Who is Jamey Rootes?

[record]

I just fired off all this below to an email discussion group about the current state of the Texans and thought I would share it here as well.....

Yes, the Texans are in a tough position with tough questions and just firing the coaches without having answers isn't going to help. Who out of the following group will make those decisions besdies the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer?

http://www.houstontexans.com/team/front-office.html

You can't let the GM make that decision since he was basically hired by Kubes and is just slightly less responsible for the current situation than Kubes himself. I don't notice anybody with a successful football background at the top of the Texans food chain besides Kubes. That is what Casserly was supposed to be. When Bob finally discovered that he was a miserable failure, they brought Dan Reeves in as a consultant who suggested hiring Kubes. Bob decided to hand the keys to the entire organization over to Kubes at that time including letting him hand pick the GM and all coaches since then. Here we are five years later and although the franchise is vastly improved, it is beyond time to take the next step. Someone needs to be brought in to answer those questions. I'm not talking about a new coach so much, but a new person on top of the entire football chain of operations to look over every aspect of how the football side of the organization is run. Who ever this Jamey Rootes guy is that the Texans show as our president is not being utilized like most other organizations utilize their team president.

IMO - Someone above the current HC/GM combo needs to be put in place to make those decisions prior to just firing people and hiring a new HC. Letting the HC hire the GM didn't work before, so don't do it again. The team needs to be restructured and organized better from the top down.

[houstonspartan]

Rootes is basically the person in charge of everything off the field. Ticket sales, marketing, the management of Reliant Stadium and community relations all fall under him.

I don't think he has anything to do with actual on-field operations. However, since ticket sales fall under him, you better believe he has to listen to angry fans.

[Runner]

Originally Posted by houstonspartan

Rootes is basically the person in charge of everything off the field. Ticket sales, marketing, the management of Reliant Stadium and community relations all fall under him.

I don't think he has anything to do with actual on-field operations. However, since ticket sales fall under him, you better believe he has to listen to angry fans.

Marketing? You can't go much higher up the Texans food chain than that!

[houstonspartan]

Originally Posted by Runner

Marketing? You can't go much higher up the Texans food chain than that!

LOL!

Very true.

[Mr. White]

The most powerful man in the organization.

[IDEXAN]

Originally Posted by Runner

Marketing? You can't go much higher up the Texans food chain than that!

When you say marketing I gather you mean Texans organizational activities to maximize ticket sales & other forms of revenue ? And if that's what you do mean, then does that mean you really believe that McNairs economic goals for his organization preempt virtually all competitive goals for the team on the field of play ?

[record]

Let's look at the structure of some other organizations in the NFL that it would be nice to mimic:

http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=mgersandexecs - They have a Senior football Advisor named Floyd Reese

http://www.steelers.com/team/front-office.html - not a good comparison because the Rooney family has NFL football in their blood

http://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/staff.html - Mickey Loomis has 25 years of NFL experience.

http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?id=89&p...mation_dynamic - currently run by Bill Polian's son

My point is that we need a decision maker(s) at the top of our organization that has devoted their entire professional career to running successful NFL organizations in some capacity. Someone who has it as part of thier DNA....Suggestions?

[Mr. White]

Originally Posted by IDEXAN

When you say marketing I gather you mean Texans organizational activities to maximize ticket sales & other forms of revenue ? And if that's what you do mean, then does that mean you really believe that McNairs economic goals for his organization preempt virtually all competitive goals for the team on the field of play ?

There's a quote in somebody's signature that says "The Texans are a marketing organization with a football department." A lot of people around this board have been saying this for years.

It's hard to argue with because they haven't done anything to disprove that assertion.

[IDEXAN]

Originally Posted by Mr. White

It's hard to argue with because they haven't done anything to disprove that assertion.

Did you not think McNair was very generous in the new contract agreements he reached with Andre J. & DeMeco this year ? And weren't those examples of an owner who wants to spend money to retain and further motivate key members of his team for the purpose of elevating team performance ?

[Runner]

Originally Posted by IDEXAN

When you say marketing I gather you mean Texans organizational activities to maximize ticket sales & other forms of revenue ? And if that's what you do mean, then does that mean you really believe that McNairs economic goals for his organization preempt virtually all competitive goals for the team on the field of play ?

I said marketing because the original post didn't say PR, and marketing was as close as he got. PR is where the Texans really kick butt.

And the "preempt virtually all" stuff are your words not mine. He knows he has to be somewhat competitive to reach the economic goals of the corporation. Is he willing to go all out to win? I don't think so. For example, Mike Vick will be a hot property free agent next year - I doubt the Texans pursue him because of his ugly past even if it is determined that he could immediately help the team.

Note that Vick is an example; there are plenty of players that aren't squeeky clean who could help the Texans. I'm sure that there are many posters who could nitpick Vick's style and show he would obviously a horrible fit;* that's not the point.

