Andre Johnson released - cut by Colts - signs with Titans

[markn]

I like AJ, but if I'm the Texans and I have a strong sense he'll go to Indy......I'm trading him to the highest bidder who aren't the Colts. Sorry AJ, but I ain't having any of that. Off to the Raiders, Browns or some other team that must get to the cap floor

I like it in principle, but I doubt we'll find a partner willing to take AJ's contract. I hope I'm wrong, but I expect he'll be cut.

 

[Texian]

We all as fans have very limited knowledge of what goes on inside the organization. Our information comes from public sources (trustworthy or not), leaks (usually serving someone's interest), and occasionally from inside source (usually trustworthy, but no guarantee there either). We can all draw conclusions, judge the qualifications of the people on the inside, come up with better options, etc, etc, etc, but none of those discussions will ever amount to anything other than wild ass guesses. It's because we never have the full picture. You keep talking about the big picture, but you can't have the full understanding of what the big picture is because you don't have enough information.

I agree with you occasionally, but I disagree with you most of the time on the cap space issues because you don't allow for the possibility that you're wrong and because your conclusions don't seem logical to me.

Fair enough and well put!

 

[sandman]

Funny how most of Dre's prolific games were with Case Keenum at QB, even last year and with the small sample size of CK at QB for the team. Yet, many/most will say that Dre is washed up and Keenum is not an NFL QB. I hope they both get the opportunity to prove their critics wrong.

The Chron did a decent job of listing his top 10 games, only one of which involved Keenum. Which ironically was his first and best game ever as a pro.

http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans/2015/03/photos-take-a-look-at-andre-johnsons-10-best-games-with-the-texans/#29382101=9

 

[Hervoyel]

I like AJ, but if I'm the Texans and I have a strong sense he'll go to Indy......I'm trading him to the highest bidder who aren't the Colts. Sorry AJ, but I ain't having any of that. Off to the Raiders, Browns or some other team that must get to the cap floor

I like it in principle, but I doubt we'll find a partner willing to take AJ's contract. I hope I'm wrong, but I expect he'll be cut.

Yeah plus we already played that game with Matt Schaub's contract last year sending him off to Oakland to help get their spending up above the floor where it needed to be. They're really not going to be interested in picking up another expensive Texan castoff. Though now that I think about it how weird/cool/terrible/ICan'tNotLook would it be for Dre to find himself in Oakland catching passes thrown by "Carr" to end his career?

Cue Rod Serling to walk in and do the voice over "Submitted for your consideration, a man just trying to find a QB who can get him the ball...."

 

[gary]

The team made the deal should have lived up to it IMO.

 

[thetexanator]

great decision for everyone involved.

johnson isnt as explosive as he was. hes declining. possession receiver at best and even then hes making drops. gives him a chance to go to a contender. a super bowl team vs. i hope we make the playoff team.

im sure johnson isnt mad about it. finish his career with a chance at a ring. id love to see him with the patriots or packers.

opens up cap space and we can start moving forward with the people we are going to make a run with in 2 yrs.

 

[infantrycak]

Remember when everyone blamed the organization? Well well...

And why would AJ help the Texans? It's not his job to work a trade.

If I'm his agent I'd tell the Texans to f'k off too. That's the Texans trying to shill off their job onto AJ's agent and without paying him for it.

 

[markn]

[IMGwidthsize=400]http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/04/4120fa8966bdc2d3ee7b3a78f2e9570b.jpg[/IMG]

I wonder if this is more down to AJ wanting one last shot with a competitive team than we've been led to believe. Clearly choice of destination is very important to him.

 

[steelbtexan]

That's understood.

Some people are saying this is just about the money. I understand reduced role means less money & it's not too hard for Aj to connect the dots.

I also don't believe Aj is deluded about his abilities. If reduced role meant the #2 option, not being on the field when there's only one receiver... I think he could bite his tongue & deal with it. But we'll never know.

They were cutting deep. 40 catches. That's saying, "Sometimes we'll have three WRs on the field & you won't be one of them."

