New contracts - free agents and those with contracts running out

[keyser]

Now that we're in the offseason, we need to decide about some free agents. It's also time to try to possibly lock up (or release with minimal penalty) those who only have one year left. Going off of the data on inthebullseye.com, here's how I see them.

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Brown, C.C.
Bruener, Mark
Faggins, Demarcus
Ferguson, Nick
Kalu, N.D.
Pittman, Bryan
Robinson, Dunta
White, Chris
Zgonina, Jeff

Obviously, Dunta is the big name here. He's the only one of these I would push hard to get back, but even that will depend on how much it would cost to keep him. Generally, I think that CBs are some of the most overpriced players for their production, so I expect him to command a very large pricetag.
Most of the others would be OK to bring back, but only if at near-minimum levels; they don't justify large contracts. I would prefer to see Brown and Faggins gone, though, mainly because I think they are both just good enough that they could end up taking a roster spot/starting spot from someone who is just as good (or maybe even better) now, and has better long-term potential.

Restricted Free Agents:

Anderson, David
Butler, Rashad
Daniels, Owen
Dreesen, Joel
Jackson, Scott
McClover, Stanley

I hope they lock up Daniels long-term, and I'd like to see this done sooner, rather than later. I want to see both Dreesen and Anderson around longer, also, but I'd be OK with shorter-term contracts for them. Butler I haven't heard much about, but we should probably keep him for OL depth. I've forgotten who Jackson and McClover are, which means I don't much care what happens with their contracts.

Those with contracts ending after 2009:

Greenwood, Morlon
Pitts, Chester
Demps, Will
Walter, Kevin
Rosenfels, Sage
Brown, Kris
Brown, Chris
Thompson, Chuan
Ryans, Demeco
Turk, Matt
Salaam, Ephraim
Bulman, Tim
Robinson, Deljuan

Greenwood, especially with his high base salary, should be cut. I think it would be wise to lock Walter and Ryans into longer-term contracts now. With one more year like this one, I think Walter's salary demands will go way up. For Ryans, I don't want to see him test free-agency. I wouldn't mind seeing Bulman and Robinson, who have both shown good potential, be locked up for longer if it can be done at very cheap prices. Pitts I'm so-so on; I don't want him to leave, but I don't know that we need to renegotiate just yet, especially since I don't think he'll be super-cheap. For the others, I'd rather just see them play out their year, and decide later.

So, net result: I want to see us get Owen Daniels, Kevin Walter, and Demeco Ryans locked up longer-term. Depending on the price tag, keep Dunta Robinson around, also. Give Dreesen and Anderson contracts to tie them up for a few years at what should be cheaper prices (or, at least, meet the RFA limits). Cut Greenwood. For all the rest, I'd say keep them only if it is done particularly cheaply.

[DiehardChris]

Slaton is going to want a new contract this off-season. Book it. He'll either get a new deal, or he'll hold out.

[misterbahamas]

He just signed his rookie contract before the season. There's not even a remote chance of that happening. Otherwise, DeMeco Ryans would have had a new contract after he won Defensive Rookie of the Year.

[DiehardChris]

Originally Posted by misterbahamas

He just signed his rookie contract before the season. There's not even a remote chance of that happening.

Sincerely,

Ryan Grant

[devo-x]

I would add Kris Brown to the list of players to keep

[Maddict5]

Originally Posted by DiehardChris

Sincerely,

Ryan Grant

and thats about the only example there is and his situation was slightly different in that he wasnt in the first yr of his rookie contract.. and hadnt signed any contract with the packers previously (as he was traded from the giants). plus slaton is cheap but a 3rd rd picks contract is alot better than an udfa's contract

i could mention a load of other cheap rbs who outperformed their contracts but had to sit on them for another yr or 2. it just doesnt happen that teams let their players renegotiate a yr after signing a contract with them

he'll probably sign a new contract... after next season ends at the earliest

[DiehardChris]

I hope you're right. He sure has a ton more leverage than Grant did, as Grant only had half a good season before this year... whereas Slaton is the best rookie, and lead the AFC in total yards from scrimmage.

I hope I'm wrong. I'm just pretty cynical when it comes to player contracts/holdouts and such.

Hopefully Eric Winston will tell him "hey, they'll take care of you when you prove it's not just a one-year wonder." Daniels will get a new deal too... so at least he can look around the locker room and know that he'll be taken care of if he's patient.

[Jackie Chiles]

Portis had a better rookie year than Slaton and he waited until year two before raising a stink about his contract. I expect we will want to see Steve do it again and then pay him accordingly.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by DiehardChris

I hope you're right. He sure has a ton more leverage than Grant did, as Grant only had half a good season before this year... whereas Slaton is the best rookie, and lead the AFC in total yards from scrimmage.

