Still think Owen Daniels will be a cap casualty next year?

[Allstar]

He was sorely missed in Chicago, especially on third downs. He may not be the fastest or strongest TE in the game, but the man has an ELITE knack for getting OPEN, and it's more than likely going to be a first down every time he catches it.

Losing OD takes a dimension out of our game that I don't think we can afford to lose. I'd hesitate to cut Antonio Smith as well. I just hope to god we can afford to pay Quin and Barwin if we keep the aforementioned duo.

[Double Barrel]

yep. Graham dropped a couple that would have been easy first downs for Daniels. You also cannot overlooked how great O.D. has been at blocking for both the running game and pass protection. Hopefully they can figure out a way to keep him under the cap.

[kiwitexansfan]

I think he will be.

I think he gets open as much from scheme as anything.

Yesterday's game was no measuring stick, everything offensive was offensive.

Casey and Graham can make up for whatever we lose with OD.

Next Man Up.

[welsh texan]

Even more than simply the loss of OD's routes and hands, we were forced to play Harris at TE on some plays throughout the game I noticed.

That tips our hand to the D before the snap in a way our O isn't designed to cope with at all.

[IDEXAN]

GG made a very strong effort to extend that play for another 5-7 yards after the pass he caught to set up the successful FG attempt on the next play.

[awc713]

Originally Posted by IDEXAN

GG made a very strong effort to extend that play for another 5-7 yards after the pass he caught to set up the successful FG attempt on the next play.

owen also would have made that critical catch on third down that graham missed...owen, thoguh hes not a #2 receiver, is a great secondary option that spreads our field.

i hope we can keep him. i do think there would be a dropoff if we lose both dressen and him. casey is good yes, but were using him at FB.

[spurstexanstros]

Originally Posted by Allstar

He was sorely missed in Chicago, especially on third downs. He may not be the fastest or strongest TE in the game, but the man has an ELITE knack for getting OPEN, and it's more than likely going to be a first down every time he catches it.

Losing OD takes a dimension out of our game that I don't think we can afford to lose. I'd hesitate to cut Antonio Smith as well. I just hope to god we can afford to pay Quin and Barwin if we keep the aforementioned duo.

Thats why I dubbed him "Open" Daniels

[silvrhand]

Hard to tell with the weather, the ball placement wasn't great at all from Schaub last night, so not really fair to gauge the entire season and replacement based on one game.

They'll run the numbers with Owen in and out and have all the stats to break down before they make that decision. He's likely going to have to take a bit of a pay cut likely if he wants to stay though.

[TheMatrix31]

Keeping Daniels is a must. Yes, a must.

[dc_txtech]

I would like to see Dutch comment on the salary implications but rotoworld has him listed to make 4 million next season.

That seems manageable to me but there are so many other factors that come in to play. We still have a lot of other good players that are going to want to get paid when their contracts come up and it basically becomes a numbers game. If Daniels gets cut it will be strictly a business decision imo.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by dc_txtech

I would like to see Dutch comment on the salary implications but rotoworld has him listed to make 4 million next season.

That seems manageable to me but there are so many other factors that come in to play. We still have a lot of other good players that are going to want to get paid when their contracts come up and it basically becomes a numbers game. If Daniels gets cut it will be strictly a business decision imo.

For the Texans to keep him the the next two seasons they have to pay him a $3 mil option bonus this year which would be prorated over this year and the next two.

So 2012 cap hit is $4 mil in base salary, $750k in prorated signing bonus and $1 mil in prorated option bonus for a total salary cap hit of $5.75 mil.

If they do not pay the option bonus they will have to account for $1.5 mil in unprorated signing bonus.

[Wolf6151]

I think OD will be back next year. I don't remember the numbers but I don't think we've paid OD all of the guaranteed money in his contract plus his signing bonus money. I don't think McNair likes paying dead money out, so I think OD will be back next season.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by Wolf6151

I think OD will be back next year. I don't remember the numbers but I don't think we've paid OD all of the guaranteed money in his contract plus his signing bonus money. I don't think McNair likes paying dead money out, so I think OD will be back next season.

Signing bonuses are always guaranteed and its paid because it was paid at signing. The rest was a guarantee of his first year salary. So its paid. Now proration is another issue.

[JamesBill]

I hope not. #88 has not stepped up the way Joel Dreessen did in OD's absence. I think Graham and a young WR would really have to step their game up for the Texans to feel comfortable letting OD go. He is having a great year so far.

[Norg]

no way the front office will lose 2 Starting TE's in two years

unless they see someone they really like in the draft of F/a OD will get payed

[aussie_texan]

he'll be back because there would be to much of a drop off at TE, we would be very weak there. GG is decent back up only