That's different than saying, "We want you to take a pay cut."

I started the "How much is Andre worth to you?" thread a while back to get a general feel from the message board. When OB says "40 catches" that means Andre's value is next to nothing. He may have his reasons for that, but it isn't because Andre can't play.

The 40 catch thing was a way to tell AJ that he had to take a paycut and accept his new role or see ya later. I cant blame AJ for saying see ya later before even talking about $$$$.

 

[sandman]

And why would AJ help the Texans? It's not his job to work a trade.

If I'm his agent I'd tell the Texans to f'k off too. That's the Texans trying to shill off their job onto AJ's agent and without paying him for it.

So sports agents never do this? They never work out a trade agreement between two teams for one of their clients?

He wants the cut so that he can negotiate a new salary as opposed to taking on the burden of the current contract. Let's not try to act naïve here...

 

[PapaL]

Remember when everyone blamed the organization? Well well...

If, as reported, they're willing to pay his salary this year why would they cut him? Because he's unhappy and will hold out? We have no incentive to cut him. Fact is that he has a contract. I'm sure his contract doesn't guarantee him more than 40 catches a year. Just like last year, I play hard ball. Either report or find a trade that makes us both happy.

 

[disaacks3]

He wants the cut so that he can negotiate a new salary as opposed to taking on the burden of the current contract. Let's not try to act naïve here...

I imagine that's part of it. I also imagine Andre wants 100% say in who he goes to. That might not be possible with a trade.

 

[steelbtexan]

AJ - $88,934,470 Source
169 games
1012 catches
1273 targets
13,597 yards
13.4 average
77 Long
64 TDs


Fitz - $118,282,500 Source
170 games
909 catches
1304 targets
12,151 yards
13.4 avg
80 Long
89 TD

Yeah...bad business decisions is putting it lightly. That's what happens when you listen to Uncle Melton.

And having Warner as your QB vs Schaub.

AJ has nobody to blame but himself for the $$$$ he lost.

 

[infantrycak]

So sports agents never do this? They never work out a trade agreement between two teams for one of their clients?

He wants the cut so that he can negotiate a new salary as opposed to taking on the burden of the current contract. Let's not try to act naïve here...

Let's not throw around naive in rather silly circumstances.

The fact agents sometimes do it in no way makes it their job.

No the agent does not want a new contract. He benefits from the current one being played out unless you think AJ is going to get a contract which pays more than $23.5 mil over the next 2 years. He's actually acting in his client's best interest over his own to ask for a release rather than a trade.

 

[The Pencil Neck]

I imagine that's part of it. I also imagine Andre wants 100% say in who he goes to. That might not be possible with a trade.

That's the whole point in the agent NEGOTIATING a trade, so that the player is able to go to someone he wants to play for and who's willing to give something up for him.

There's no onus on the Texans to move Andre. They can just give him a reduced role if they're willing to go ahead and pay him that big salary for just a little bit of production.

OTOH, there are cap savings to be had if they cut Andre.

So we'll see what happens.

 

[steelbtexan]

I hope AJ does go to the Colts, because when he does, and has a real QB he will show this coaching staff how dumb they really are. With no QB carousel and a real QB he will have a career year for TDs and possibly yards. And like so many times before the Texans will look dumb.

DUMB DUMB Texans coaching staff, can't believe McNair is allowing this to happen.

When it comes to $$$$ you better believe McNair signed off on this. This is what I've been saying all along. Whether the Texans use the cap savings/draft to better the team is the question. Really now, it comes down to do you believe Smith/BOB can procure enough talent to continue the rebuild?

 

[silvrhand]

This actually is not all that Pats like. As TK has pointed out they come to players and say take a pay cut or be cut/traded not we aren't going to use you. For example, folks will incorrectly point to Wes Welker but that was his decision. The Pats offered more money than Denver but Welker had his nose bent. Maybe AJ would be the same way but by the reports no such effort has been made.



