Troy Chapman
Rookie
Total cash is higher but I don't see AJ playing through 2018. Could we just do a straight up salary reduction for '15 & '16 while guaranteeing the salary? No extension.
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How much is Andre worth to you?
- Thread starter thunderkyss
- Start date
Total cash is higher but I don't see AJ playing through 2018. Could we just do a straight up salary reduction for '15 & '16 while guaranteeing the salary? No extension.
Brilliance, extending out an aging AJ 4 yrs.
It's not good to drink early in the morning Mr. Smith.
Marshall
Not pretty, but ALIVE!
So you're in Dump em' all mode. I mean, you have his replacement ready to sign for peanuts, right?
Exactly. We have a stud WR who finished with 85 receptions and damn near 1000 yds operating at less than 100% health, in a new system, with a sub-average QB-ing, and HE'S the one that needs dumping. Do they really think some rookie is going to come in and duplicate one of A.J.'s OFF years?
I didn't advocate dumping him. He's an above avg WR, just not as great as he used to be. What I don't want Smith to do is to sign AJ to a 4 yr deal at his age. That kind of thinking is what gets teams in cap he**.
Man, when it comes to AJ people get very sensitive very quickly around here.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
It's a proposed 2 year extension and what you are missing is his suggestion is essentially to get 4 years for the price of the 2 on his current contract.
Not sure if AJ will be worth yrs 3-4.
AJ needs to take a pay cut. Plain and simple, but I don't see that happening.
badboy
Hall of Fame
Without anyone that wishes to extend AJ to create cap indicating whom they want to sign in free agency, I'd rather let him play out his deal in 2015, draft a stud WR April 30th or May 1st and allow Johnson to show what he can do with a better QB. No need to create cap space if you are not going to use it.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Well there is no harm in getting more time for the same price either. And there is the benefit of putting the issue to rest as well.
I think part of the problem is the "guarantee."
Right now, Aj doesn't know if he's going to be on the team or not (unless McNair did tell him something). The team has reason to cut him.
If he's willing to play for $5M in 2015, $6M in 2016, & $7M in 2017, I'd be willing to sign him to a three year deal with a $12M signing bonus.
powerfuldragon
Enchilada Aficionado.
$8 million is a LOT of money to a pleb like me.
$8M is the most we can save if we were to cut him without a June 1st designation.
Bulls on Parade
2017 Astros: Earn It!
Better chance of Arizona cutting Larry Fitzgerald than the Texans cutting Andre Johnson. But can you imagine if both are released? One of them will end up in Sesttle and the other one will end up in New England. If not Indianapolis or Green Bay. Pretty much two of the best teams in the league right now will just reap the rewards at a fraction of the cost that say all pro wide receiver Dez Bryant will command on the open market. Andre Johnson is basically an older version of Dez Bryant without the eye-popping Touchdown numbers because he's never played with a top tier, or should I say Super Bowl caliber quarterback before. I bet he could produce a career best in Touchdowns even at his older age (10+ TDs in a season) if he played for any of the four teams I just mentioned in 2015.
Bulls on Parade
2017 Astros: Earn It!
Hindsight is 20-20 but had I known wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was going to set the league on fire with a sensational rookie season (91 catches, 1,305 yards and 12 TDs) with quite a few highlight reel catches, I'd have wanted to trade down with that 1st overall pick last year, still landing him a pick or two before the Giants did with the 12th overall pick. And we could have picked up an extra second and third-round pick in the process.
We just didn't know that Jadeveon Clowney's rookie season would be injury-filled and disappointing. When you select a player first overall you expect him to dominate the league like Odell Beckham Jr. A first overall pick is supposed to have people talking in a positive way. We could have had Odell Beckham Jr. with DeAndre Hopkins for the next decade and not even have to worry about Andre Johnson's future. We'd already be set at wide receiver. At best we'd still need to pick up somebody like Tyler Lockett in this upcoming draft just to have that awesome slot guy and special teams beast to return punts and kicks.
But then again, if you could go back in some type of time machine and re-do a lot of the Texans drafts knowing what we know now, we could easily piece together a Super Bowl dynasty making the right choices in many of them.
Yeah... I was just throwing that out there. Some people seem to want him gone no matter what. If it were about the salary cap, that $8M should be what's most important. If we can get the same cap savings by working out a new deal, getting him to take a pay cut, or whatever... we should all be happy.
It's not like the dude can't play.