*I see that all the time in head coach discussions. It amazes me that there isn't a single coach that could replace the mediocre Kubiak. I also saw it last year when it was "proven" that it was virtually impossible to replace Kris Brown during the season.

[Honoring Earl 34]

Originally Posted by Runner

I said marketing because the original post didn't say PR, and marketing was as close as he got. PR is where the Texans really kick butt.

Yep ... battle red , liberty white , and fan's are blue day coming to you . Let's all go out and buy an outfit for each game so we can show up in style to cheer your team to another whoopin at home .

[Mr. White]

Originally Posted by IDEXAN

Did you not think McNair was very generous in the new contract agreements he reached with Andre J. & DeMeco this year ? And weren't those examples of an owner who wants to spend money to retain and further motivate key members of his team for the purpose of elevating team performance ?

I'll let a season ticket holder answer that one. They've spent thousands more on this team than I have.

[DexmanC]

Originally Posted by record

Let's look at the structure of some other organizations in the NFL that it would be nice to mimic:

http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=mgersandexecs - They have a Senior football Advisor named Floyd Reese

The same Floyd Reese the Bud Adams fired to keep Jeff Fisher?

That's worked out well for the Titans.

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by IDEXAN

When you say marketing I gather you mean Texans organizational activities to maximize ticket sales & other forms of revenue ? And if that's what you do mean, then does that mean you really believe that McNairs economic goals for his organization preempt virtually all competitive goals for the team on the field of play ?

Let me ask you: Do you think McNair has a win at all cost mentality?

And if so, then explain why we did not sign any quality free agent(s) for our secondary, instead relying on unproven and sub-par players for a year that we were supposed to make it to the playoffs. This is clearly the biggest hole on this team, and everyone knew it going into this season. Does that strike you as an organization that puts winning as it's highest priority?

I have no doubt that McNair wants to win. However, I do not think he knows how to accomplish that goal, and further, he wants to win on his terms. The NFL is not a league that slows down for the ignorant or noble-minded. It represents the epitome of fierce competition where winning is the only goal.

[houstonspartan]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

I have no doubt that McNair wants to win. However, I do not think he knows how to accomplish that goal, and further, he wants to win on his terms. The NFL is not a league that slows down for the ignorant or noble-minded. It represents the epitome of fierce competition where winning is the only goal.

100 percent correct, my friend.

The Texans want to mimic the Steelers, which is basically a franchise on autopilot. Fine. However, what people don't understand about the Steelers is that they have VERY high standards. Mike Tomlin made reference recently about how players have to "act like a Steeler" or something along those lines. Translation: Act like a tough player that wants to win. No excuses.

The reason the Steelers are the Steelers is because they accept no excuses.

As you pointed out, McNair wants to win, but he wants it the way HE wants it. He wants his good guys on the team to be able to be winners.

Nope. It doesn't always work out that way. Hines Ward is often considered a very dirty player, but ask the Steelers management if they'd ever consider giving him up? Hell, the Steeler even gave their rapist QB another chance. I, personally, disagreed with that move, but, it is what it is, and they realized that they needed a QB and that they wanted to give that degenerate another shot. But you better believe that the Rooneys put Big Ben in his place.

[DexmanC]

Originally Posted by houstonspartan

100 percent correct, my friend.

The Texans want to mimic the Steelers, which is basically a franchise on autopilot. Fine. However, what people don't understand about the Steelers is that they have VERY high standards. Mike Tomlin made reference recently about how players have to "act like a Steeler" or something along those lines. Translation: Act like a tough player that wants to win. No excuses.

The reason the Steelers are the Steelers is because they accept no excuses.
As you pointed out, McNair wants to win, but he wants it the way HE wants it. He wants his good guys on the team to be able to be winners.

Nope. It doesn't always work out that way. Hines Ward is often considered a very dirty player, but ask the Steelers management if they'd ever consider giving him up? Hell, the Steeler even gave their rapist QB another chance. I, personally, disagreed with that move, but, it is what it is, and they realized that they needed a QB and that they wanted to give that degenerate another shot. But you better believe that the Rooneys put Big Ben in his place.

When Harrison caught a fine for clocking a receiver so hard, it made him
drop the ball at around th 15-yardline, he responded with "The game was
on the line." James Harrison, in spite of catching $125,000 in fines, is
still laying himself ALL-THE-WAY on the line every game. The same
could be said for every single Steeler, from the administration to the field.

The Texans are pretenders, who have yet to learn what it takes to be a
winner.