Riddle this - how much of last year was on the coaches? 20 receptions behind the line of scrimmage is a definite role decision. How often was he the 2nd or 3rd option compared to prior seasons?

1st 7 games of the season 12.7 ypr. Next 6 he played - 6.0 ypr. Last 2 with Keenum who didn't play the OB way - 12.5 ypr. That spells either a health issue or a philosophy change.

We also have the side of AJ that none of have seen before:

3 fumbles lost, one against the colts on Thu night that was big.
several key drops that I remeber in the redzone, both hitting him in the hands.
had trouble getting separation.

It's just time, you can blame shift all you want but in reality we don't have a great QB, I doubt we are winning the SB in the next year, and it seems that Andre wants more money than he is getting now.

Ultimately I don't know what his deal is maybe he's just ready to go, maybe he doesn't like the plan, maybe he's just tired of the heat.. who knows.. but I enjoyed his time here. He gave it his all there is no dobut, but there comes a time when you have to part ways.

I actually like that we are doing it, as it shows that we are no longer holding on to people we probably shouldn't.

 

[PapaL]

And having Warner as your QB vs Schaub.

AJ has nobody to blame but himself for the $$$$ he lost.

Warners 5 years in AZ: Source
Yards/TD/INT
2713/11/9
1377/6/5
3417/27/17
4583/30/14
3753/26/14

Schaubs 7 years in HOU: Source
Yards/TD/INT
2241/9/9
3043/15/10
4770/29/15
4370/24/12
2479/15/6
4008/22/12
2310/10/14

I know Schaub blew chunks when he left but he had a pretty good run.

 

[infantrycak]

I imagine that's part of it.

The agent will make less money on a new contract...well if folks are right that AJ isn't worth much anymore. A new deal has to pay out more than $23.5 mil before the agent benefits.

There's no onus on the Texans to move Andre. They can just give him a reduced role if they're willing to go ahead and pay him that big salary for just a little bit of production.

This tests whether the Texans really are/were willing to pay out his contract. May be part of the point.

 

[disaacks3]

That's the whole point in the agent NEGOTIATING a trade, so that the player is able to go to someone he wants to play for and who's willing to give something up for him.

There's no onus on the Texans to move Andre. They can just give him a reduced role if they're willing to go ahead and pay him that big salary for just a little bit of production.

OTOH, there are cap savings to be had if they cut Andre.

So we'll see what happens.

The onus is the salary cap itself. That burden most cetainly doesn't lie with Andre.

The Texans have zilch to lose and everything to gain in a trade. There's zero chance they pay his contract, so they either get something for him in a trade (to their, not the agent's advantage), or they cut him and get nothing.

 

[Runner]

[IMGwidthsize=400]http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/04/4120fa8966bdc2d3ee7b3a78f2e9570b.jpg[/IMG]

I wonder if this is more down to AJ wanting one last shot with a competitive team than we've been led to believe. Clearly choice of destination is very important to him.

I think it has to do with winning as much as the money. If it was only money, he'd want to play out his Texans contract.

I know he is only a player and not a message board maven, but perhaps he sees a longer rebuild here than the time he has left.

 

[infantrycak]

I think it has to do with winning as much as the money. If it was only money, he'd want to play out his Texans contract.

I know he is only a player and not a message board maven, but perhaps he sees a longer rebuild here than the time he has left.

Until we have a QB on the roster at least potentially better than Fitz, don't you?

 

[Malloy]

Remember when everyone blamed the organization? Well well...

We can trade him if we want right?

 

[DX-TEX]

So first this morning we get this:

ProFootballTalk ✔ @ProFootballTalk
Follow
Agent Kennard McGuire tells PFT that he has asked the Texans to cut WR Andre Johnson. McGuire has not and will not try to seek a trade.

Now :

Brian T. Smith ‏@ChronBrianSmith · 25m25 minutes ago
Andre Johnson on Monday: "There's a reason I asked for a trade. If anybody else was in my situation, they would have done the same thing."

Brian T. Smith ‏@ChronBrianSmith · 18m18 minutes ago
@SwaggedUpSpence Can't make up or fake quotes. That's a real quote from the person directly involved less than two days ago.

