DeMeco Ryans says the Texans don't reward their own
Paul Kuharsky, who authors the AFC South Blog for ESPN, is in Houston for a few days and it didn't take him long to join the fray in what is becoming the most significant story in Texans-land for a while.
It's the ongoing saga of contract issues with three star players.
You can read Kuharsky's full offering here, but it's one quote from DeMeco Ryans that jumped out at me and makes me wish the players and management would just take it all behind closed doors because the whining gets old.
Here's what Ryans said:
"It's not so much about me, Owen, Dunta. It's about setting a standard that the league has thrived on: That guys who go out and play and perform well, who outperform their contracts, they get new deals, they get taken care of. But we haven't seen that taking place here with the Texans. I haven't seen one guy rewarded from within.
As Kuharsky points out in the article, Eric Winston and Andre Johnson were both rewarded with contract extensions over the past two seasons for their outstanding play. Not mentioned was that Chester Pitts and Kris Brown also received extensions in 2005, which in Pitts' case is nearing completion to the tune of nearly $20 million earned.
I recall a couple of recent RFA matches for Vonta Leach and David Anderson as well.
Coming off a 2-14 season in 2005, did anyone really deserve an extension in 2006?
Look at the historical roster. Considering pre-2006 legacy Texans players, which ones have been worthy of such a reward?
Yes, that would be crickets chirping.
The only other pre-2006 guy worthy of an extension is Dunta Robinson who was on his way to a great year and a certain long term extension before ripping up his knee and hamstring in 2007. It was the worst possible timing ever. But despite the injury and the fact that Robinson said late last season that his knee still felt "funny" at times, the Texans (if you believe John McClain of the Houston Chronicle) offered Robinson $23 million guaranteed - close to top guaranteed money for corners in the NFL - which Robinson and his agent Jason Chayut turned down.
That rumored offer came in March despite what Robinson said on November 20:
(on if he is the same player right now as he was before he went to Oakland last year) “No, I’m not 100 percent. But with that being said, I’m still better than most of the corners in this game. So, the 100 percent, that won’t come until probably the offseason. But I’m still well enough to go out and play and go out and produce and go out and give my team all that I have.”
(on what not being 100 percent means) “Well, I still feel a little funny in my knee sometimes. You know, I say that’s probably the only thing, I still wake up with soreness. Until I can get that out of the way—I feel like I’m moving fine. I watch film, I’ve been watching a lot of film of most of the games that I played this year and a lot of the games I played before my injury and you really can’t tell the difference in the player. But I feel a difference when I’m out there. If I can just get that to go away, which I know it will over time, I’ll be fine.”
I've beaten that dead horse enough.
As far as the 2006-to-present class, it's Owen and DeMeco. But is it a rule that if you go to the Pro Bowl you must immediately get a new deal and be the top paid player in the league? Last time I checked, there were about 100 players that made the Pro Bowl last year and they all can't be the highest paid player at their position. .
That said, the Texans need DeMeco and Owen and they need to wrap them up. Ryans, with his relatively low $1.39 million salary this season, is now the one most worthy of a bump in pay.
The 2006 draft was great for the Texans and they are now faced with the challenge of keeping those players as they complete their rookie contracts. They won't be able to keep everyone (Robinson being the prime example), but letting these things linger unresolved is not healthy for the organization.
At the same time, DeMeco and Owen need to understand that being the second (or third or fourth) highest paid player at your position isn't the end of the world despite what their agents say. Break the bank on one or two guys and there's not enough left for the next one.
There are other player deals on the horizon as well. Matt Schaub is due a healthy option bonus after this season if he stays healthy and plays well. Before you know it, we'll be reading similar things about Mario Williams and Steve Slaton. It all has to fit into the big salary picture.
I understand players trying to get everything they can but negotiation is a two way street, and for some reason I'm having trouble believing that Bob McNair is behind an effort to low ball guys like Ryans and Daniels.
I'm sure there's still an underlying concern among owners about the ability to get a new Collective Bargaining Agreement in place before the salary cap/floor and free agent rules change next season. That uncertainty would definitely make me think twice before committing a hundred million today to long term deals (as if I know what that's like).
At any rate, it's time for both sides to quit their quibbling and get the business done. Fans can't relate to the form of disrespect these players are experiencing.
It's time to play football.
| For more information, you may also want to read: Daniels' decision to stay away is understandable |
Comments
I do agree with Paul on this one that Demeco has his facts a little messed up but were at a point in time where this organization needs to resign its true leader. Demeco has done nothing but play hard every down on bad teams. He is the cornerstone for this franchise and must be rewarded with a long term deal.
Daniels is also a huge weapon for the offense that I don't think anyone wants to see broken up, but if the accusations of him being offered the second highest salary for a TE in the NFL and rejecting it are true than he is out of his mind. I'm hoping both sides can settle on something more reasonable and lock him up long term.
Now for Dunta, this guy is an incredible talent, a leader, and a hard nosed, blue collar kind of person we want on this team and defense. His injury was horrific but i believe he can come back full strength from it and be the player he was before. I agree that it was wrong for the Texans to tell him that they weren't going to franchise him and then end u
doing it but Dunta, your getting 9+ mil a year. Show up to camp, prove to this team that your a leader, healthy, and ready to work. The money will come, no doubt about it. Fans want you here, the city wants you here, and top executives love seeing you on the field and filling the seats. Your not going to get 23 guaranteed anywhere else so suit up, lets win some games and go to the playoffs. This is our year!
Of course, I don't have any experience either in dealing with these sort of contracts. Still, the Texans have often mentioned that they want to be known as an organization that takes care of its team contributors. Since most of the details of the issues on each side are closed-door, I'm not sure who is to blame, but right now, it looks like the organization is sending the wrong message to the players (those already on the team and those who might come in the future). I seldom have found things to criticize the Texans for in this offeseason, but this is one of them. Perhaps, I am just holding them to a much higher standard than other organizations. So be it. There's still time for redemption when it comes to Dunta, OD, and Ryans. Thanks for the info AJ.
Where are these comments coming from? AB, you absolutely nailed it, my man. This is the best piece I've read since this whole fiasco began. I don't know if it's the agents or the players that think the Texans are chumps, but that's not the case. I'm with Clutch City and Greg, in that, we need to get the deals done, but not by sacrificing all our resources.
Again, absolutely incredible job, AB!!
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