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Sharper Released

They are clearing the decks for sure. Now, is it in preparations for this year or next? IMO, they are looking to get younger and faster, get the experience this year (POSSIBLE playoff spot) and then expect a deep playoff run in 06.
 
with the hole now left, there are a couple scenario's the most thought of one is peek greenwood, wong, and babin. but lets not forget that dashon polk played some pretty good football those last three games filling in for foreman, im not saying he is a savior, but he is a good player that did a lot of good for us last year when we held that streak over the last 3-4 games
 
I think (or I atleast hope), that this means Casserly has a plan that he thinks is going to work to upgrade our team at ILB. Whether that's trading up for someone like DJ, or a later choice who he feels will excel in our system. Would've it been so bad to just let him play out the final year of his contract rather than releasing him? I'm missing something unless Casserly foresees finding a better fit for us in the draft, or maybe in Wong..? We're not pressed for cash since we didn't make any huge FA signings, and he'd be off the cap when his contract expired anyways...?
 
Casserly said that it was a cap issue. Instead of waiting till next year, he is willing to cut ties this year.

4/1/2005
 
Thought at first that it was an April Fool's joke, but I cause it's not.

Can't say that I'm overly shocked, the cap figure he was carring was really to much for him. I am kinda sad they couldn't trade him, but I quess it just goes to show that no team thought he was worth the money.

Good luck and safe travels Mr. Sharper.
 
honestly i think casserly will do one of two things...if the price is right he'll trade up for derrick johnson...making all us fans happy...if the price is too high he'll trade down for extra picks...and select either marcus spears, david pollack, carlos rogers, or one of the receivers...our starting line-up for linebackers will be peek wong greenwood babin

anyone see a problem with this senerio?
 
i like the idea of our starting LBs beign Wong, Greenwood, Babin, and Peek it will be dangerious once Peek learns to become an every down Lb !
 
This is bringing back the indigestion I got when I first heard about the Greenwood signing. If somebody's trying to tell me that Morlon freaking Greenwood is an upgrade over Jamie Sharper, they're nuts. (AND they didn't watch him as much as I did last year.) And spare me the "in the future" stuff...this team is nearing the end of its so-called 5 year plan and is actually giving away solid talent. I expected the Texans to contend for their division this year and have seen little in this offseason to inspire confidence.

We got younger. We got quicker. But did we get BETTER?
 
TexanExile said:
This is bringing back the indigestion I got when I first heard about the Greenwood signing. If somebody's trying to tell me that Morlon freaking Greenwood is an upgrade over Jamie Sharper, they're nuts. (AND they didn't watch him as much as I did last year.) And spare me the "in the future" stuff...this team is nearing the end of its so-called 5 year plan and is actually giving away solid talent. I expected the Texans to contend for their division this year and have seen little in this offseason to inspire confidence.

We got younger. We got quicker. But did we get BETTER?
Click to expand...
I second what Exile just said. Something had to have happened that we aren't in on. When the season ended, I don't think the first thing that came to mind was "let's get rid of Sharper to improve the team next year". .. Guess we'll never know what happened.
All the best to Jamie for his hard work and dedication to the Texans. I'm sure he will land on his feet and give some other team some exciting football like he gave us. Thanks for the memories! I am sad.
 
I still think that there was something going on between Sharper and the coaches/front office or that something happened between them. To just give him permission to seek a trade and them dump him without getting anything in return is just weird, or maybe the front office actually think this move is for the best for some reason. I mean Sharper was the heart of our defense IMO.
 
Here is a thought as to why the Front Office let Sharper go, but be forewarned it is stupid...oh well it is the doldrums of the off-season.

The front office respected Sharper enough that they granted him his wish for a relatively quick release. They decided he deserved a fare shot of landing on a team before the draft, thus in doing so, the Texans make themselves out as a top notch organization that players and their agents are drawn to. We get no real dividends at the present, but we get preference from FAs in the future. This type of "respect" towards players along with our willingness to give FAs a tidy sum without much hassle could help land us some good FAs in the future.
I am really reaching here to try and see something positive out of not getting any picks.
I figure, if I were looking for a place to work, I would go to an organization like the Texans before I went elsewhere. Granted the team has to be a winner.

Okay sorry for wasting y'alls' time with that one.
 
there is zero chance that we resign him. Although we didn't get any real trade offers, many teams have been anticipating that we would just release sharper. I expect at least three teams to make a move at sharper now and he will be signed away very soon.
 
