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Don't Shut the Door on Vonta Yet

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Gary Kubiak Calls Vonta Leach

HOUSTON - Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak called free agent fullback Vonta Leach Tuesday to let him know how much he hopes they can retain his services, according to Leach's agent.

"I think it's great," said Ralph Vitolo, in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. "It shows their committment to Vonta.

"With the head coach involved, hopefully it'll make the job easier to get him signed with Houston."

Leach was named Associated Press First-Team All-Pro last season, his best year in the NFL.

Vitolo said because of that he wants his client to become the highest-paid fullback in the league.

"He deserves to be the highest paid based on the merits he accomplished last season," Vitolo said.

"We are a merits-based society."

Leach just finished a four-year contract worth about $8.2 million.

The highest paid fullback in the NFL is the Eagles' Leonard Weaver, whose contract is for three years worth $11.2 million.

Vitolo said Kubiak wasn't the only Texans offical to call him Tuesday.

So did Chris Olsen, Texans vice-president/football administation.

"We didn't talk numbers, but he reached out to me as soon as he could and I thought that was good of him," Vitolo said.
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I may be in the minority here, but I would be a little worried if we didn't sign Vonta. That cat was a HUGE part in Foster's success last season and he is one tough & durable SOB. I don't think it's as easy as "plug in another FB and have the same results."
 
I wouldn't worry too much. Casey can get the job done, and he can fill in at WR, RB, QB, and TE. Oh yeah long snapper also.
 
I would love to see VL sign a $3.5 mil contract for 3 years. That's suitable for his position. If not, look out for more single back sets and an opened up offense along the lines of the Colts and sAints. Win-win for the Texans. When you're a fullback in the NFL, your head should be swollen from contact, not ego.
 
Cjeremy635 said:
I may be in the minority here, but I would be a little worried if we didn't sign Vonta. That cat was a HUGE part in Foster's success last season and he is one tough & durable SOB. I don't think it's as easy as "plug in another FB and have the same results."
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agreed.:fans:
 
Cjeremy635 said:
I may be in the minority here, but I would be a little worried if we didn't sign Vonta. That cat was a HUGE part in Foster's success last season and he is one tough & durable SOB. I don't think it's as easy as "plug in another FB and have the same results."
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Not disagreeing, but does anyone have a breakdown of the % of plays VL was on the field for and what the average yds per play that he was on the field for comes up to? That will go a long way towards determining if we resigning him or go with Casey.
 
DocBar said:
Not disagreeing, but does anyone have a breakdown of the % of plays VL was on the field for and what the average yds per play that he was on the field for comes up to? That will go a long way towards determining if we resigning him or go with Casey.
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From the stats I've seen Foster got the majority of his yards while working out of a single back set and when Leach was on the sideline and off the field, but it was by a slim margin. It's still just a stat though and doesn't take into account the down and distance where we ran Foster behind Leach. I still think we should retain Vonta, but it does show that Leach wasn't the end all be all to Foster's success last season.
 
Carr Bombed said:
From the stats I've seen Foster got the majority of his yards while working out of a single back set and when Leach was on the sideline and off the field, but it was by a slim margin. It's still just a stat though and doesn't take into count the down and distance where we ran Foster behind Leach. I still think we should retain Vonta
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I agree, but it's mostly been on an emotional level. Now that we're talking a potential Leach vs. Aso decision, screw Leach. Sign Aso. I'd rather use a player under contract.
 
Maybe it's just me, but I don't know why there is all of this talk of Casey stepping up to fill Vonta's shoes.
Casey is a good guy, a good all around athlete, and is a good story, but IMO, he's a role player at best. Even then, I'd be hard pressed to say exactly what his strongest role actually is.
I like the guy, but I'm not seeing all of the starting potential that many of you are seeing. I think Casey's bottle rocket has reached it's zenith.
 
michaelm said:
Maybe it's just me, but I don't know why there is all of this talk of Casey stepping up to fill Vonta's shoes.
Casey is a good guy, a good all around athlete, and is a good story, but IMO, he's a role player at best. Even then, I'd be hard pressed to say exactly what his strongest roles actually is.
I like the guy, but I'm not seeing all of the starting potential that many of you are seeing. I think Casey's bottle rocket has reached it's zenith.
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You obviously don't understand the roles that college TE's can fill in a Kubiak offense. They're like super ninja's or even better.
 
So anyone that makes a pro-bowl gets to be the highest paid at their position?

Get real Mr. Agent. VL's performance MERITS a good, decent contract. Highest paid fullback ever? No.
 
Cjeremy635 said:
I may be in the minority here, but I would be a little worried if we didn't sign Vonta. That cat was a HUGE part in Foster's success last season and he is one tough & durable SOB. I don't think it's as easy as "plug in another FB and have the same results."
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Count me in on the minority, too. I think it's foolish to not sign Vonta.
 
