Death to Google Ads! Texans Talk Tip Jar! 🍺😎👍
Thanks for your support!

Are the McNairs gullible?

Texian

Hall of Fame
I don't understand how McNair would be enamored with Osweiler at that point?
Was it his 61.8% percentage?
His 10-6 TD-INT ratio?
Or his 23 sacks in 7 games?
The reason Bob McNair was so enamored with Osweiler is Bob just went through two years of Bill O'Brien's carousel of miserable QBs, Case Keenum, Tom Savage, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mallett, Brian Hoyer and Brandon Weeden. In the particular Bob McNair fashion and style he thought he could fix the problem. In much the way he had to fix Kubiak's defensive problems by hiring Wade Phillips, McNair thought he could fix O'Brien's QB problems by signing Brock Osweiler. Who knows maybe Bob Kraft told McNair that Brock Osweiler was the answer to his QB problems. McNair's likely thinking was Brock Osweiler had to be better than what they had been dealing with the last two years. Kubiak didn't have a lot of say in the hiring of Wade and O'Brien didn't have a lot of say in the signing of Osweiler. McNair made Kubiak and O'Brien an offer they couldn't refuse.
 
Last edited:

76Texan

Hall of Fame
The reason Bob McNair was so enamored with Osweiler is Bob just went through two years of Bill O'Brien's carousel of miserable QBs, Case Keenum, Tom Savage, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mallett, Brian Hoyer and Brandon Weeden. In the particular Bob McNair fashion and style he thought he could fix the problem. In much the way he had to fix Kubiak's defensive problems by hiring Wade Phillips, McNair thought he could fix O'Brien's QB problems by signing Brock Osweiler. Who knows maybe Bob Kraft told McNair that Brock Osweiler was the answer to his QB problems. McNair's likely thinking was Brock Osweiler had to be better than what they had been dealing with the last two years. Kubiak didn't have a lot of say in the hiring of Wade and O'Brien didn't have a lot of say in the signing of Osweiler. McNair made Kubiak and O'Brien an offer they couldn't refuse.
It's difficult to buy that line.
I mean I can understand it if Osweiler was in there playing in the playoffs.
I mean, the guy couldn't stave off an old horse on his last legs (Manning).
Maybe Kubiak sticked it to McNair by having his old pal Elway pretending to pump up Osweiler's value through his agent (Sexton) and the media.

Sexton might have been in it to drive up the price for his client.

All we read about is that Elway made an offer to Sexton, but Osweiler and his agent never returned Elway's call.
There wasn't even any talk of negotiation.

One thing we do know for sure is that Osweiler said he likes OB's system better than Kubiak's. :brando:

 

Texian

Hall of Fame
It's difficult to buy that line.
I mean I can understand it if Osweiler was in there playing in the playoffs.
I mean, the guy couldn't stave off an old horse on his last legs (Manning).
Maybe Kubiak sticked it to McNair by having his old pal Elway pretending to pump up Osweiler's value through his agent (Sexton) and the media.

Sexton might have been in it to drive up the price for his client.

All we read about is that Elway made an offer to Sexton, but Osweiler and his agent never returned Elway's call.
There wasn't even any talk of negotiation.

One thing we do know for sure is that Osweiler said he likes OB's system better than Kubiak's. :brando:

You had to live through the QB Nightmares on Kirby in 2014 - 2015 to best understand. It was horribly bad. The Texans (Bob) was desperate for a QB. Desperate times make for desperate measures and Brock Osweiler was the result of all of the Texans QB desperation.

Bob McNair was bound and determined to fix his QB problem. Conventional Wisdom at the time Osweiler was considered one of the better options. Much of that based on the hype of his game against New England when he was filling in for Peyton. You may find that difficult to buy but that's way it was and happened in 2014 - 2015.
 

Earl34

Hall of Fame
One thing we do know for sure is that Osweiler said he likes OB's system better than Kubiak's. :brando:

To be fair. That comment was made during OTAs and before he got fully exposed to OB's play calling and scheme. By the end of that season, it seemed OB and Brock could say, "familiarity breeds contempt". 🤣
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
Yes Belichick signed $137MM worth of FA this off season and unlike the Texans who restructured every contract they could restructure so they could rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic, Belichick didn't have to restructure $1 to get it done. Belichick signed many to 4 year contracts unlike Caserio who was signing mostly 1 year contracts and a few 2 year contracts. Most of Belichick FA are in their mid 20s unlike the Texans over the hill gang who are mostly 30+.

Belichick used his late round picks to move up and to MOVE DOWN to add more picks. Unlike Caserio, Belichick didn't get taken advantage of or have to pay double to move up. Belichick also had a lot more late round picks to maneuver because he didn't waste them and strike out on a bunch trash bin players.

Like it or not Caserio does have a track record in his 10 months as the Texans GM and it ain't very pretty. In almost every move he has made he somehow seems to stub his toe. This Anthony Miller FUBAR isn't the last FUBAR, it is only another FUBAR in a long list of many Caserio FUBARS. There is going to be more FUBARS, many more. Caserio now has a method of operation that is on public display and has established a pattern of behavior. Don't expect anything different. It is what he knows and how he operates and you can expect more of the same. Time changes, people don't. The Caserio fatigue is going to get very tiresome and extremely disappointing. Nick Caserio is a poor man's Scott Pioli.
Lets talk in a couple of yrs.

Love your, Times change people dont reference. I've used that line for yrs. I've also given many people 2nd chances and what I've figured out is dont dwell on the many who dont get it. Focus on those who've made a life for themselves after you helped them out.
 

Earl34

Hall of Fame
You had to live through the QB Nightmares on Kirby in 2014 - 2015 to best understand. It was horribly bad. The Texans (Bob) was desperate for a QB. Desperate times make for desperate measures and Brock Osweiler was the result of all of the Texans QB desperation.