Here is a clue...

Player Salary
1. Ray Lewis, Baltimore $6.93 million
2. Brian Urlacher, Chicago $6.16
3. Jamie Sharper, Houston $6.13
4. LaVar Arrington, Washington $5.63
5. Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay $4.91

Sharper is not in their class. Not sure of the absolute accuracy in his cap numbers, but he was really simply a cap casualty.

http://profootballsalarycap.blogspot.com/
 
TexanExile said:
This is bringing back the indigestion I got when I first heard about the Greenwood signing. If somebody's trying to tell me that Morlon freaking Greenwood is an upgrade over Jamie Sharper, they're nuts. (AND they didn't watch him as much as I did last year.) And spare me the "in the future" stuff...this team is nearing the end of its so-called 5 year plan and is actually giving away solid talent. I expected the Texans to contend for their division this year and have seen little in this offseason to inspire confidence.

We got younger. We got quicker. But did we get BETTER?
Click to expand...

Yes we did get better, just for the simple fact that we are trying to construct a lb core that will be playing together for years to come. From day one I have looked at all the players the texans took in the expansion draft simply as temporary spot fillers. Yes I have become attached to some of these players, but they are not part of our future, and yes you have to think about the future. Jamie sharper isn't going to be the difference of this team winning the super bowl or not next year and there is no way we would be able to sign him after next season. So the best thing to do is to go ahead and find and groom his replacement, so when this team is ready to go to the playoffs he will be ready also. This is also why I was upset with the G. Walker signing and skeptical of the Payne signing, the Dline is where we need to focus next. Look we have already overhauled the offense with youth, now we are doing it to the defense. I like this move, it shows that the front office doesn't just want to have a chance to be a contender for next season, but they are putting the players in place that will give us the chance to be contenders for years to come.
 
derrick johnson seems like the perfect fit I am just weary of trading up to get him, I hate handing over draft picks.
 
I'll tell you what Vinny... Babin and Peek, pash rush specialist on the outside, teamed with Morlon Greenwood and Thomas Davis at ILB... that looks promising.
 
I would be happy drafting Thomas Davis and converting him to ILB. Derrick Johnson could very well turn into a superstar, but we have too many holes to give away that many picks, if indeed we trade up for a high price. I just hope Casserly said something to himself other than "He costs too much," when he made this decision. I'd like to think that he was thinking, "We can get player X for a reasonable cost, improve our defense in the long run, and save some cash."
 
texan279 said:
DJ is one of the only, if not THE only sure pick in this year's draft...
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there are plenty of high quality linebacker prospects in this draft. You don't always have to take the #1 rated at the position. AJ was the second reciever taken and Dunta was the 2nd cb taken and look how great they have become. Yes it would be great to draft johnson, I just don't think it is worth trading up.
 
That's not what I am saying, there are lots of quality players in this draft, but DJ is a sure thing, and I would rather not trade up for him either. Personally I think we should trade down and take an O lineman...
 
Vinny said:
If you want to think outside the box, Thomas Davis is nearly the perfect candidate to be an inside linebacker in our scheme if we cannot find a way to land DJ.
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Alright now you guys are teasing me.
 
Yea, while drafting an OL isn't the "sexy" pick, it can be the smart one if you get a good value at your turn. I think I forget how horrible and debilitating our O-Line is a little bit every off-season, hopefully we can address it somewhat this year.
 
I also think we should trade down. The 13 pick is a great spot to have because as of right now nobody know who is really the cream of the crop in this years draft so there could be a really elite player that falls to us, also if nobody does fall to us we could simply trade down a few spots and still fill our needs. People get confused, this is not a shallow draft it is just a draft that doesn't have STAND out players, but other than that the players that are available in rnd 1 our very solid and are pretty much near the same level. It is almost like each of the first 6 players in the draft could of been taken #1 ovrl. I just think, because of this it is to risky to trade up in this years draft.
 
Yea, while drafting an OL isn't the "sexy" pick, it can be the smart one if you get a good value at your turn. I think I forget how horrible and debilitating our O-Line is a little bit every off-season, hopefully we can address it somewhat this year.
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I agree, I am tired of some people and almost every mock saying we will/should draft a WR, S, LB, CB, when our O line is needs big time help...


