub threw the INT in overtime, Foster carried the ball for about 10 yards on the previous play. Plenty of time left in the game, tied score, yet Gary isn't even looking at the running plays on his Waffle House menu it seems. I know Foster can't touch the rock 35 times a game, so get Forsett more carries. And obvious runs to set up a FG with the D-Line stacked don't count. Andre is the man, plain & simple. It was frustrating reading these boards, to see people saying he lost a step or wasnt the same player, when it's obvious most of them have only observed him play in the Jets & Packers game. Watch a team for the first time all season in week 5, make outlandish proclamations of Andre The Giant being washed up. Ummm, no. He's still a beast. He's just got a different role now. Special Teams is STILLLLL terribad. Joe Marciano needs to be let go. Good man, but it's clear that his unit is clearly the big weak spot of the team. Especially frustrating to watch Jacoby/Holliday thriving. Manning might be my 2nd favorite Defender, next to Watt of course. Remember when some Texans fans were critical of Rick Smith for missing out on Nnamdi, only to settle for Joseph?? Well 'missing out' left us the extra $$ to go and get D. Manning. Dude has been ballin' as of late. My Dad, who loves Bum, Earl, Columbia Blue, The Astrodome, Dante Pastorini, Warren Moon, And loathes Bud Adams, said it best after yesterday's crazy game: THIS is the stuff that Champions are made of. They are showing that they can overcome adversity and can handle the pressure when the chips are down. I hope we continue this run all the way to Cajun Country...

Great post, and even though my Packers come first, I have lived in Houston for quite a while and root for them, I have to disagree just a bit. If they do not get their #### together on D and learn to play without a few players here and there, they stand no chance against a team like the Patriots or Broncos in the playoffs. I do feel they will pull it together but how they have been playing the past few games def. is not where they need to be.

 

[GregR]

The Texans online store has some pretty big Christmas sale discounts for anyone interested.

http://shop.houstontexans.com/Houston_Texans/on_sale/yes/so/newest_items/browse/source/EML12_PTR_HDAYCLEAR_NFL_HTEX_8778_A_C_1123B?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=EML12_PTR_HDAYCLEAR_HTEX&utm_campaign=EML12_PTR_HDAYCLEAR

 

[cstu]

The Cowboys have won one playoff game since the Texans came into the league. It's going to kill Cowboys fans if they win the SB. That alone is worth cheering for them.

 

[coolnerd]

http://www.houstontexans.com/news/article-2/Brooks-Reed-among-top-injury-concerns-on-“MRI-Friday”/dcce6c64-1bda-406b-8156-98bb5911acc4

The Texans are a battered team after playing two overtime games in five days.

Outside linebacker Brooks Reed (groin), right tackle Derek Newton (right knee) and inside linebacker Bradie James (hamstring) all left Thursday’s game at Detroit with injuries that required an MRI on Friday morning.

“The big three that we’re worried about are Brooks, Newton and James,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said Friday morning at a press conference at Reliant Stadium. “I probably will have no information for you guys until we come back on Monday.”

Kubiak said “there’s some concern” about tight end Garrett Graham, who injured his left shoulder at Detroit. Pro Bowl cornerback Johnathan Joseph (hamstring) and inside linebacker Tim Dobbins (shoulder), who were inactive on Thursday, are “still touch and go going into next week.”

Nose tackle Shaun Cody (ribs/back), who has missed the last three games, will be “back in full force” next week, Kubiak said. The Texans decided to sit Cody out on Thursday to give him an additional 10 days to rest. Kubiak said rookie wide receiver DeVier Posey (knee/hamstring) is “very close to coming back.”

When running back Ben Tate (hamstring) returns from a Week 7 injury remains

 

[GregR]

Couple of mildly interesting comments about character getting some spotlight of late. Here's a Tania Ganguli article that hits them both:

While Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has been widely tabbed a dirty player, it’s rare for an NFL player to give voice to that perception.After receiving a kick in the groin from Suh, Texans quarterback Matt Schaub was clearly displeased postgame.And when he was asked on Sports Radio 610 if he’d like Suh as a teammate, he curtly replied, “No.”And why not?“No, you don’t want a player like that,” Schaub said. “The stuff that he stands for and the type of player he is that’s not Houston Texan worthy. That’s not what we’re about as a football team, as individuals, collectively as a group. We’re not that type of person.”The interview moved on to other topics from there, so we don’t yet have Schaub’s thoughts on what he deems Houston Texan worthy. But Schaub is absolutely right that the Texans place a high standard of character on their players. I wrote about that in Sunday’s paper.Being a player of high character doesn’t mean someone who’s never made a mistake. The Texans have plenty of players who have made mistakes in their past, learned from them, didn’t do it again and have proven themselves to be good teammates and people.Texans owner Bob McNair said three things are intolerable for the Texans: someone who abuses women, someone who is a habitual user of drugs and someone who rebels against authority.Most interesting to me was his elaboration of the theory on drug use:“The second thing is if there’s been substance abuse,” McNair told the Chronicle. “That can become a habit, and they might bring that habit with them. I’m not talking about someone who smoked marijuana. I’m talking about a persistent user of drugs. We take them off the list.”

 

[GregR]

Matt Schaub Releases Exhaustive List Of Who Deserves To Be On Texans' Roster

HOUSTON—Following up on his assertion that Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is “not Houston Texan–worthy,” Texans quarterback Matt Schaub released a comprehensive list to the media Tuesday cataloging who he believes deserves a place on the team’s 53-man roster. “The following people are worthy of playing for the Houston Texans: Larry Fitzgerald, Peyton Manning, Brian Urlacher, Aldon Smith, Sebastian Janikowski,” said Schaub, reading an excerpt from the 10,000-name list, which he told reporters was compiled according to “who these people are and what they stand for.” “Additionally, Aaron Rodgers is a Texans-quality person, as are Deion Sanders, Walter Payton, Merlin Olsen, Rosa Parks, Dennis Rodman, Warren Buffett, my wonderful parents, Johnny Unitas, Suri Cruise, Manti Te’o, Genghis Khan, Calvin Johnson, and the architect Frank Lloyd Wright.” Schaub confirmed that only one current Texan is included on the list: second-string fullback Tyler Clutts.

 

[GregR]

Just a heads up for those interested... NBCSports network (channel 220 on DirecTV) will be showing "Still Standing: The Earl Campbell Story" Tuesday, Dec 4 at 10pm. Re-airs early Thursday and Saturday mornings at 12am-1am, and Saturday 2:30pm.

 

[GregR]

CB Brice McCain had surgery this morning for a broken foot according to John McClain.

 

[lod01]

Just a heads up for those interested... NBCSports network (channel 220 on DirecTV) will be showing "Still Standing: The Earl Campbell Story" Tuesday, Dec 4 at 10pm. Re-airs early Thursday and Saturday mornings at 12am-1am, and Saturday 2:30pm.

Now that's how you carry the football like a loaf of bread. 5'-11" 232. That's a beast.2:50 mark.

 

[GregR]

Just a heads up for those interested... NBCSports network (channel 220 on DirecTV) will be showing "Still Standing: The Earl Campbell Story" Tuesday, Dec 4 at 10pm. Re-airs early Thursday and Saturday mornings at 12am-1am, and Saturday 2:30pm.

DAAAAYUMMMMM....Almost expect to see a helmet sized hole all the way through his chest with sunlight shining through it, ala The Quick And The Dead.

 

[TheFly06]

Hey Greg, seeing as Barwin has probably played himself out of a lucrative contract this off-season, would you re-sign him to a deal if the price is right? I personally would let him walk no matter what & ride Brooks Reed and Whitney Mercilus.

I thought Barrett Ruud played a nice game yesterday, considering we got him off the scrap heap. I definitely see us drafting several Linebackers in April, especially if the Texans don't bring Barwin back.

 

[GregR]

Hey Greg, seeing as Barwin has probably played himself out of a lucrative contract this off-season, would you re-sign him to a deal if the price is right? I personally would let him walk no matter what & ride Brooks Reed and Whitney Mercilus.I thought Barrett Ruud played a nice game yesterday, considering we got him off the scrap heap. I definitely see us drafting several Linebackers in April, especially if the Texans don't bring Barwin back.

