markn
All Pro
True, but my point is I think he's smart enough not to have blown the 90 mil.
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Andre Johnson released - cut by Colts - signs with Titans
- Thread starter TheMatrix31
- Start date
Playoffs
Hall of Fame
Didn't take long for AJ's agent to discover that and request a cut "without seeking a trade". At least not with a preferred team. Texans will forgo a very late pick to give AJ all of his options, imo.
It's Sadie Hawkins dance... he has to choose you.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Nice job Pancakes - kind of doubt Wayne is recruiting AJ to replace him.
JCTexan
Hall of Fame
That's where I am as well.
I know we should not take a $16M cap hit for Andre Johnson whether we planned to use that money or not. It's just not smart business to throw money away.
To me, it would be like going to Jj Watt & saying, "Next year we want you to spell Tim Jamison when he gets tired." Instead of saying, "We're not going to be able to afford that $20M cap hit like we thought we would."
DX-TEX
#TomSavageDontCare
AJ as a Colt... Is this a nightmare?
Well Irsay would be involved so you never know. Starting to think we do trade him to the Colts for some pretty good draft pick/picks. Out there opinion I know but.....
Playoffs
Hall of Fame
I think Wayne would have zero issue reuniting with his best bro. Both can and have played in the slot. Dump Nicks.
He would be willing to ruin his reputation and his HOF chances? He's a borderline HOF'er if he pulls this stunt then I can assure you there will be no HOF in AJ's future.
Greed vs Smarts? The new math 120>90, if you think Fitzgerald was being greedy and AJ was just being a great guy turning down 30 mil then more power to you. You have more faith in human nature than I do. This also wouldn't be consistent with what's going down as we speak.
But I get your thou shall not speak ill of AJ in any way mindset. I just happen to disagree with that stance. Great player though, I'm going to miss him and wish the Texans org/AJ could've found a middle ground. Oh well water under the bridge and life goes on.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Wayne and Hicks are both FAs.
Having lined up in the slot and being "the slot WR" aren't the same thing. Not saying its impossible but until Wayne has a contract he's not exactly recruiting to reunite with his best bro is he?
Releasing him is likely the only way they save his salary cap hit. Without a trade they either release him or absorb his salary.
If it is obvious he isn't productive enough to be a Texan, why should anyone worry if he plays against the Texans for the Colts?
Why do they care where a 40 catch guy goes?
For BOB it's not about AJ's production it's that he thinks the cap space can be better used in re-signing their own FA's of other FA's. Time will tell if Smith/BOB/Gaine can get the job done.
This could be that I would just hate seeing AJ in a Colts uni.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Now there's pulling an argument out of your sphincter. If you think calls like that aren't made and never reported...nah, you're not that naive. You just didn't like being trumped on playing who's cutthroat.
But hey now we know that there is no logjam at WR in front of AJ because TO and Moss being turds their whole careers has ruined their HoF chances.
I didn't accuse Fitz of being greedy. I accused you of equating greed (money trumps all other considerations) with smarts.
AJ has said and everyone in the football watching world has known AJ could have made more money and enhanced his HoF prospects playing out one of his prior contracts and going elsewhere. I guess you call things like loyalty stupid. To each their own.
JCTexan
Hall of Fame
Call me crazy but I still see AJ as an 80+ catch, 1,000 yard receiver. It might take a couple 40 catch seasons from him to change my mind.
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Mr teX
Hall of Fame
The bolded is where i'm at. I think he can still be a productive guy, but It shouldn't bother anyone that he's going to the Colts if they believe he's not the same guy he was just 3 years ago. Apart from that, I don't see him going to Indy anyway.....not with Moncrief coming on late last year, Wayne the life long Colt being up for a contract and them needing to shore up that defense and running game. AJ isn't putting them over the top.
If i were AJ i'd only be looking at Seattle right now. They don't have a credible WR threat anywhere on their roster, they've got a great young qb with a strong arm and most of all, they're championship ready.
The Texans can cut AJ at any time before the season starts & won't take that cap hit.
The thing though is their top 51 contracts can never exceed the salary cap.
They've got $12M to play with without cutting Aj.
TEXANRED
Texan-American
The problem is AJ is productive enough to be a Texan. Listening to the radio this morning they said if you rewatch last season AJ was the second to third read every play. How is your best receiver not your first read? Answer, Billy'O still butt hurt over AJ holding out. Now you are going to tell your best receiver he wont even be a starter? How soon can we fire this guy? Is it too early for pink soap?
Texian
Hall of Fame
Not sure that's how it works. I believe they can cut AJ at anytime and still benefit from $8M + in cap savings.
If the Texans are counting on that $8M cap savings to sign to sign Kareem, Brooks or Newton then their only guarantee of doing so is to making the release/trade happen before 4:00PM EDT, March 10th. Because at 4:00PM on March 10th Kareem, Brooks and Newton can sign with any team they choose.
