SB Nation User Blog: Tim

Put On Your Smithiak Hat: What Would You Pay DeMeco Ryans, Owen Daniels, And/Or Dunta Robinson?

Tim — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:33:47 -0000

Much has been written, here and elsewhere, about the ongoing contract drama with DeMeco Ryans, Owen Daniels, and Dunta Robinson. What we haven't really delved into, however, is what you, the Houston Texans fan, would pay those guys if you were spending Bob McNair's money. As such, I figure it's high time we put our fanaticism to the test.

So put on your best Rick Smith hat and tell us in the Comments below: What would be the terms of the best and final contract offer you'd make DeMeco, OD, and/or Dunta? Keep in mind that we're talking NFL contracts, so the guaranteed money is the key. As a yardstick, here are what appear to be the current most lucrative multi-year linebacker, tight end, and cornerback deals. Although those deals are not determinative, you know that each player's respective agent is using those numbers as a guide.

Make the call, BRB. If you're Rick Smith, what's your final offer to each of the aforementioned disenchanted Texans?

Preach On, Brother Vega

Tim — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:28:37 -0000

Preach On, Brother Vega

I couldn't agree more with Vega's assessment of the Dunta, OD, and DeMeco situations.

BREAKING NEWS: Kris Brown Signs Extension

Tim — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:30:24 -0000

I know this isn't the contract news we've all been waiting for, but Kris Brown agreed to a four-year extension with your Houston Texans today. Brown has been with the Texans since the very beginning and has been awfully close to automatic throughout his time here, which makes him the anti-David Carr, I suppose.

Anyway, good for K. Brown, and good for the Texans. Now, let's use Bob McNair's ATM card to get something ironed out with DeMeco Ryans.

Deja Vu: Rex Grossman Is Your New Quinn Gray

Tim — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:51:00 -0000

Although it was met with quite a bit of hand-wringing and "Orlovksy must look terrible" yelps, I think Rex Grossman's arrival in H-Town is going to end up a non-story. Remember when Quinn Gray signed a one-year deal with your Houston Texans in March of 2008? Many of us breathlessly wondered whether a trade of Sage Rosenfels was imminent, or whether Gray was Schaub insurance, or whether Kubes was serious about carrying three QBs on the active roster. And what happened? Gray got cut before he ever took a preseason snap.

Now, a little more than a year later, Rex Grossman signs a one-year deal with the Texans, and the cycle begins anew, complete with Kubes repeating his intent to dress three QBs. The only real difference from last year is the dramatically decreased, dare I say negligible, possibility of the incumbent No. 2 quarterback being dealt, replaced by the reality that the organization just gave pretty decent guaranteed money to Dan Orlovsky to get him in a Texans uniform. It's a bit early for buyer's remorse, isn't it? Orlovsky hasn't even put the pads on yet. Honestly, I find it hard to imagine that Smithiak or anyone else would tacitly admit they whiffed so badly on a high-dollar free agent acquisition that they'd be lining up his replacement before training camp began.

Thus, like Quinn Gray, I'm betting that Rex Grossman will be little more than a camp body. From the organization's perspective, bringing Grossman to town is a great move. He's been a starter and has playoff experience. We can say what we want about the guy, but that doesn't grow on trees. For the one-year minimum, why not bring Grossman in?

Truth be told, I'm shocked that Grossman couldn't find a better situation than Houston. Because when it all shakes out, I'd wager the 2009 Houston Texans depth chart at QB looks eerily similar to the 2008 depth chart--Matt Schaub's name at the top, followed by a quarterback with a trisyllabic surname and nothing else.

WANTED: More Writers At BRB

Tim — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:56:25 -0000

Interested in becoming a regular writer/contributor here at BRB? If so, we've got great news for you: We're taking applications. As you've probably noticed, things have slowed down here a bit lately. While some of that is simply the result of the NFL calendar, some of it is due to life getting in the way of blogging. As a result, TransientTexan and I are asking for help.

So here's what we're looking for: One or two new voices who will commit to getting four (4) new posts up each week. We want to begin implementing a "Daily Links" feature on the site; doing that alone would be good for at least five new posts each week, so the work load shouldn't be too overwhelming. In addition to that, you'd also of course be free to wax poetic about any other topic Texan and/or NFL-related.

Intrigued? Then e-mail us a potential post on anything Houston Texan to battleredblog@gmail.com by Thursday, June 18th at noon. I promise you that TT and I will read everything that comes in to us and get back to you as quickly as we can. Thanks in advance to everyone who writes in; we're looking forward to making BRB even better.

Memo To Owen Daniels: Don't Go Dunta On Us

Tim — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:24:44 -0000

When a Texan is hoping for a new contract, it's not generally a good idea to get compared to Dunta Robinson. Especially in the headline to a story reporting on how you're no longer attending OTAs.

As much as I wish Owen Daniels was taking the DeMeco Ryans approach to his contract woes, I'm not going to bite OD's head off for deciding to walk away from voluntary workouts. He's not required to be there, and I can't blame the guy (or, more likely, his agent) for attempting to use what little leverage exists (remember--OD has been tendered at the highest level; it's not like he's an unrestricted free agent) to his advantage. Contract negotiations are business, and I understand that.

What I will take issue with is OD taking a page out of the Dunta Robinson School of Public Relations and posting needlessly inflammatory accusations of unfairness on his Facebook page. What benefit comes out of complaining publicly about "unfairness on the Texans side?" Or writing inane generalities like "sometimes you just have to stick up for yourself?" Does OD really think that people are going to read that and become convinced that the organization is out to screw him?