I hope I'm wrong. I'm just pretty cynical when it comes to player contracts/holdouts and such.

Hopefully Eric Winston will tell him "hey, they'll take care of you when you prove it's not just a one-year wonder." Daniels will get a new deal too... so at least he can look around the locker room and know that he'll be taken care of if he's patient.

Slaton isn't getting a new contract. First, having some folks perform on rookie contracts is key to a healthy cap. Second, it would be a horrible example and other players would be resentful. Demeco has one year left and played with a cap hit of $1.3 mil. OD is up and played with a cap hit of 600K. Pretty standard in the league to run at least to one year before the contract is up. Slaton is nice, but he isn't a dominant back that the Texans need or should be giving in to if he made a silly decision to get arrogant at this point.

[DiehardChris]

Originally Posted by infantrycak

Slaton isn't getting a new contract. First, having some folks perform on rookie contracts is key to a healthy cap. Second, it would be a horrible example and other players would be resentful. Demeco has one year left and played with a cap hit of $1.3 mil. OD is up and played with a cap hit of 600K. Pretty standard in the league to run at least to one year before the contract is up. Slaton is nice, but he isn't a dominant back that the Texans need or should be giving in to if he made a silly decision to get arrogant at this point.

I get all that. I just think Slaton might be the guy to demand a bigger contract. OD and DeMeco don't play as sexy a position as Slaton, and while Slaton may not be dominant - he's dominant by Texans standards.... and he did lead the AFC in total yards from scrimmage.

Also - Slaton seems kind of aloof to me. Not in a bad way - but he's always had the attitude that nothing is too big for him, even as a rookie, which is GREAT on the field... but he was also accused of Cadillacing it his last year at WVU to keep fresh for his NFL prospects. I don't know if that's true or not - but it's been said about him.

All I'm saying is - I'm afraid he will ask for a new contract, and I think he might. I want you guys to be right, though. I'm not dogging Steve, believe me. I love the guy.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by DiehardChris

I get all that. I just think Slaton might be the guy to demand a bigger contract. OD and DeMeco don't play as sexy a position as Slaton, and while Slaton may not be dominant - he's dominant by Texans standards.... and he did lead the AFC in total yards from scrimmage.

Also - Slaton seems kind of aloof to me. Not in a bad way - but he's always had the attitude that nothing is too big for him, even as a rookie, which is GREAT on the field... but he was also accused of Cadillacing it his last year at WVU to keep fresh for his NFL prospects. I don't know if that's true or not - but it's been said about him.

All I'm saying is - I'm afraid he will ask for a new contract, and I think he might. I want you guys to be right, though. I'm not dogging Steve, believe me. I love the guy.

Here is the last piece to the equation. He is under contract for three more years. He has jack for leverage. While RBs are high profile he isn't even up to OD's standard yet on NFL significance and he can't afford sitting out. He ain't Larry Johnson coming off back to back 1800 yd seasons. I like the kid and all but if he gets mouthy about it, put the phone down and let him sit on the couch rather than soak in the cheers in the endzone. Won't happen--he'll want the endzone.

[DiehardChris]

Originally Posted by infantrycak

Here is the last piece to the equation. He is under contract for three more years. He has jack for leverage. While RBs are high profile he isn't even up to OD's standard yet on NFL significance and he can't afford sitting out. He ain't Larry Johnson coming off back to back 1800 yd seasons. I like the kid and all but if he gets mouthy about it, put the phone down and let him sit on the couch rather than soak in the cheers in the endzone. Won't happen--he'll want the endzone.

I agree with you. If he DOES ask/demand - I say let him chill and get over it, rather than cave. Our FO seems like the type that "doesn't negotiate with terrorists" if you know what I mean.

Also contract wise, you're right about leverage. When I brought up leverage, I was specifically talking about his on-field numbers.

I'm probably just worrying about nothing.

In fact - you guys are doing a lot to allay my fears.

[threetoedpete]

Originally Posted by DiehardChris

Slaton is going to want a new contract this off-season. Book it. He'll either get a new deal, or he'll hold out.

Then he can sit on the bench and watch. And obviously you weren't or you wouldn't have posted this. He missed a lot of assignments with his pass blocking and blitz pick up....He can color himself lucky if they don't take a front line back on the second day or free agency and stick him back to third down back and take away touches from him. He needs to keep his mouth shut and be the first one ready to go back to work this off season.

