Pitts gets new contract

[wags]

Offensive guard Chester Pitts didn't think about the possibility of playing college football until former NFL tackle Kyle Turley spotted him in a grocery store.

Turley suggested Pitts' big body could play in college, so Pitts followed Turley's recommendations and enrolled as a walk-on player at San Diego State. On Wednesday, Pitts, the former grocery worker, bagged one of the biggest contracts given to a guard in the NFL.

Pitts agreed to a four-year contract worth between $19.6 million and $20 million that included $8.1 million in guarantees, which includes a signing bonus and option bonus and a March roster bonus. After bouncing between left guard and tackle during his first three years, Pitts goes on the books as one of the elite guards financially in the league.

The former second-round pick will be watched more closely now that he has joined a top group that includes Larry Allen, Benji Olsen, Mike Wahle, Marco Rivera and others. At 6-foot-4, 329 pounds and with the athletic ability to play left tackle, Pitts has the chance to dominate at the line of scrimmage.

The Texans are trying to find stability along their offensive line. Last year, they tried Seth Wand next to him at left tackle, but the line struggled. This year, the hope is veteran Victor Riley, but the Texans felt Pitts had developed well enough to give him a big contract.

The 26-year-old Pitts was scheduled to make $455,000 this season and he was going to be a free agent after the season.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2154482

[Grid]

woot!

[disaacks3]

Do they subtract any of that $$$ for each false start?

[the wonger need food]

And some people suggest that the Texans overpay for average talent.

Congrats to Chester "Drive Killer" Pitts on the new contract.

[Rovator]

20 million for 4 years? I'm no OL expert but I didn't think he was that good, have I been missing something?

[AndreJ]

Originally Posted by the wonger need food

And some people suggest that the Texans overpay for average talent.

Congrats to Chester "Drive Killer" Pitts on the new contract.

Good grief, could you atleast wait until mid-season and see how he performs before slapping the overpaid tag on him, I agree, this contract is questionable, but atleast give the man a chance to show up to his expectations. I've heard lots of good things about him this pass off-season, but am not sure he was worth the huge contract...lets just wait awhile to see how he lives up to it.

[the wonger need food]

Originally Posted by AndreJ

Good grief, could you atleast wait until mid-season and see how he performs before slapping the overpaid tag on him, I agree, this contract is questionable, but atleast give the man a chance to show up to his expectations. I've heard lots of good things about him this pass off-season, but am not sure he was worth the huge contract...lets just wait awhile to see how he lives up to it.

The question really is... has he earned this contract in his previous years with the team. The guy kills at least 3 drives a game with his bone-headed penalties.

Was this part of the 4-year plan... to have the highest paid, most underperforming offensive line in the NFL?

[texasguy346]

I'm glad to see they've got Pitts locked up for awhile. The coaches think he's got Pro Bowl potential as a G, and he's been a solid guy for us.

[AndreJ]

Dont get me wrong I understand where you guys are coming from...but I'm not ready to stamp the overpaid tag on him, I want to see how his gameplay will be this year. Honestly if he does come out and have an outstanding season and play like an elite OL, will you still think we overpaid for him. However if he doesn't you better believe our front office is never gonna hear the end of this.

[Corrosion]

Whyen Pitts knows the snap count ..... he's good at both run and pass blocking ..... guy just cant seem to remember the snap count .


..... False Start # 69 offense ..... :brickwall


Maybe he'll sit down and learn to count all that money ....


Honestly he's probably the best player on the Texans O-line

[disaacks3]

Originally Posted by corrosion

Honestly he's probably the best player on the Texans O-line

No doubt about it....that's the scary part.

[Runner]

Originally Posted by wags

The Texans are trying to find stability along their offensive line. Last year, they tried Seth Wand next to him at left tackle, but the line struggled. This year, the hope is veteran Victor Riley, but the Texans felt Pitts had developed well enough to give him a big contract.

First of all, great reward for the only O-lineman who has played every single Texans snap. (Of course, that means he was there for all those sacks too).

However, the line has struggled for three years, not just one, and Wand was only there for one. Pendry's solution was to replace a developing player with one who's main attribute seems to be he played right tackle for Pendry in Kanasas City. Hmmm.

I predict once the season starts and we're playing at real game speed, the younger and faster Wand will be starting again. Riley's lack of lateral speed will quickly become apparent, even with the O-line's new pass blocking schemes.

[the wonger need food]

It's starting to become more clear why they cannot pursue free agents, even though they are well under the cap. There are a lot of average players left on the team to lock up with high-dollar, long-term contracts. McKinney should be next on the list.

[Runner]

Originally Posted by the wonger need food

It's starting to become more clear why they cannot pursue free agents, even though they are well under the cap. There are a lot of average players left on the team to lock up with high-dollar, long-term contracts. McKinney should be next on the list.

McKinney's already having his turn at the trough.

[the wonger need food]

Maybe someday these Pro Bowler salaries will translate to Pro Bowl performances. It seems like the Texans have the order kinda messed up though.

[Grid]

god i get tired of the pessimism on this board.

#1 You dont even know the details of his contract yet. it could be frontloaded.. or in some other way that makes the cap hit easily manageable. Our guys in the FO have been very good about paying big bucks to a player, but doing it in a way that doesnt injure us.

#2 He is one of the best Olinemen we have. Actually I would say he is hands down the second best guy we have behind Todd Wade. On top of that he is young and we drafted him ourself. he has played EVERY SNAP for us.

#3 False starts are a MINOR problem. That is something that is fixable in the long run. You dont let a talented player go because he gets a few too many false starts. That would be like letting Andre Johnson go because he drops a few too many passes.



sometimes i just wanna grab people and shake em.

[disaacks3]

Originally Posted by Grid

god i get tired of the pessimism on this board.

#3 False starts are a MINOR problem.

sometimes i just wanna grab people and shake em.

Hey, when Chester can go a couple of games w/o a flag, then I'll get off his case. At this point in Chester's career, he IS only AVERAGE, not a superstar. Untimely flags have killed more than one attempted comeback in this team's history.

I don't want him gone (he IS about the best we have), but that doesn't mean that he's earned a Free Pass from criticism of both his goofs AND his contract.

[nunusguy]

Congrats Chester ! Maybe our best OL ? Almost certainly the most valuable given his youth and upside and he's started every game since he's been here
(I think ?) - coaches always like perfect attendance. And yea, he can play LT and did for his first 2 years.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by Runner

..Pendry's solution was to replace a developing player with one who's main attribute seems to be he played right tackle for Pendry in Kanasas City. Hmmm.

Pendry coached in KC during the early '90s. Riley was drafted by the Chiefs in '98, 5 years after Pendry left. The only reason Riley is starting at LT is because the Texans believe he's better than Wand.

As far as the Pitts contract goes, remember that the salary cap will rise after the CBA with the players is finalized and the new TV money kicks in. In the long run, Pitts will have received a good but not great contract. I'd rather give Pitts $20 million than look to FA in '06 and pay a journeyman guard like Wiegert $18 million.

[awtysst]

Hold it a moment. The guaranteed money on this contract is 8.2 million. If he gets cut after the 3rd year(depending on how the contract is structured), he might walk out with as little as say 10 million(which would be a little over 3.3 million a year). Thats not too much. Remember that most NFL contracts are backloaded and most players will never see the majority of their contract. They will be asked to renogitate or cut. So dont overeact its not too bad at all.