Look at what bitching publicly has done for Dunta Robinson. He's managed to turn a significant portion, if not the vast majority, of the fan base against him. The fact of the matter is that this is a battle OD can't win right now. From the player's perspective, no good can come out of criticizing his employer at this point. As with Dunta, the team holds all the cards. Why unnecessarily inflame an inherently delicate situation? Daniels needs to look at Dunta's handling of a similar scenario for what it is: A cautionary tale, not a model on how to conduct oneself during negotiations.

Brice McCain Is First Texans Draftee To Sign

Tim — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:21:43 -0000

Brice McCain Is First Texans Draftee To Sign

Does this mean the clock is finally ticking on Jacoby Jones' time in Houston? McCain seems to have the skill set to be able to step into the return game fairly quickly, doesn't he?

Riddle Me This: Which QB Would You Want Under Center In '09 Over Matt Schaub?

Tim — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:37:05 -0000

We're neck-deep in the offseason doldrums again, which means it's as good a time as any for to have the kind of discussions you'd have with your buddies over beers (or root beer floats, if you're not the boozing type). So riddle me this, BRB: Which QB(s) would you rather have quarterbacking your Houston Texans in 2009 over Matt Schaub? Note that I said "in 2009." I'm not talking about having someone for the next three, five, or ten seasons. Just next year. Who would you rather have?

Me? I'd rather have these QBs, and only these QBs, under center for the Texans in 2009 over Matt Schaub. In no particular order:

1. Peyton Manning
2. Tom Brady
3. Drew Brees
4. Ben Roethlisberger

Annnnnd...that's it. You read that right. Not Romo. Not Rivers. Not E. Manning. Not McNabb. Not Warner (though for a single season, with the weapons the Texans boast on offense, he might be the toughest omission from this list).

Does this make me a complete honk for The Schaub? Or am I being rational? You tell me in the Comments below by posting your own list.

Owen Daniels and Rick Smith: Who's Chicken?

Tim — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:05:06 -0000

Owen Daniels and Rick Smith: Who's Chicken?

Thanks to marroncito for bringing this to my attention. How tough are Rick Smith and Bob McNair willing to get if OD hasn't signed his tender by June 15th?

Texans All-Access Event: Notes And Musings

Tim — Thu, 28 May 2009 02:14:52 -0000

Tonight was the annual "All-Access" extravaganza at Reliant Stadium. In short, it's the organization's yearly thank-you to its season ticket base. Fans get to show up, meet some of the players and coaching staff, get autographs, chow down on some free food and drinks, and listen to team representatives talk about how Texans fans are the greatest in the world. It's a nice deal, if for no other reason than the fact that it's the one designated day each year that the organization attempts to reimburse, albeit incrementally, all of the fans who fill Reliant and plunk down their hard earned money year after year, regardless of the seemingly interminable wait for a playoff appearance. Ever intrepid blogger that I am (read: there was free food and drinks, for chrissakes), I ventured back to Reliant and was struck by the following:

1. Brian Cushing is still sporting that damn ponytail. I won't pretend that I can be anything close to unbiased when it comes to Cushing. Not even going to try. I will say, however, that I found myself getting angry just at the thought of him sporting that Steven Seagal look come the preseason. And I say that as someone who thinks this scene is perhaps the greatest cinematic moment of my generation.

2. Guess which Texans player had the shortest autograph line (at least that I saw)? Clue: He's a former first-round pick. Clue: His most famous play as a professional football player involved his knee and a QB's head. That's right--Travis Johnson. I briefly thought about getting his John Hancock in the name of gallows humor, much like when I got Phillip Buchanon's autograph at DFW immediately after he was torched for 900 yards at Dallas a few years back (he was cut the very next day; I still have the article and autograph in my office...both will be framed eventually). Then I realized that I'd hate myself for getting Travis Johnson's autograph under any circumstance.

3. Gary Kubiak was personable and extraordinarily likable to every fan I saw him encounter. His signature also resembles that of a kindergarten student with a marker.

4. Glover Quin is bigger than I thought he'd be. This is intriguing.

5. Troy Nolan was absolutely ecstatic to be there. Even though the guy's a long shot to make this team, little stuff like that will make me root for him.

6. My buddy asked David Anderson about his mother's cookies, to which DA replied that he was spoiled by how tasty they were and that he had to watch how many he ate, lest he become fat. That will make you snicker if you listen to 1560. Anderson also asked a young girl whether her No. 8 jersey said "Carr" or "Schaub" on the back. I now badly want to drink a beer or ten with David Anderson.

7. I thought long and hard about getting Jacoby Jones' autograph, purely for the opportunity to hand him a ball while remarking, "Don't drop it!" Sadly, I needed a drink, and I decided thirst trumped comedy.

8. A bunch of the players--Super Mario, Schaub, Andre Johnson, Chester Pitts, Steve Slaton, and Antonio Smith, to name a few--got up on stage and were introduced by Rick Smith. DeMeco Ryans was not among them. This makes sense, considering his contract situation, but I really think his presence would've only underscored the "he's-a-good-guy-and-great-player-pay-him-already" mojo he's been banking by showing up at OTAs.

9. Is there anyone among you who actually likes the Houston Texans Pep Band? Because I've never met a single soul who does, and I can't understand why a professional football team would feature a band. This isn't college.

10. Judging by the slogan emblazoned on the t-shirts sported by the players, the 2009 official team slogan is "Be There." Now, I consider this an improvement over "I'm A Texan," but can't we do better than that? I hereby challenge BRB--leave your suggested team marketing slogan in the Comments below.