I was actually pondering that very question earlier today when I peeked in on the "Rebuild your NFL team by 3's". I thought I'd re-sign Quin and McCain without a doubt, but couldn't decide on Barwin.I guess it depends on what he would cost versus other options. This is two years in a row we've needed to start our 3rd string OLB... having some depth there is a good thing to have. Let him walk and you have to replace him. If he wants money like he has multiple double digit sack years, yeah, let him walk. If you can get him for a fair contract, I'd be fine with re-signing him so we can use draft picks on other positions. Could use another corner, another ILB, a right tackle, a WR. Antonio Smith's contract is up in the next year or two as well so might want to start stocking up on DE if you don't think Crick is a long term answer there.

 

[TheFly06]

Haha I thought about the "Rebuild in 3's" myself but couldn't come up with a complete answer. I've just been so frustrated with Barwin's game all year outside of the Ravens performance. For a rookie to come out in his first start and show some explosiveness at Barwin's spot, that was just the icing on top. With the injuries to Cush, Bradie James, Reed, and the games Sharpton & Dobbins missed earlier, Barwin really needed to step up the most. What a letdown.

If I recall, both Garrett Graham & James Casey are free agents as well. Surely neither of those guys will cost as much as Dreessen got from Denver, but I could be wrong. I would definitely like to bring them back as well, if we can fit em all under our limited cap space. Casey has been ultra impressive to my untrained eyes. I was a huge skeptic in his conversion to fullback, but it seems like he's become a quality run blocker. We knew what he could do as a receiver, but his Fullback performances haven't made me think about Vonta Leach once this season. I would even be tempted to make him the 3rd man after your suggestion of re-signing GQ and McCain.

 

[GregR]

Texans are working out former Chiefs CB Stanford Routt.

 

[GregR]

And Brice McCain is going on IR, but with the designated to return flag.

 

[Buckna]

-I'm not a huge fan of Antonio Smith from a contract perspective, but he has been having another good season. I was thinking he'd be a cap casualty but maybe he can sign an extension and lower his cap number down. Still, he'll be 32 next year, past time to start thinking of a replacement.

-Barwin has played himself into possibly staying in town as he's been a big disappointment this season. I figured he'd be well onto his way to another double digit sack season and a big contract, but not so much. All depends on how much $$$ he wants if he remains a Texan. I think we resign Casey & Graham & Quin. Possibly trade Tate and then roll with Forsett and draft another RB for depth.

Ever since they resigned Brown & Schaub, I'm not really worrying about the cap. All I'm worried about now is our defense getting back to healthy in time for the playoffs.

 

[GregR]

Well, still have to worry about the cap. I mean, they re-signed them but that doesn't mean they won't be over the cap and have to make cuts before the new year starts, same as happened with Winston and trading Ryans and all.

Edit to add: I think Andre and Antonio Smith both have some huge contract numbers.

 

[FF Ninja]

Well, still have to worry about the cap. I mean, they re-signed them but that doesn't mean they won't be over the cap and have to make cuts before the new year starts, same as happened with Winston and trading Ryans and all.Edit to add: I think Andre and Antonio Smith both have some huge contract numbers.

IIRC, the Ryan trade hurt us a bit this year with his bonus money getting accelerated due to the trade, but it freed up money for 2013. I could be wrong. That's what I recall, though.I suspect we're going to be tight this year so Barwin would have to be pretty cheap for us to bring him back. At his current rate of production, I'm not sure I see the point. The lack of OLB production makes what JJ Watt is doing all the more unbelievable. Andre Johnson: 8/5/2010: Signed a seven-year, $62.7 million contract. The deal contains $48 million guaranteed, including a $2.8 million signing bonus. Another $10 million is available through incentives based on performance. Johnson is eligible for annual workout bonuses of $1 million throughout the contract's life. 2012: $1 million (+ $5.2 million "signing" bonus + $1 million option bonus), 2013: $6.2 million, 2014: $6.5 million, 2015: $10.5 million, 2016: $11 million, 2017: Free AgentAntonio Smith: 2/28/2009: Signed a five-year, $35.5 million contract. The deal included a $12.5 million signing bonus. 2012: $5.5 million, 2013: $6 million, 2014: Free AgentWhy do players sign these balloon contracts? AJ is obviously not getting $10.5 or $11 million his last two years. I've never understood these contracts. It would make sense for younger players because they could refuse to renegotiate and force the team to cut them and they could get big dollars in the open market, but when you're going to be a 33 year old WR, it just doesn't make sense.