Bengals | Interested in Sharper - from www.KFFL.com
Fri, 1 Apr 2005 21:41:46 -0800

Geoff Hobson, of Bengals.com, reports the Cincinnati Bengals have expressed interest in LB Jamie Sharper, who was recently released by the Houston Texans. Tony Agnone, Sharper's agent, told Bengals.com in March that he is looking forward to a reunion with head coach Marvin Lewis. The team is apparently seeking middle linebacker help, given the uncertain recovery status of Nate Webster (knee) from a torn patella tendon injury.
 
There are some very good reasons why people are saying dont draft Oline in the first.

#1: An Olineman RARELY RARELY RARELY ever makes an immediate impact, and we are still a team that needs immediate impact players.

#2: The ONLY positions on the oline that EVER really warrants a first round pick..is left tackle.. and the only player worthy of a top 15 pick at LT is Alex Barron.. and he is BARELY worth it. He is still questionable IMO.

#3: We have a young LT that we have been grooming and who we are NOT ready to give up on. Wand had a rough first season but you dont throw a young talented prospect on the bench cause he made the mistakes that young players make. He needs to be out there.. and more important.. we need to try to keep an oline together for as long as possible. We have switched players around EVERY year so far.. and Olines need time to mesh to become effective.

#4: Our REAL needs on the Oline are interior linemen.. and this is a VERY deep draft for them. We can get 1st/2nd round quality interior linemen in the 3rd and 4th in this draft.. and we probably will.

#5: We are working on new plays to reduce the strain on our Oline. More timing patterns to get the ball out of Carr's hands faster. This is a temporary solution until our Oline is where it needs to be.. but it lessens the necessity for using high picks on Olinemen.

#6: MOST Olinemen (except for left tackles) are drafted in the 3rd-7th round.. or an undrafted rookie. what im getting at... again.. just to ram it into peoples heads.. is that YOU DO NOT NEED TO USE HIGH PICKS ON OLINEMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11!!1!!1!!!!1!!!!one!!1!!



All that being said.. at #13 we are in a position to either:

A) Get a top 5 draft pick quality Running Back.. this is a DEEP draft for RBs with Cadillac, Benson, and Brown all projected to go in the top 10. If one of them slides we could have him at 13. Brown or Benson would both be very good for us.

B) There are some very high quality tweener style LBs projected to go in the mid/early first round.. Merriman, Pollack, and Cody come to mind. We need LBs and we been saying since LAST YEAR that we need playmakers in the front seven. This could be our chance to grab a very good one. (I want Pollack!!!!)


C) There are also some very nice CBs in this draft.. Antrel Rolle, Carlos Rogers, Pac Man Jones.. these are mid/early first round quality CBs .. most or all of which will be available to us. We NEED young playmakers on defense.. and in our pass happy division.. CBs are a big need ALL the time.

D) Wide Receiver.. some people claim this is a huge need.. I dont think it is. We have a WR corp that is very strong already. However, I can see the BENEFIT of having another Andre Johnson on the field. It would certainly help to take some of the pressure Johnson.. and maybe off of Carr as well. SO, its possible that Casserly could be looking at WR as a way to help protect Carr, improve our running game, and our passing game.. all in one big shabang.
 
A) Get a top 5 draft pick quality Running Back.. this is a DEEP draft for RBs with Cadillac, Benson, and Brown all projected to go in the top 10. If one of them slides we could have him at 13. Brown or Benson would both be very good for us.
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I have not really talked about this happening at all, but I sure have been thinking about it, the reason I haven't talked about it is because I don't want to jinx this. If one of the top 3 RB's fell to us and we snatched 'em up, I would party like its 1999! :woot Don't get me wrong, DD is awesome, but I just can't see us passing on one of the top 3 RB's if they fell to us...
 
Probably as a last resort.

I had a feeling no one would want him if we shopped him. With so many tweeners in the draft no one really wanted to pay that high salary Sharper was wanting. How eerie would that be if the Vikings Signed him? the Sharper Bros. defense.
 
Sharper criticized the coaching staff at one point during the season. I feel he let the cat out of the bag. This is the end result of that outburst. I too feel very negatively towards what we are doing with our players. I have stated that the 5 year plan was shot down by injuries and everything I have seen so far still leads me to believe that is true. I continue to believe we will be the door mat of our conference.

Are there any bright spots on the horizon? I think the draft might yield some and the reappearance of BJ might be another. I hope I'm wrong about how the Texans are doing, but time will tell.
 