[pbat488]

this is pretty funny his name got brought up, cause last weekend during the titans game I got to go into the president's suite at reliant to watch part of the game and met and talked to him for a few minutes about the texans and dynamo and other stuff.. I recognized his name but had no idea who he was when we were introduced and then it dawned on me that he was the guy who not only was prezbo for the texans but also did a lot of the soccer organizing at reliant so I talked to him about that for a while...

story as to how we got in... one of my best friends from high school has an aunt who is mr. rootes secretary/personal assistant or something, I don't know, but she works directly under him.. anyways, she gets a set of tickets and field passes to give away every home game and she always gives one week to him per season and he usually takes me and some other friends from home.. so we got on the field before the game, had great seats in 327 and then got to walk into the president's suite and feast in there for halftime and part of the 3rd all because his aunt works for him... as for mr. rootes, he's way younger than you might expect him to be and he just has that air of infallibility that makes him seem like he's always got an answer or idea and it's just right..

anways, it was an awesome, awesome time, being on field level was great before the game, seeing players relaxed and with no helmets or anything on... i'll post some of the pics I took on my phone, didn't get a whole lot cause I was having more fun just soaking it all in.

[IDEXAN]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

Let me ask you: Do you think McNair has a win at all cost mentality?

And if so, then explain why we did not sign any quality free agent(s) for our secondary, instead relying on unproven and sub-par players for a year that we were supposed to make it to the playoffs. This is clearly the biggest hole on this team, and everyone knew it going into this season. Does that strike you as an organization that puts winning as it's highest priority?

I have no doubt that McNair wants to win. However, I do not think he knows how to accomplish that goal, and further, he wants to win on his terms. The NFL is not a league that slows down for the ignorant or noble-minded. It represents the epitome of fierce competition where winning is the only goal.

That's the 64 $ question isn't it, what went into the decision to "go young in the secondary", as Kubiak called it (or something to that effect). I don't know, but I bet there's a bunch of people in the Texans organization, including all the way to the top, second-guessing themselves about that decision these days. And wondering if whatever economic consideration they gave to adding vet personnel to the backend was the right call ?
BTW, I don't think any owner in the NFL would adopt a philosophy of winning at any cost. I think first and foremost any owner would preserve/secure their financial investment for the sake of themselves and their family. Now to the question of how much of ROI/cash-flow from operations they would be willing to assign to winning/playoff football, I don't know how McNair would stack up against other owners ? Sounds like you seem to think he ranks towards the bottom of the list ?

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by IDEXAN

That's the 64 $ question isn't it, what went into the decision to "go young in the secondary", as Kubiak called it (or something to that effect). I don't know, but I bet there's a bunch of people in the Texans organization, including all the way to the top, second-guessing themselves about that decision these days. And wondering if whatever economic consideration they gave to adding vet personnel to the backend was the right call ?
BTW, I don't think any owner in the NFL would adopt a philosophy of winning at any cost. I think first and foremost any owner would preserve/secure their financial investment for the sake of themselves and their family. Now to the question of how much of ROI/cash-flow from operations they would be willing to assign to winning/playoff football, I don't know how McNair would stack up against other owners ? Sounds like you seem to think he ranks towards the bottom of the list ?

I honestly don't know. I can speculate like everyone else, but that's all it will be. All of us are on the outside looking in, which is the case for 99.9% of NFL fans, regardless of cities.

I'm certainly not delusional with regards to what the NFL is all about at the end of the day. It's an entertainment industry, and as such, these owners operate to make a profit.

However, even the worst teams in the league make a profit due to television revenue, salary caps, and equitable profit sharing. That much is a given and known by all.

Where different owners value winning vs. profits is what we're talking about, an in that regard, we get back to opinion and speculation.

I like McNair, and will always have deep gratitude to him for bringing pro football back to our city. In addition, I think he is heads and tails above the previous owner in terms of class and desire to provide Houston football fans with the best gameday experience (off the field) that his franchise can provide.

I wanted that disclaimer mentioned simply because I do not want to be perceived as criticizing the owner based upon some kind of hate or envy or misguided attitude.

That being said, I don't think profits are where his faults are at with regards to putting a winning product on the field. I think he would pull the trigger on a pricey FA if his front office was convinced that it would improve the team. I don't think he's the meddling kind of owner in the vein of a Jones, Adams, or Davis. He strikes me as more of a Bob Kraft kind of owner, hiring what he believes are qualified football men to run his franchise.

And there is where his mistakes have been made, IMO (and obviously this is Captain Hindsight 20/20 vision). Whatever standard(s) he has established for hiring these men is where my curiosity is at, and would he be willing to step outside of that box to hire a GM and/or HC whose personalities might not reflect his own demeanor?

It is because of my perception of this last point that I am convinced that Kubiak gets another year and they sacrifice Frank Bush as a scapegoat. And I would not be surprised to see Wade Phillips here as DC for a variety of reasons, both in terms of his resume as a defensive coach, as well as the potential marketing angle. I could be completely off here, but perhaps it's just conditioning myself for Kubiak to be here another year.

All of that being said, would he ever hire a guy like Cowher or Bill Parcells? Coaches with strong opinions and attitudes that get mad and scream, because I'm not sure if that would be copacetic with McNair's personality and vision for the team.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by Mr. White

There's a quote in somebody's signature that says "The Texans are a marketing organization with a football department."

It was Vinny who coined the term:

Originally Posted by Vinny

You mean this isn't a Marketing team with a football division?