 

[dhockster]

Well, still have to worry about the cap. I mean, they re-signed them but that doesn't mean they won't be over the cap and have to make cuts before the new year starts, same as happened with Winston and trading Ryans and all.Edit to add: I think Andre and Antonio Smith both have some huge contract numbers.

IIRC, the Ryan trade hurt us a bit this year with his bonus money getting accelerated due to the trade, but it freed up money for 2013. I could be wrong. That's what I recall, though.I suspect we're going to be tight this year so Barwin would have to be pretty cheap for us to bring him back. At his current rate of production, I'm not sure I see the point. The lack of OLB production makes what JJ Watt is doing all the more unbelievable. Andre Johnson: 8/5/2010: Signed a seven-year, $62.7 million contract. The deal contains $48 million guaranteed, including a $2.8 million signing bonus. Another $10 million is available through incentives based on performance. Johnson is eligible for annual workout bonuses of $1 million throughout the contract's life. 2012: $1 million (+ $5.2 million "signing" bonus + $1 million option bonus), 2013: $6.2 million, 2014: $6.5 million, 2015: $10.5 million, 2016: $11 million, 2017: Free AgentAntonio Smith: 2/28/2009: Signed a five-year, $35.5 million contract. The deal included a $12.5 million signing bonus. 2012: $5.5 million, 2013: $6 million, 2014: Free AgentWhy do players sign these balloon contracts? AJ is obviously not getting $10.5 or $11 million his last two years. I've never understood these contracts. It would make sense for younger players because they could refuse to renegotiate and force the team to cut them and they could get big dollars in the open market, but when you're going to be a 33 year old WR, it just doesn't make sense.

A couple of things:Andre Johnson has restructured his contract twice in the last two years to the tune of almost $13 million dollars in upfront money. so even though his base for 2013 and 2014 seem relatively low, he has already received upfront money for those years. Yes, he is not likely to make it to the end of his contract but he knew this when he signed it, it is a way for the Texans to defer more signing bonus/restructuring bonus into the future. Keep in mind that Andre's salary cap number jumps by more than $5 million from 2012 to 2013. Because of the large salary deferrals the Texans probably can't afford to cut Andre from a cap perspective until after the 2014 season without taking a big cap hit. After that, the Texans may decide to keep him if he is still close to his current production.Antonio Smith, I think, is likely to be a cap casualty in the off season as cutting him will save $6 million in cap space. This is especially true if they re-sign Barwin. If they don't re-sign Barwin, they may be able to find a way to keep Antonio.Garrett Graham is under contract through 2013. James Casey will be a free agent this off season.

 

[GregR]

...Why do players sign these balloon contracts? AJ is obviously not getting $10.5 or $11 million his last two years. I've never understood these contracts. It would make sense for younger players because they could refuse to renegotiate and force the team to cut them and they could get big dollars in the open market, but when you're going to be a 33 year old WR, it just doesn't make sense.

This is just me guessing, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is a combination of the agent doing it for self promotion, as well possibly as feeding the ego of the player.The agent would rather go up to a rookie he wants to represent and say, "I got Dre 7 years and $62m!" than he would "I got Dre 5 years and $38m" or whatever part of the contract he realistically sees. And I'm sure most player's egos won't mind that announcement about how they cashed in huge.

 

[GregR]

And actually the team can benefit too in a fashion. Let's say a realistic salary is $4m for that year, your cap hit if you cut him is $6m.

If you do the realistic salary, the media reports you cut a player and now take a $2m cap hit.

If you give him an unrealistic $12m in salary, the media reports you cut a player and save $6m.

Same exact effect on the team's cap either way, he played the same years and you have $6m off your cap. But that extra money you were never going to pay makes it look more like you are making some wise, cost-conscious move.

 

[GregR]

Texans are signing Stanford Routt, according to McClain tweet.

Don't really have any kind of informed opinion on him. Obviously Texans need corners with the injuries. Jason Allen turned out to be a steal for Houston as a midseason signing, hopefully Routt can be the same. Get the impression he may have had personality issues, practice habits or the like that were part of his pair of times being released in the past. Though not sure, it could just be performance on the field.

 

[GregR]

Merry Xmas, Texans style.

http://texansecard.raredesign.com/

 

[GregR]

Watt was given another sack, on the Locker fumble.