Ibar_Harry said:
Sharper criticized the coaching staff at one point during the season. I feel he let the cat out of the bag. This is the end result of that outburst. I too feel very negatively towards what we are doing with our players. I have stated that the 5 year plan was shot down by injuries and everything I have seen so far still leads me to believe that is true. I continue to believe we will be the door mat of our conference.

Are there any bright spots on the horizon? I think the draft might yield some and the reappearance of BJ might be another. I hope I'm wrong about how the Texans are doing, but time will tell.
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The Titans are the doormat right now. We may be the coatrack, but we are not the doormat. :wacko:

Of course, I would like to mention that I wish Sharper the best of luck. He won't be getting paid like Ray Lewis. I suspect CC has a wonderful plan in store. The draft should be fun.
 
TexansTrueFan said:
Peek it will be dangerious once Peek learns to become an every down Lb !
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I caught Peek on 610 yesterday morning - the guy is really entertaining,
fun to listen to, and downright likeable. But I heard him say, and I'm paraphrasing here, that playing strong side OLB is virtually the same as playing weakside OLB. C'mon Antwan, you got no TE to block you/QB's backside on one side and you have neither advantage on the other side.
He says its the same to him either way - I'm hoping this is over confidence
of a youngster blurring reason and knowledge a little bit, because if not Antwan has missed a whole lot in the 3 years of his training to convert from college DE to NFL OLB.
 
Vinny said:
Here is a clue...

Player Salary
1. Ray Lewis, Baltimore $6.93 million
2. Brian Urlacher, Chicago $6.16
3. Jamie Sharper, Houston $6.13
4. LaVar Arrington, Washington $5.63
5. Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay $4.91

Sharper is not in their class.

http://profootballsalarycap.blogspot.com/
Click to expand...


This is on target, Vinny...except with respect to Urlacher, who is overrated and not Sharper's equal. But what I don't get is why this took so long to do if it was so automatic.

Two things: this was a "cap casualty" BECAUSE the Greenwood signing made it cap-troublesome, regardless of whether or not that signing was the right move. And, although we may never know the answer, was this delay strategic in trying to keep Sharper off the market a while, or did they seriously believe he would cave in and restructure?
 
Nobody in the NFL would take Sharper over Urlacher. I think we have a bit of homer-vision on that one.

This is not a cap casualty because of Greenwood. I think it is ridiculous to assume the Texans billion dollar organization would be so myopic and foolhardy to not do the math before they signed Greenwood. When the season ended, they got all their scouts and decision makers together and graded film. What you are seeing is the adjustment to this in relation to the salary cap.
 
Hervoyel said:
I couldn't see them giving up a pair of 1's for DJ either. Not this year. I could maybe see them doing something along the lines of their Babin deal last year, not of course exactly like it since the circumstances are different but similar. That's only if they decide they must have him and admittedly that would be out of character for the Texans. There are options like you point out Vinny.

I think the Texans are standing pat in a number of areas that lots of people think we absolutely must make a move in. This is like that too. I don't see one single emergency need on our team. Man that feels good to say after the last three years.
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Agreed Vinny. I could see fair market value of a one and one of the extra threes. Don't believe giving up a pair of ones would be prudent.


Ah Hervoyel, last year we couldn't get to the passer and we could not rush the ball at the end of the season against teams we should of ran out of the park. " Standing pat" is not an option for this coaching staff. One of the two lines must be improved for this club to go where it wants to go. With any luck we improve team speed on defense, we fill a few holes via the draft, Jopurru or Hollings comes through this off season and we got a shot. Lot of if's there. But 7-9, 8-8 ain't going to cut to again this year. Had some major personel set backs to forgive . But it's fish or cut bait time. JMHO.
 
Nice post grid.

From What I've seen, I wouldn't be too up set if we ended day one with whoever and Bass. I believe he's going to be that good. I hope DJ/ Bass. On the whole though you're right about the o-line. So far though that theory, for this staff hasn't born much fruit. They must be able to establish DD in November and December if we're going any where. Which was painfully obiviuos, we could not do last year. We've had to bring "in" our o-line for the most part. Got some good looking prosects riding the pine. They get a shot at Bass they got to grab the guy. We've waited on the young gaurds riding the pine long enough to beat somebody out. JMHO.
 
this was a "cap casualty" BECAUSE the Greenwood signing made it cap-troublesome, regardless of whether or not that signing was the right move.
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This was a cap casualty regardless of the Greenwood deal. If it didn't happen now, Sharper would have been UFA departure at this time next year. Look for name players to be released from this point forward. Glenn, Walker, Wong, and Coleman will all meet the same fate in the next 1-3 years.