Is it possible to sign Vonta without a huge hit to our cap? I want Vonta back, but I'd prefer Asomuhdfhasdfhah, the CB.
 
Carr Bombed said:
From the stats I've seen Foster got the majority of his yards while working out of a single back set and when Leach was on the sideline and off the field, but it was by a slim margin. It's still just a stat though and doesn't take into account the down and distance where we ran Foster behind Leach. I still think we should retain Vonta, but it does show that Leach wasn't the end all be all to Foster's success last season.
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Even with Leach on the bench, single-back sets were probably successful
because of the damage Leach did to those linebackers while in the game.
He was SMASHIN' linebackers all year long.
 
I hope he realizes the highest paid FB in the league just got released. I think his value just took a hit and he should get an average of 2.5-3 mill a year.
 
NBT said:
I wouldn't worry too much. Casey can get the job done, and he can fill in at WR, RB, QB, and TE. Oh yeah long snapper also.
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Yeh but do ya really want a swiss army knife for your star to run behind? I woul prefer a big badass tank like leach. Think eddie george post lorezo neal he fell off big time and we need a back to put together 2 consecutive good years.
 
80tothezone said:
Yeh but do ya really want a swiss army knife for your star to run behind? I woul prefer a big badass tank like leach. Think eddie george post lorezo neal he fell off big time and we need a back to put together 2 consecutive good years.
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Don't forget that Casey has been hurt in each of his two NFL seasons.
Vonta is durable as HELL.

No brainer if you ask me.
 
DexmanC said:
Don't forget that Casey has been hurt in each of his two NFL seasons.
Vonta is durable as HELL.

No brainer if you ask me.
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Honestly I know I might catch flack for this but I am worried that this foster won't be the same foster from last year. I could throw names out there like slayton or davis but it worries me. Granted he was awesome in every game he has played for us but Call me a Texans fan ... I'm not 100% confident he will get it done this year. We seem to be a hatching ground for one yr wonder Hb's and as big as I am on the guy I think he will still need all the help we can give him which means he needs a REAL FB..
 
DexmanC said:
Don't forget that Casey has been hurt in each of his two NFL seasons.
Vonta is durable as HELL.

No brainer if you ask me.
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That's a good point.

I could see the texans keeping a guy on the practice squad (in case james got hurt) to play fb though.

Im still neutral on resigning leach if he is asking for crazy money. Quite a few reasons to keep him, quite a few for letting him walk.
 
80tothezone said:
Honestly I know I might catch flack for this but I am worried that this foster won't be the same foster from last year. I could throw names out there like slayton or davis but it worries me. Granted he was awesome in every game he has played for us but Call me a Texans fan ... I'm not 100% confident he will get it done this year. We seem to be a hatching ground for one yr wonder Hb's and as big as I am on the guy I think he will still need all the help we can give him which means he needs a REAL FB..
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Foster is good.

He has what slaton never had and that is vision.

He has a great feel for the game, easily makes defenders miss without losing much acceleration.

Slaton just got the ball and ran. If he was lucky enough to get into a seem he could make a gain out of it.

I didn't even like slaton coming out of college but I though he could be used as an "in space" guy.

Foster is 10x the rb that slaton is.
 
Rey said:
Foster is good.

He has what slaton never had and that is vision.

He has a great feel for the game, easily makes defenders miss without losing much acceleration.

Slaton just got the ball and ran. If he was lucky enough to get into a seem he could make a gain out of it.

I didn't even like slaton coming out of college but I though he could be used as an "in space" guy.

Foster is 10x the rb that slaton is.
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I understand all that he is right now my second favorite player in the league, but if you take a HB's FB away you are asking for trouble. And a multi purpose guy is NOT a FB . If we don't resign leach then we need to get a real FB. Casey is not that, he is great to keep in ur pocket but for hammering LB's u NEED a hammer , a multi tool won't get it done....
All that said if we don't sign leach and go with casey I hope I am wrong..
P.s. I say worried but it is more like a nagging feeling in the back of my head based on our history as a team. not on Foster as an player.
 
80tothezone said:
I understand all that he is right now my second favorite player in the league, but if you take a HB's FB away you are asking for trouble. And a multi purpose guy is NOT a FB . If we don't resign leach then we need to get a real FB. Casey is not that, he is great to keep in ur pocket but for hammering LB's u NEED a hammer , a multi tool won't get it done....
All that said if we don't sign leach and go with casey I hope I am wrong..
P.s. I say worried but it is more like a nagging feeling in the back of my head based on our history as a team. not on Foster as an player.
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Teams that are consistently good lose top players all the time.

What they do is plug in the new guy and play to their strengths. They don't ask that new guy to be the old guy.

They teach them how to be effective using their skill set.

Whether or not our coaching staff can do that is debatable. But I have no doubt in my mind that Casey could be an effective fb.

Can he do what vonta did? No.