Bulls on Parade
2017 Astros: Earn It!
I wouldn't be against creating as much cap space as possible, even if it meant letting Andre Johnson go, if we were going to make a run at a dominating type of free agent in his prime like Dez Bryant or even Ndamukong Suh. Although I think having Watt and Suh on the defensive line, even in a 3-4 defense, seems like over-kill but I'd love to watch it. Opposing offensive lines would have to pick their poison. You simply can't use four blockers to block two guys or can you? I sometimes saw Watt being triple teamed last season. Most notably on the Andrew Luck to Hakeem Nicks TD pass in that 17-10 loss we suffered at Indianapolis late in the season. Andre Johnson didn't even play in that game and we still kept it close. I guess that one nailbiting loss at Indianapolis, a place we've never even won before, sort of helped me get used to the idea of parting ways with Andre Johnson this off-season. Maybe sooner rather than later. But only if we plan to do something worthwhile in free agency with decent cap space to work with.
It makes no sense trying to trade him or simply releasing him if we're not going to sign a big-name free agent. Can we put together a better team without Andre Johnson's hefty price tag? Absolutely. But only if we were able to sign a big-name free agent. Otherwise it's easier just to keep him. We still need a quarterback sadly enough but I don't see many good ones in free agency. We could re-sign Ryan Mallett, maybe spin the wheels on Brian Hoyer.
It makes no sense trying to trade him or simply releasing him if we're not going to sign a big-name free agent. Can we put together a better team without Andre Johnson's hefty price tag? Absolutely. But only if we were able to sign a big-name free agent. Otherwise it's easier just to keep him. We still need a quarterback sadly enough but I don't see many good ones in free agency. We could re-sign Ryan Mallett, maybe spin the wheels on Brian Hoyer.
gary
Hall of Fame
Why sign a player to a big contract knowing that they will get older? You make the promise then you should pay them. If you cut an older teacher because of their age and salary then they'll probably have a case to sue. An agreement made up front should be paid out in full unless the employee is injured or fired.
Watt & Suh is the type of overkill I would love to see. (Not gonna happen)
If available the perfect FA signing would be Randall Cobb. I would be willing to pay 8-9 mil per yr and cut AJ. A WR core of Hopkins/Cobb/Parker (Drafted) is weaponry.
Teams that are good let their older players go. The teacher comparison doesn't work. The NFL isn't the real world.
gary
Hall of Fame
The team spent eight seasons on Matt and Gary which is too bad that killed most of AJ's career as far as winning goes.
The really sad thing is that Kubiak didn't use AJ in the red zone and that's going to affect his HOF candidacy.
With the number of times Keenum found him in the end zone, I find it hard to believe it was a Kubiak or Capers thing. More of a QB thing.
I think you're right. Which of our receivers would the defense be more likely to double cover in the red zone, A.J. or [insert name here]?
I'm thinking that FA and the draft will be the deciding factor regarding AJ's tenure with the team. If they get a top FA, such as Bryant, Thomas or Cobb, or get one of the top WR's in the draft, I say AJ will be a June 1 cap casualty.
If that doesn't play out, I see a restructured contract. There's no way the Texans cut him without his replacement on the roster.
If that doesn't play out, I see a restructured contract. There's no way the Texans cut him without his replacement on the roster.
htownfan32
Hall of Fame
Texan_Bill
Hall of Fame
Nah..... Dre ain't worth much..........
Well except the fact that he put up ridiculous stats on teams that sucked, with some really bad to mediocre (at best) QB's..
This poor guy, well not really poor monetarily, had his entire career interfered with mediocrity and no real chance to win.
Irrespective of whether Dre makes the HOF, he's a HOF guy for me. He's the Texans version of "EARL"
Voters that don't agree............ Well they should be punched in the face!!!
welsh texan
You may say I’m a dreamer but I’m not the only one
AJ sat out most of last offseason with a new QB, new system, and at an age when his physical attributes are bound to decline.
Is nobody of the opinion that this affected his #'s and we'll more than likely see a big improvement YoY if he puts in a full offseason.
His gaudy cap figure is well earned, of course as a fan of the team id love them to work something out, especially given the leverage they have to negotiate him down some, but there's no way I want to see the Texans lose his services, especially given that Hopkins still needs high quality help acros from him to aid his development.
Is nobody of the opinion that this affected his #'s and we'll more than likely see a big improvement YoY if he puts in a full offseason.
His gaudy cap figure is well earned, of course as a fan of the team id love them to work something out, especially given the leverage they have to negotiate him down some, but there's no way I want to see the Texans lose his services, especially given that Hopkins still needs high quality help acros from him to aid his development.
TheMatrix31
Hall of Fame
I don't want him playing anywhere else.