Somehow this is ALL Rick Smiths fault right?

 

[Runner]

Until we have a QB on the roster better than Fitz, don't you?

100% yes. I'm trying to avoid that controversy though - I think I hammered my point to death earlier in the off season. Mallett+Fitz+Savage+Keenum together < Payton or Brady or Rodgers etc. individually in the time he has left.

 

[steelbtexan]

I'm waiting until we know what happens in free agency before posting a new mock, but if I decide to go with a WR at 16, I'd still be targeting a slot receiver later in the draft, possibly in the 3rd.

^^^^
This

I expect either Devin Smith/Dorsett in rd 2.

 

[xtruroyaltyx]

I imagine that's part of it. I also imagine Andre wants 100% say in who he goes to. That might not be possible with a trade.

Unless he's willing to play for peanuts it might not be possible as a free agent either.

 

[Double Barrel]

I hope AJ does go to the Colts, because when he does, and has a real QB he will show this coaching staff how dumb they really are. With no QB carousel and a real QB he will have a career year for TDs and possibly yards. And like so many times before the Texans will look dumb.

DUMB DUMB Texans coaching staff, can't believe McNair is allowing this to happen.

This franchise has been the Colts' biatch for 13 seasons, and even when the Colts only won two games, one of them was against the 'playoff-caliber' Texans with freakin' Dan Orlovsky at QB (you know the former 0-16 Lions QB). Unfortunately, I see absolutely nothing that is going to change this pecking order any time soon.

Colts just lost the AFC Championship game to the eventual SB champions. Their superstar QB is only three years into his career.

Meanwhile, the Texans still have the three stooges for a QB corps.

You want sick? Say he goes to the Colts and, with a good quarterback, has three or four 1000 yard seasons and a Super Bowl win*. He enters the Hall of Fame as a....???????

*I know, I know - pretty wild speculation for a washed up prima donna.

This is our destiny as Houston football fans. It's been this way ever since I can remember, even when Houston had good teams, they were NEVER good enough.

If A.J. wins a ring in Indy, his possible HoF bust won't show it, but no doubt he retires and lives in Indy as a result.

I believe if the narrative we've heard is true then the WR coming in would be the guy taking the role away from AJ so I think any free agent WR we might pursue would be told that. The worst thing about it is the Texans appear to have treated a good man shabbily which might give them pause to come here but nothing that more dollars can't fix.

That's a page out of Bud Adams' playbook.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Now new and improved with Ultimate Gameday Experience™ and tailgating (for a small nominal fee).

For the record, I'm comparing McNair (not O'Brien) to Bud.

Both are good at making money, but not at running an NFL team.

Y'know, far be it from me to defend Bud Adams, but in hindsight, I have no doubt that he wanted to win. A lot. It was more than just making money, even though he never quite figured it all out. His 7 year playoff run with the run & shoot had the highest payroll and most talented team on paper. Unfortunately, he just hired the wrong head coach.

I like AJ, but if I'm the Texans and I have a strong sense he'll go to Indy......I'm trading him to the highest bidder who aren't the Colts. Sorry AJ, but I ain't having any of that. Off to the Raiders, Browns or some other team that must get to the cap floor

Tha' Raiders! Man, that would be cold blooded to ship him off to Oakland, although bizarre if he was catching balls from Derek Carr.

 

[Texian]

The onus is the salary cap itself. That burden most cetainly doesn't lie with Andre.

The Texans have zilch to lose and everything to gain in a trade. There's zero chance they pay his contract, so they either get something for him in a trade (to their, not the agent's advantage), or they cut him and get nothing.

Congrats, you get it. You must be making to much sense, tried to rep but MSR. How is it the Texans come to this revelation this year when AJ has less value and last year when AJ had max value the Texans were adamant he would not be traded?

 

[Playoffs]

Remember when everyone blamed the organization? Well well...

We can trade him if we want right?