But he can do what he does, foster can still do what he does and I think it could work. Jmo though.
 
yeah i think we're pretty much done for now. next step is to re-sign vonta and a few backups (anderson etc), a new punter, some d-line and LB depth and sign our draft picks
 
I have been hearing people say Vonta is in only 30 to 35 percent of plays, but what percent is he in on goal line plays when we need that tough 1 yard or 3rd and 1. I think his value jumps up on those very important situations that are key to any game. We need him.
 
Man if Leonard Weaver wasn't out for the season last year, I'd throw up a peace sign to Vonta. Weaver is much more capable as a FB to even get some carries for himself and he's coming from a WCO.
 
All-Pro fullback Vonta Leach plans to take his time negotiating his new deal


Ralph Vitolo wants to make Vonta Leach the highest paid fullback in the National Football League.

Efforts to achieve that goal began soon after 10 a.m. Tuesday by Vitolo, the Fayetteville agent who represents the Rowland native. That was the first time in four months negotiations between teams and free-agent players could take place due to the NFL lockout.

"We're going to take our time. We have to. This could be his last deal,'' Vitolo said Wednesday. "I'm hell bent on getting him a higher contract than Leonard Weaver. We won't settle for a whole lot less, unless it's all guaranteed money.''

Weaver is the fullback for the Philadelphia Eagles. He signed a three-year, $11 million deal during the 2010 offseason.

Leach, 29, capped his seventh NFL season by earning All-Pro honors with the Houston Texans in 2010. But his four-year, $8 million deal with the Texans ended when the season concluded.

Vitolo said Houston will get the first shot at re-signing Leach, but he expects serious interest from other teams as well.

"I called Houston yesterday to work with them first,'' he said. "But it was just a conversation. We exchanged a few numbers and I'm waiting to hear back.

"I really haven't talked to any others yet, but any team with a two-back set would be ones we'd look at like Denver, the (New York) Giants or the Dallases of the world.''

The 6-foot, 255-pound Leach rarely runs the ball, but has become known as one of the NFL's most physical blocking fullbacks. He helped pave the way last season for Arian Foster to lead the NFL in rushing.

Leach also emerged as a receiving threat after joining the Texans in 2006.

Former Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billich ranked Leach the seventh-best free-agent running back available in a list he compiled recently for Fox Sports. Leach was the only fullback on the list.

The 1999 Cape Fear region Player of the Year at South Robeson High School, Leach went on to play collegiately at East Carolina. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2004. Leach spent 2 1/2seasons with the Packers and a half year with the New Orleans Saints before signing with the Texans in 2006.

"This isn't going to be a rush job,'' Vitolo said. "There will be too many suitors, too much interest and too much value to not take our time.''

Leach is remaining at his home in Lumberton while the negotiations take place, according to Vitolo.
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Carr Bombed said:
From the stats I've seen Foster got the majority of his yards while working out of a single back set and when Leach was on the sideline and off the field, but it was by a slim margin. It's still just a stat though and doesn't take into account the down and distance where we ran Foster behind Leach. I still think we should retain Vonta, but it does show that Leach wasn't the end all be all to Foster's success last season.
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Yeah they were talking on 610 yesterday saying VL was on the field roughly 50% of the time for Adrians runs. Don't get me wrong I want Vontae back but if the price is to steep and we can add a better player at another position I say let Casey and the rookie we signed battle it out.
 
Five teams on the trail of Vonta Leach

Though the Texans are trying to shore up a defense that was almost bad enough to get everyone fired in 2010, they’ve got a fairly important guy on offense whom they would like to keep.

Fullback Vonta Leach.

They’re trying to re-sign the free agent, but other teams are involved. According to Mark Berman of FOX 26 in Houston, the Cowboys, Ravens, Broncos, and Giants are in the mix, too.

Leach’s agent, Ralph Vitolo, would name no team beyond the Texans. “There are multiple teams expressing interest in Vonta,” Vitolo told Berman. “We are still hopeful Vonta can return to the Texans, if at all possible.”

The seven-year veteran was a first-time Pro Bowler and a first-time All Pro in 2010, thanks to his efforts to pave the way for tailback Arian Foster, the NFL rushing champion last season.
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The Broncos should be out of it now:

NFLDraftInsider Jared
If you haven't heard, the Broncos have agreed to a deal with RB Willis Magahee. Good move. Moreno and Magahee a good 1-2 punch.
 
The Giants would make sense, being that they drafted him and all. But I don't know if they have the money to spend right now given that their priority is signing Ahmad Bradshaw.

The Cowboys are supposedly already over the cap, but need to move money around to make a deal for Nnamdi. If that falls through, which is likely, they could go after guys like Leach, Cromartie and Carr.

The Ravens still have Leron McClain, so I don't know why they would want Leach. Maybe an upgrade, but I'm not sure if they can release Leron.
 
CBSSportsNFL Eye on Football
by StephStradley
RT @MikeGarafolo: That report about Giants being in the hunt for Vonta Leach - don't buy it. As I said earlier, little interest being shown.
 
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