Smith was acting on McNair orders.
If you get a chance, listen to Sean Jones' new radio show on AM 790 in the afternoons.
He's dishing some dirt and does not have the shackles of working for the Texans flagship station.
He is saying the same thing about McNair being the true GM and Smith just being his right hand yes-man. This would explain why Smith is Teflon at this point. He only does what his boss tells him to do.
Sean Jones told about very interesting and insightful experience with the early Texans. He was interviewed by Casserly to be a capologist when the franchise was started. He was asked point blank who he'd draft, and he said Julius Peppers. The mentality was that an expansion team would suck for at least a couple of years, so Jones' perspective was to draft a badass defensive player that would be here for 10-15 years. Build the team and then get a QB, because you are most likely picking high over the next several drafts. He said Casserly told him that they were leaning toward David Carr, but were very unsure about it. But, the owner wanted a face of the franchise and a QB could easily be that face. Here's yet another example of a marketing company with a football division.
Jones also said that he knows for a fact that both Casserly and Smith were recommendations by the NFL front office in New York. This tells me that McNair is not really qualified to pick a GM. He listens to advisers, the way most successful corporate CEOs do with boardroom mentalities.
What is really important to this owner? Consecutive sellouts? Color coordinated jerseys and themed games? Merchandise sales where you can find 200+ products with Texans logos on them? This organization certainly earns an A++ in marketing, gameday experiences, and customer service. You know, those things that big corporations do J.D. Power and Associates studies to evaluate and perfect. These are things that you can completely control, unlike the outcome on the field of play.
This quote speaks volumes:
“Frankly, I’m not concerned with what the record is,” McNair said. “I’m concerned about winning the division. That’s what counts – whatever it takes to get there.”
Winning the divisions means jack squat in the bigger picture. Yay, another pretty banner for his football palace, but that's about it when your team gets its ass handed to them 30-0 in a playoff game. There is no hope in that outcome as a fan. It feels like eating whipped cream for dinner. Eat enough of it and you puke.
The more I think about them not picking a QB with 1.1 and opting instead for the likes of Fitzpatrick and Hoyer...honestly, it just disgusts me as a football fan. Nobody can convince me that either of these losers are better than Bridgewater, Carr, or even Bortles. What the hell? They go the "safe" pick and listen to all the media talking heads about "once in a generation player" garbage in spite of reservations by his college coach, injuries, and the eye test. And I have yet to see anything in the dude that suggests that he's at the level of "once in a generation player" when he actually makes it on the field.
It is clear that McNair is making fundamental decisions. Probably not all of them, but crucial ones that waste seasons. Extending David Carr and forcing Kubiak to spend his first year as HC dealing with him. Getting personally involved with contracts and our "legacy player" Andre Johnson. Hiring Wade Phillips. Signing Ed Reed and picking him up with his personal jet. Firing Kubiak mid-season so he could rush to get his Belichick disciple. I have little doubt that the decisions to get South Carolina Gamecock Clowney has McNair's fingerprints all over it.
Call me a heretic, call me a hater, I don't give a crap. I call it like I perceive it, and I have nothing to suggest that competent FOOTBALL people are truly running this organization after closely watching everything for 14 seasons.
The conversation was about how much "better" the Colts are. & while it's not the ultimate goal, consistently beating the mid-level teams is the next logical step on the way towards being a true contender year in, year out.
We're mediocre. The Colts are mediocre. 8-8 teams that win 10~11 games a year because our division sucks. We need to consistently WI 13~15 games a year if we're going to be true contenders.
The Colts were in the 2014 AFC Championship game and only lost to the eventual Super Bowl champions.
That's not mediocre.
They only fell back this year because the most important position on the field was hobbled with injuries. I have no doubt that they will be back next year stronger than ever with a healthy Luck.
Meanwhile, the hapless Texans still need a QB....