My understanding is the team told AJ they would accommodate him in whatever way he preferred. Seek trade to keep his big contract, or cut him if he wanted to choose his destination.

Somehow this is ALL Rick Smiths fault right?

This was O'Brien's call. We'll see what the team says after it's all over with and AJ has a new home where he's happy. Might just be "no comment" and let AJ's story stay out there. They do not want to further burn bridges with the future HOF'er.

 

[steelbtexan]

Interesting.

And Les Alexander is cut from the same cloth.

There's no reason the city shouldn't have an NHL team. But Alexander, who has reign over Toyota Center (where an NHL team would have to play), has made sure that there won't be one unless he owns it.

I nearly threw up when I read a few days ago that there's going to be a tribute at the arena to the great Rockets from the past, including Olajuwon, Murphy, Francis, etc.......And, of course, Alexander. Amazing.

He deserves a bust on Wall St., too, for all of the clients he screwed back in the junk-bond heyday...

You don't become a billionaire without screwing people over. Usually badly, Alexander bought a championship ready team, won and then has done nothing for almost 2 decades. Yep, tribute worthy, ever notice how Les keeps Morey from going over the cap and there is always some kind of minor trade around the deadline after weeks of talking about major trades that could put the team over the top? That's Alexander/McNair etc.... they want to win but not at the expense of $$$$. IMHO Meanwhile the owners keep on cashing those checks. But like Cak said not only do the Houston fans not deserve an owner that's all about winning, the fans actually don't deserve anything for their loyalty.

End Rant/ Sorry to get off topic.

 

[handswarmer]

I'll take him in Baltimore

 

[steelbtexan]

Remember when everyone blamed the organization? Well well...

Then hopefully Smith trades him to Oakland/Cleveland.

 

[markn]

I think it has to do with winning as much as the money. If it was only money, he'd want to play out his Texans contract.

I know he is only a player and not a message board maven, but perhaps he sees a longer rebuild here than the time he has left.

Yeah. I think money's a part of it, but more in the sense of respect. I get the feeling Andre is a proud guy and wants to earn what he thinks he's worth, or at least something that he doesn't consider insulting. I think he's smart enough that he doesn't *need* a specific high dollar contract at this point in his career. I also get the sense that the one thing he craves above all else is success, a SB ring would cement his legacy, and I reckon that's important to him. As you say, only the most one-eyed homer would believe Houston is going to a SB during the remainder of his playing days.

 

[Texian]

My understanding is the team told AJ they would accommodate him in whatever way he preferred. Seek trade to keep his big contract, or cut him if he wanted to choose his destination.


This was O'Brien's call. We'll see what the team says after it's all over with and AJ has a new home where he's happy. Might just be "no comment" and let AJ's story stay out there. They do not want to further burn bridges with the future HOF'er.

My gut/instinct is telling me that unlike last year, this year no team wants to trade for AJ's contract. IMHO teams are telling AJs agent get a release and we're more than happy to talk/negotiate. There may be a team willingly to pay AJ's salary and offers a 6th or 7th rd pick (Anquan Boldin).

 

[steelbtexan]

And why would AJ help the Texans? It's not his job to work a trade.

If I'm his agent I'd tell the Texans to f'k off too. That's the Texans trying to shill off their job onto AJ's agent and without paying him for it.

So, how would you feel if AJ were traded to Oakland/Jax/Cleveland etc... to keep him away from the Colts? It would keep him away from the Colts.

 

[dalemurphy]

I think it has to do with winning as much as the money. If it was only money, he'd want to play out his Texans contract.

I know he is only a player and not a message board maven, but perhaps he sees a longer rebuild here than the time he has left.

If he is traded, none of his $21 million remaining in his contract is guaranteed. So, if he gets injured, under performs, or the team gets in cap trouble heading into 2016, the team that traded for him can cut him without any cap hit and avoid the entire $11 million owed him.

If he is cut, then he will be able to negotiate a multiple year deal with a signing bonus (guaranteed, up front money) and the bonus also makes it less likely that he would be cut after one year, because the prorated bonus would lessen potential cap savings... This is what he held out for last season as well. He saw it coming.