Bob McNair has never that I know of cheated one of these guys. Slaton is a long way from the thirty million dollar contract with the ten million guaranteed.

[Second Honeymoon]

Originally Posted by infantrycak

Here is the last piece to the equation. He is under contract for three more years. He has jack for leverage. While RBs are high profile he isn't even up to OD's standard yet on NFL significance and he can't afford sitting out. He ain't Larry Johnson coming off back to back 1800 yd seasons. I like the kid and all but if he gets mouthy about it, put the phone down and let him sit on the couch rather than soak in the cheers in the endzone. Won't happen--he'll want the endzone.

hopefully the Texans learned from the debacle that was resigning Domanick Davis nearly 2 years before we needed to. We all know how that worked out for us. If Slaton has a great 2009, then he can maybe hold out for leverage in 2010 if he doesn't have a new deal by then. To give him a new deal prior to that somewhat diminishes the reward of drafting good players late in the draft. Did early selections like Carr give us money back for being bad players picked early? Quite the contrary. You play your contract out and if you have a problem with it, don't sign the contract in the first place.

This 'touchy feely' contract stuff is why we are in the predicament we are currently in as Texans fans...we should remember the contractural errors we made with DC and Domanick in order to be the 'nice guy'. Screw that. He will get paid sometime in mid to late 2010 if he just keeps running the ball well the next season and a half. Big money.

[wolf123]

Yea no way slaton asks for a new contract.

[Norg]

i wouldnt mind seeing David anderson gone

Andre davis should deff get the notch above him

I dont want dressen gone either the Dressen+OD combo we had going today was pretty sweet

what are we going to do with Sagey now that we got Nall willl Kubes gone into the season with 3 QB hes won some games for us and lost some ..frankily i dont want to see him go after all the heatache hes given me LOL

and JJ o JJ is days are pretty much sealed IMO not unless we want to spend the time coaching him up

[DocBar]

Originally Posted by DiehardChris

Slaton is going to want a new contract this off-season. Book it. He'll either get a new deal, or he'll hold out.

Slaton hasn't said or done a thing that warrants this. He's been pretty professional and talked mostly about what he needs to improve on as a player. I think he'll come in next year and act like he still has a lot to learn. He proved that today. I see a sophomore slump in his future. Not sure why, but I feel it.
As far as the rest of this thread, I hope we keep DROB. I don't think we mortage the ranch to keep him, but definitely respect his status on the team.
I would like to see OD locked up long term. I would also lock up Ryans( THINK about mortgaging the ranch, but DON'T do it), Pitts, KWALT, KB, Turk, Bulman and DelJaun if possible. Bulman and DelJaun were as big of factors as TJ and AO this year. Get 'em to sign marginal contracts for a bit more than minimum. As I've said before, the only players I would break the bank for are AJ and MW. I'm leaning that way on Schaub, also. He's looking a lot more gooder.

[Goatcheese]

Originally Posted by DocBar

Slaton hasn't said or done a thing that warrants this. He's been pretty professional and talked mostly about what he needs to improve on as a player. I think he'll come in next year and act like he still has a lot to learn. He proved that today. I see a sophomore slump in his future. Not sure why, but I feel it.
As far as the rest of this thread, I hope we keep DROB. I don't think we mortage the ranch to keep him, but definitely respect his status on the team.
I would like to see OD locked up long term. I would also lock up Ryans( THINK about mortgaging the ranch, but DON'T do it), Pitts, KWALT, KB, Turk, Bulman and DelJaun if possible. Bulman and DelJaun were as big of factors as TJ and AO this year. Get 'em to sign marginal contracts for a bit more than minimum. As I've said before, the only players I would break the bank for are AJ and MW. I'm leaning that way on Schaub, also. He's looking a lot more gooder.

Schaub has looked more gooder since his first two, horrible, starts this season. He's one of the better QBs in the league, and IMO one of the top priorities for this offseason should be to improve his protection, so he stays healthy.

[DocBar]

Originally Posted by DiehardChris

Slaton is going to want a new contract this off-season. Book it. He'll either get a new deal, or he'll hold out.

Originally Posted by Goatcheese

Schaub has looked more gooder since his first two, horrible, starts this season. He's one of the better QBs in the league, and IMO one of the top priorities for this offseason should be to improve his protection, so he stays healthy.

Only Texans can say "more gooder" and get away with it!!!! BTW, I agree. AFTER we fix the D.

[CT CSTM]

Originally Posted by misterbahamas

Otherwise, DeMeco Ryans would have had a new contract after he won Defensive Rookie of the Year.

He asked for another contract at that time and they told him '"No",,,