Oh there's no doubt in my mind he missed out on getting a "rapport" with Fitzy during camp. And then there's missing out on learning the playbook and giving O'Brien a chance to tailor the offense to run through him like Kubiak did. Yeah, AJ sitting out hurt his performance from a few different aspects, IMO.
TheMatrix31
Hall of Fame
That was his choice and he'll have to deal with it. Hard to forgive him for that crap he pulled over the offseason. Ugh.
Hopefully he shows up before everyone else this offseason and shows that he's still worth it.
Hopefully he shows up before everyone else this offseason and shows that he's still worth it.
oh no doubt it was his choice; but it's history, can't be undone and remaining pissed about it, at this point, is useless.
Now if he pulls that stuff again....
EllisUnit
Vote RED!!!
Guys Mcnair promised AJ he would remain and retire a Texans, Mcnair has his flaws but loyalty is not one of them. I believe what Mcnair said because he said it, i mean how often do you guys complain because Mcnair gives guys longer than we all feel they deserve. At least in this case AJ deserves to remain a Texan his entire career, and to retire a Texan.
Why?
If Jerry Rice/Emmitt Smith/Akeem can finish their careers on different teams what makes AJ different/more entitled?
I have heard that McNair promised AJ this, but I haven't found a link to confirm this.
EllisUnit
Vote RED!!!
Main reason is because i am a Texans fan, i don't care where Cowboys or 49ers players end up.....
I'm a Texans fan, and when we have had one of the best WRs to play the game play his whole career here, i would like to see him finish it here.
EllisUnit
Vote RED!!!
AJ said so himself that Mcnair told him he would finish his career here. It was in an article written during training camp after AJ finally joined the team, and he said that's why he came back, and that was one of the reasons.
With this (McNair's) mentality then it will be a while before the Texans build a championship quality team. But hey, if AJ retiring a Texan is more important than putting the team 1st so be it. But don't be disappointed with the Texans future plight.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Jerry and Emmitt played out their contracts and then could not reach new ones with their teams. So 2 more years until we see if that comparison can be made.
Scooter
Funky
Because there's meaning behind it that lasts for generations. do you not feel a twinge seeing earl in a saints uniform? nolan getting inducted into the hall of fame as a ranger? bruce matthews coaching in tennessee? this is OUR guy. we're fans, and we're a possessive and passionate bunch. i doubt you'd find a 49'ers fan that wouldnt trade an AFC championship for keeping rice with his real team. same for every other legend. how do you feel about montana playing in kansas city? it's wrong! emmitt as a cardinal, rice as a raider, hakeem with whoever he signed with (i've blocked this memory) ... it's just not right.
biggio and bagwell. that invokes something doesnt it. always ours. bags showed up his rookie year to sign baseballs at my youth league as an astro and he retired as an astro. never left, would've played here for a pack of chewing gum. biggio is home grown and home retired. the first astro in the hall of fame. NOT our great #34, he's represented further north. biggio started here and stayed here and that's something that will never change. and frankly i wouldnt care how much it cost to make that happen.
I know there are different circumstances. But until AJ plays out these 2 yrs you can expect the Texans to remain cap strapped. Is this what you really want so that AJ can retire a Texan? I've always been a team before player guy.
EllisUnit
Vote RED!!!
If we get rid of AJ who will take his spot, AJ is still an above average WR who can still put up monster games. I feel AJ is one of the pieces to having a championship team.
How many years was AJ the only legit WR we had with no help. Now that he finally has help in Hopkins you want to put the team in the same position it was in for years with only 1 good WR. That makes no sense.
Scooter
Funky
A lot of focus is on Andre, but the bigger focus should be on everybody else. By everybody else I mean Hopkins ... because he and AJ are the only receivers on the roster.
And do NOT say "draft". And do NOT say Free Agency because anyone worth taking over for Andre is unlikely to produce his results and will probably cost as much as we 'save'.
And do NOT say "draft". And do NOT say Free Agency because anyone worth taking over for Andre is unlikely to produce his results and will probably cost as much as we 'save'.
You could sign any number of FA's. Randall Cobb comes to mind.
Scooter
Funky
and when green bay keeps him?
I didn't have a problem with Earl retiring as a Saint with Bum. McMullen is the reason Nolan retired as a Ranger. Keeping Biggio/Bagwell to the end is a major reason why the Astros and city of Houston are where they are baseball wise. You always have to bring in new blood or your organization becomes stagnant. Sometimes that means having to let go of franchise icons for the betterment of the team. It's a cold world.
BTW, aint Astros baseball grand these days? But hey you got to see Biggio go into the HOF wearing an Astros cap and that's all that matters.