 

[xtruroyaltyx]

Goes without saying that the results will matter....but just how this went down irks me.

I have a bit of disgust right now for those guys in charge over there.

 

[infantrycak]

So, how would you feel if AJ were traded to Oakland/Jax/Cleveland etc... to keep him away from the Colts? It would keep him away from the Colts.

Go for it. Two can play cutthroat. One phone call to Oakland/Jax/Cleveland about how AJ will report but may be limited if his hamstring flares up again, which seems to happen whenever he wears black teal or orange, should take care of that little idea.

 

[Double Barrel]

I'll take him in Baltimore

Anywhere but Indy...and Tennessee (just on principle).

I'm sure Flacco would love to have A.J. as a target.

Goes without saying that the results will matter....but just how this went down irks me.

I have a bit of disgust right now for those guys in charge over there.

This is where I'm at. I get the money part of it, but how it went down is, like you said, clownish.

 

[Uncle Rico]

I think it says alot that instead of accepting a trade to the Colts (since they were rumored to be OK with absorbing his contract among a couple other teams) in a situation where he would probably end up making more money- to asking for a release in order not to follow the money, but to take LESS in order to finally be able to compete for a championship. I dont think Dre would command that high a salary at his age it would be a bargain for NE,DEN,SEA etc... Don't agents work on comission anyway? Dre's agent already got paid for that deal he's on ... a new deal would mean new comission doesnt it?

 

[thunderkyss]

Riddle this - how much of last year was on the coaches? 20 receptions behind the line of scrimmage is a definite role decision. How often was he the 2nd or 3rd option compared to prior seasons?

1st 7 games of the season 12.7 ypr. Next 6 he played - 6.0 ypr. Last 2 with Keenum who didn't play the OB way - 12.5 ypr. That spells either a health issue or a philosophy change.

Which is another thing I've been questioning. If OB thought Andre was a declining player, if he thought he was a 40 catch player, when did he come to this conclusion?

We've seen Cushing on the sideline for some of the most important snaps of the season, but everytime there was a 1 WR set... he had Andre out there.

At anytime during the season he could have been transitioning Andre to a 40 catch per year role, but instead, if it were an important down, he had Andre out there.

Of course, we only have Andre's word on the 40 catch role, but since they aren't saying anything & they have allowed him to seek a trade, I can't imagine Andre's version is too far from the truth.

 

[The Pencil Neck]

The onus is the salary cap itself. That burden most cetainly doesn't lie with Andre.

The Texans have zilch to lose and everything to gain in a trade. There's zero chance they pay his contract, so they either get something for him in a trade (to their, not the agent's advantage), or they cut him and get nothing.

There is no onus from the salary cap. We're not in such a horrible cap situation that we absolutely have to remove his cap hit. It would have been nice for him to restructure/extend and reduce his cap hit but we've got the room to absorb his salary as-is if we want to be jerks.

1) We can trade Andre to the team he so chooses. This is the win-win option.
2) We can trade Andre to whatever team we want if he doesn't choose one. This is the danger in the game that Andre is playing. A team like the Raiders would welcome his salary cap hit. This is the we win, you lose option.
3) We can cut Andre. This is the we lose, you win option.
4) We can force Andre to play out his contract here and take whatever role we give him OR he can retire. This is the hardball we both lose option.

 

[Big Lou]

There is no onus from the salary cap. We're not in such a horrible cap situation that we absolutely have to remove his cap hit. It would have been nice for him to restructure/extend and reduce his cap hit but we've got the room to absorb his salary as-is if we want to be jerks.

1) We can trade Andre to the team he so chooses. This is the win-win option.
2) We can trade Andre to whatever team we want if he doesn't choose one. This is the danger in the game that Andre is playing. A team like the Raiders would welcome his salary cap hit. This is the we win, you lose option.
3) We can cut Andre. This is the we lose, you win option.
4) We can force Andre to play out his contract here and take whatever role we give him OR he can retire. This is the hardball we both lose option.