It's kind of like the massacre right before the start of the 2012 league year started when the Texans cut 5 players in order to sign Arian Foster to a long term deal. Even though Foster was a RFA it kept the Texans from having to tender Foster.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Pretty much. They can hold onto AJ until the start of the season without changing the ability to cut him (then his salary becomes guaranteed). But if they need this cap savings to make moves once the 51 rule hits then they'll have to cut him.
But they could sign Kareem, Brooks and Newton without AJ's room as things stand right now.
Are Moss/TO in the HOF? I wouldn't want AJ to follow the same path. Just pointing out facts and looking for discussion not into the who's trumping who thingy. So Loyalty = giving up 30 mil. You really believe this? Fact is AJ made a very bad mistake having uncle Melton represent him and paid 30 mil for tat mistake. Not a smart move having uncle Melton negotiate his contract.
Saying I'm greedy only means you don't know me or my life very well. If you did you would realize how absurd that statement is.
Texian
Hall of Fame
Actually the reality of the situation is they really only have about $7 million to play with. The Texans (like all teams) allocate approx. $5 mil of their available salary cap space to go towards IR, LTBEs, Grievances and the Practice Squad.
Mr teX
Hall of Fame
Or.....BoB was trying to be balanced and make other teams respect our other receiving threats instead of forcing it to AJ......................which is what got Schaub and Keenum in trouble in years past at times.
Warranted or unwarranted, AJ still drew a lot of attention on the field. But for those of us who've been watching him from day 1, you can see he's not the same guy; he's lost a step. And in years past where he might've been able to pull a rabbit out of a hat for his qb, I think these last couple of years, he's realized that he can't do it anymore and he needs his qb to help him out now.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
I believe intangibles, one being loyalty, are important to AJ. And valuing intangibles is only a mistake if only money counts = greed.
Reading is fundamental. Here, try again:
None of which matters until final rosters hit.
Yep, lets fire a guy who as a rookie HC went 9-7 (Albeit against an easy schedule) with basically the same team that went 2-14 the yr before, because Smith/BOB cut a 34 yr old fan favorite WR. Brilliant I tell you, just brilliant.
Equates too/is being = same thing. Spin away, if you think AJ is a smart man that's your prerogative and I am obviously not going to change your mind.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Apparently you disagree that reading is fundamental. That's a shame.
JCTexan
Hall of Fame
Malloy
Hall of Fame
Perhaps we already have another player lined up in FA?
Malloy
Hall of Fame
Very specific, proof or references please, otherwise you're just trashtalking BoB based on absolutely nothing but personal speculation.
michaelm
vox nihili
That's my suspicion, even though they are breaking the rules if they do.
There is no guarantee we're going to get whoever we target. & if this is a prime player, chances are he won't be coming to Houston... I can't think of anyone with connections to OB/Godsey that would be interested in coming here.
Why would there have to be prior connections?
Unless they have a trade in mind. They could have been working with another team & they've got someone lined up.
But that doesn't make sense, why wouldn't they have already done it, like Buffalo & Philly did.
Unless they need the money because "this guy" is making mad money somewhere else... but the team wants to get rid of him... like Calvin Johnson, Victor Cruz, or Vincent Jackson.
But I don't see that happening.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Not sure where you get we are some miserable team that has to overpay. Maybe a team like Seattle can underpay, a little, sometimes. Houston should be a market value team. Cleveland, Oakland, TN may have to over pay. But we aren't the fat chick at 2 am at the bar.
markn
All Pro
I am.
That's utter tripe. What makes you think that Houston is some black hole that players want to avoid like coaches avoiding Cleveland? Last I saw, Houston was near the top of desired places that players would like to play for.
Class organization, top flite facilities, no state taxes, nice town. Team on the rise
If I had to speculate, it would simply be due to lack of a quality QB.
Mallett has potential - if we even sign him - but that's far different from a known quantity like Wilson.
Let's face it, without a credible signal caller, Houston is not a good looking destination right now for offensive playmakers.
The next time we sign a top FA will be the first. We got Jjo... but he was #3 that year.... Nnamdi, Ike, Jjo.
It's not that players will avoid us, but there are two things that these guys are looking for. A chance to play for a winner. Well, we haven't established ourselves as a winner. & money..... which puts us in the overpay category.
But unless you're taking Geritol, we don't overpay.
Dread-Head
Hall of Fame
He's...gone. 
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Not true. Todd Wade was the top rated OT FA the year we signed him. Robaire Smith, Anthony Weaver and Antonio Smith were similarly top rated at their positions for those off-seasons. And got to respect punters - Lechler.
Welker?
We weren't in play for Namdi cuz of money, Ike wasn't leaving Pittsburgh, and it's questionable he was considered clearly better than Jjo. But you can look on Reliant as a black hole for free agents if you like
markn
All Pro
we'll never forget you andre jackson!!!1!he's...gone.
That's true, but I was responding to a general free agent statement.
I'll give you Lechler & take your word on Todd Wade, I don't remember what we paid him.
But we overpaid to get Robaire, Weaver, & Smith.
& I know overpaying is part of the deal with FAs.... the championship teams we want to be don't overpay, that's all I'm saying.