I've been saying on these boards for more than a year now that a decision would have to be made between Wong and Sharper because with their contracts both expiring after the '05 season there was little chance they could keep both players.
 
This really chaps my ***. I mean I dont think that Sharper was worth anything more than a high fourth low third. But if someone was willing to give us a fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh then shouldnt we have taken it. I know that we will now have no chance at DJ even though he will fall out of the top five. Well I guess Casserly has some type of plan for the team, but I am not convinced right now.
 
aj. said:
This was a cap casualty regardless of the Greenwood deal. If it didn't happen now, Sharper would have been UFA departure at this time next year. Look for name players to be released from this point forward. Glenn, Walker, Wong, and Coleman will all meet the same fate in the next 1-3 years.
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That is exactly what I said earlier, we are going to start phasing out the "expansion" players and charlie is going to build his "team" through the draft and FA. These players did a great job in getting us started, but now the youth is taking over and were getting better and younger at the same time.
 
I think some of y'all are parsing the heck out of this for no reason. Let me get this straight: if Greenwood wasn't signed by Houston, and no other decent FA LBs were signed either, you believe that Sharper would STILL be gone right now? Even though there wasn't the slightest indication of movement in that direction this entire offseason? I just can't believe that. No Greenwood signing, no Sharper cut. And that was my point.

And Vinny, to your interpretation re: the Texans not doing "the math"--I didn't say they goofed and put themselves in a jam. I think they knew what they were going to do with Sharper when they signed Greenwood. It is still cause and effect. (See above paragraph.)

And as for Urlacher, it ain't homerism. I just don't live in 2002. :)
 
TexanExile said:
And as for Urlacher, it ain't homerism. I just don't live in 2002. :)
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Urlacher had a good 2003 season, too...He was injured last year, so you didn't hear much about him...The big difference between Urlacher and Sharper is that Urlacher is a difference maker...Jamie lets the game come to him, he just isn't disruptive enough...That's the main reason that he has never made a Pro Bowl, despite leading the league in tackles...He and Foreman would always just stand there and let the ball carrier run into them instead of stopping the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage or behind it...It's obvious we're searching for faster, more disruptive linebackers and Jamie just didn't fit into the plans here...I wish him all the best...
 
of course he wouldnt have been... no more than we would have cut Kendrick Starling before signing Randy Moss.


Casserly didnt just wake up and read his scouting reports and say "hmm.. I think ill sign.......... Greenwood! give him 100 million, I want him here by noon"

:P.. Sharper was cut because we signed Greenwood.. but it wasnt some necessary solution to the cap trouble we had put ourselves in.. it was planned from the start.. before Greenwood ever signed anything.



As for the reason for the delay.. I think we were just waiting to see what we could get for him... I dont think we intended to resign him.

We are rebuilding our LBs.. sucks.. but it is SO necessary. Our pass rush has sucked for 3 years.. now.. not only is our pass rush sucking.. but our coverage is sucking too. Tight Ends ran all over us. We needed a big change.. youth and speed in the LBs is a good way to go. Sharper is 31 years old, costing us 6 million bucks, and to be quite honest, was NOT doing his job. He was not part of our future, so we let him go. Its that simple.
 
SheTexan said:
I think Houston made a BIG mistake!! JMO!
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well my opinion is, i think letting him go was best. we have guys waiting in the wings (peek) who need their chance to shine. jamie sharper was going to count $6 some million against the cap when we have guys who arent making much thatcan come in and make this team faster....something that we needed to do. i dont know alot about greenwood, but i hear he is a solid pass coverman and has speed, and wong will definitely give us speed in the middle and he has MLB experience with the vikes. i believe babin is going to have a breakout year because of antwan peek. i thiink that if peek can create havok on the o-line, which he will, then babins job as a pass rusher will be easier. the texans are in a very good situation cap wise, and if we can go after a pure shutdown corner, we can be more aggressive on defense. but yeah, letting sharper go is not that big of a deal in my mind. i think it helps this team bc now we are faster and more stable oin the cap.
 
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