I'm sure there is a rule that prevents this, but if Andre wants to be cut have him renegotiate his contract to lower his cap hit then cut him. The contract could be written to protect Andre, so say, Andre make vet minmum, but if he starts training camp with Houston he makes $20 million. That way he knows they are truely going to cut him as soon as he signs the deal, and Houston reduces its cap hit.

 

[steelbtexan]

Yeah. I think money's a part of it, but more in the sense of respect. I get the feeling Andre is a proud guy and wants to earn what he thinks he's worth, or at least something that he doesn't consider insulting. I think he's smart enough that he doesn't *need* a specific high dollar contract at this point in his career. I also get the sense that the one thing he craves above all else is success, a SB ring would cement his legacy, and I reckon that's important to him. As you say, only the most one-eyed homer would believe Houston is going to a SB during the remainder of his playing days.

AJ is a great player, but you should never use smart and AJ in the same sentence. See: Fitzgerald earning 120 mil and AJ earning 90 mil over the same period of time.

 

[markn]

Go for it. Two can play cutthroat. One phone call to Oakland/Jax/Cleveland about how AJ will report but may be limited if his hamstring flares up again, which seems to happen whenever he wears black teal or orange, should take care of that little idea.

Yeah, if he comes to terms with a team he likes there's really nothing the Texans can do about it. But surely this must have come into the Texans thinking. In driving Andre out, they must have been prepared for him to go anywhere. Texans prefer a trade not because of where they want him to go, but because they want something back... Which I keep predicting they won't get

 

[infantrycak]

Don't agents work on comission anyway? Dre's agent already got paid for that deal he's on ... a new deal would mean new comission doesnt it?

No. Agents do work on commission but it is as paid. If the contract stands pat he gets paid on $23.5 mil over the next 2 years. A new deal has to exceed that for him to benefit from the status quo.

2) We can trade Andre to whatever team we want if he doesn't choose one. This is the danger in the game that Andre is playing. A team like the Raiders would welcome his salary cap hit. This is the we win, you lose option.

AJ can squash this in several ways if he wants.

I'm sure there is a rule that prevents this, but if Andre wants to be cut have him renegotiate his contract to lower his cap hit then cut him. The contract could be written to protect Andre, so say, Andre make vet minmum, but if he starts training camp with Houston he makes $20 million. That way he knows they are truely going to cut him as soon as he signs the deal, and Houston reduces its cap hit.

Why would AJ do that?

AJ is a great player, but you should never use smart and AJ in the same sentence. See: Fitzgerald earning 120 mil and AJ earning 90 mil over the same period of time.

Let's not confuse greed and intelligence.

Yeah, if he comes to terms with a team he likes there's really nothing the Texans can do about it. But surely this must have come into the Texans thinking. In driving Andre out, they must have been prepared for him to go anywhere. Texans prefer a trade not because of where they want him to go, but because they want something back... Which I keep predicting they won't get

Yeah can you imagine the backlash if AJ did work out a trade with Indy for say a 2nd (where according to some he can easily be replaced) and the Texans said no?

 

[dtran04]

AJ should just say it. "I'm tired of playing with lousy QBs and want to play with the Colts and Andrew Luck". Guess that wouldn't make Texans' fans too happy.

 

[thunderkyss]

So first this morning we get this:



Now :



Somehow this is ALL Rick Smiths fault right?

I really don't see how this puts anything on Andre. The Texans have already pretty much said they don't want him.

 

[Texian]

Keep your eye on March 10th, the magic date:

2015 league year and free agency period begins (4 p.m. ET)
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/schedules/keydates

If Texans are planning on cap relief from release/trade of AJ to sign any Texan FAs it will happen before the start of the new league year. Why? At 16:00:00 EDT on March 10th all free agents can sign with a new team and that includes Kareem Jackson, Brooks Reed and Derek Newton. If the Texans want to lock up any of their own their only guarantee is to do so before 3/10/2015 4:00PM EDT.