Bob McNair was bound and determined to fix his QB problem. Conventional Wisdom at the time Osweiler was considered one of the better options. Much of that based on the hype of his game against New England when he was filling in for Peyton. You may find that difficult to buy but that's way it was and happened in 2014 - 2015.
Good points. With the mandate from Bob McNair to select a QB for a team that was ready to win now. What were the other available free agent QB options in 2014-2015?

Also, I don't blame Ricky for not drafting Jimmy Garoppolo in 2014. Reading the draft board, none of the teams picking immediately ahead of them had a need for a QB. Also, in the previous draft, Patriots selected a young, development QB in Ryan Mallet. So, no one was expecting them to draft another development QB. Now if Garoppolo was there in the 3rd and with the 65th, they passed, then we can bashed the Texans for not taking a flyer on Garoppolo and then selecting Savage in the 4th round. It was just pure bad luck or timing. Something that has become synonymous with the Texans.
 

Earl34

Hall of Fame
Back to the topic. I don't think the McNairs are gullible. I don't think Cal is a leader or has an alpha personality, but I don't think he's gullible. I believe after Bob died, whether it was grief or Cal not ready to step up and take control of the organization, the McNairs had a leadership void in the organization. Easterby and O'Brien recognized that leadership void and shamelessly took advantage of it.

I have no doubt that Easterby played a role as a grief counselor helping the McNairs through a difficult period. Once Easterby became a trusted advisor and recognized that O'Brien could get both of them fired, he distanced himself from O'Brien and because of his personal relationship with the McNairs and his willingness to serve, kept his job and his influence grew.

So, I don't call them gullible. If anything, I would call them loyal to a fault and whether it was Cal and Smith or Cal and Easterby, he got too close and personal with certain employees. Bob McNair understood this, but Cal never learned it. So, lack of leadership? Yes. Gullibility? No.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
Good points. With the mandate from Bob McNair to select a QB for a team that was ready to win now. What were the other available free agent QB options in 2014-2015?

Also, I don't blame Ricky for not drafting Jimmy Garoppolo in 2014. Reading the draft board, none of the teams picking immediately ahead of them had a need for a QB. Also, in the previous draft, Patriots selected a young, development QB in Ryan Mallet. So, no one was expecting them to draft another development QB. Now if Garoppolo was there in the 3rd and with the 65th, they passed, then we can bashed the Texans for not taking a flyer on Garoppolo and then selecting Savage in the 4th round. It was just pure bad luck or timing. Something that has become synonymous with the Texans.
Just know, that I wanted RS to trade back into the bottom of the 1st for Jimmy G. His career hasn't turned out like I thought it would due to injury. But he started in a SB and would've saved us/fans from the Hoyerable/Oz craptastic yrs. Well worth 2-33.

If you like a guy trade up and get him.

Unfortunately RS didn't value the QB position properly and the frachise suffered because of this.
 
Last edited:

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
Back to the topic. I don't think the McNairs are gullible. I don't think Cal is a leader or has an alpha personality, but I don't think he's gullible. I believe after Bob died, whether it was grief or Cal not ready to step up and take control of the organization, the McNairs had a leadership void in the organization. Easterby and O'Brien recognized that leadership void and shamelessly took advantage of it.

I have no doubt that Easterby played a role as a grief counselor helping the McNairs through a difficult period. Once Easterby became a trusted advisor and recognized that O'Brien could get both of them fired, he distanced himself from O'Brien and because of his personal relationship with the McNairs and his willingness to serve, kept his job and his influence grew.

So, I don't call them gullible. If anything, I would call them loyal to a fault and whether it was Cal and Smith or Cal and Easterby, he got too close and personal with certain employees. Bob McNair understood this, but Cal never learned it. So, lack of leadership? Yes. Gullibility? No.
Exactly, Great post

If only, Gaine hadn't had the HR problems things could've turned out differently. I wish I had a nickle for every time I've said this over the last 20 yrs. I believe this is what happens in a corporate environment where winning is about the 3rd most important thing on the corporate goals list.
 

Texian

Hall of Fame
Back to the topic. I don't think the McNairs are gullible. I don't think Cal is a leader or has an alpha personality, but I don't think he's gullible. I believe after Bob died, whether it was grief or Cal not ready to step up and take control of the organization, the McNairs had a leadership void in the organization. Easterby and O'Brien recognized that leadership void and shamelessly took advantage of it.

I have no doubt that Easterby played a role as a grief counselor helping the McNairs through a difficult period. Once Easterby became a trusted advisor and recognized that O'Brien could get both of them fired, he distanced himself from O'Brien and because of his personal relationship with the McNairs and his willingness to serve, kept his job and his influence grew.

So, I don't call them gullible. If anything, I would call them loyal to a fault and whether it was Cal and Smith or Cal and Easterby, he got too close and personal with certain employees. Bob McNair understood this, but Cal never learned it. So, lack of leadership? Yes. Gullibility? No.
Cal is the poster boy for the Peter Principle.
 

Double Barrel

Texans Talk Admin
Staff member
Contributor's Club
Being too enthusiastic is very easy to do when you are doing it for someone who is paying you $3MM a year. Especially when that owner wants you put the best spin possible on your newly signed multi-million dollar QB. Yippee Ki-Yay.
Or. . .O'Brien is a terrible evaluator of QB talent and actually believed he could do something with Osweiler. That seems more realistic and is a much simpler explanation that certainly plays into O'Brien's well known arrogance.

I know he had to do something based on McNair's mandate, and Osweiler is the best that O'Brien and Rick Smith could do. They should have both been fired.
 
Top