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Daniels could force Texans hand in free agency if collective bargaining agreement is reached
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Daniels is scheduled for ACL surgery on November 17 (NFLPA photo)
Mark Berman of Fox 26 reported on Friday that Owen Daniels has set November 17 as the date he will have surgery to repair the torn ACL he suffered last Sunday at Buffalo.
According to the report, the surgery will be performed by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews.
In Berman's report, Daniels also discussed his contract status.
Daniels is in the last year of his contract and if a new collective bargaining agreement is not reached prior to March 1, then Daniels remains a restricted free agent and the Texans can limit his options again by offering him a one-year tender.
But, if a new collective bargaining agreement is reached prior to March, then Daniels (and DeMeco Ryans) will become unrestricted free agents - provided the Texans don't extend them before then and the current unrestricted free agent rules remain in place. Current rules allow players with four accrued years of service and expiring contracts to become unrestricted free agents.
Daniels wasn't happy that he and the Texans couldn't reach a long term deal earlier this year and from his comments to Berman, he still carries a chip on his shoulder (maybe two chips now).
"I try to be nice and friendly and pretty political about things," Daniels told Berman. "I don't want to step on anyone's toes. I feel like I proved myself once and I was proving myself again this year and now I'm just going to have to go out and prove myself again and that's why there would be a chip."
It was the next comment from Daniels that implied he wouldn't hesitate to look elsewhere if he felt the Texans weren't offering enough.
"I wanted to prove this year that I was one of the best, if not the best tight end in the league," Daniels told Berman. "I think I put a lot on tape to go in that direction and put me at least in the conversation."
The point there is the Texans don't need tape on Daniels. They already know what they have. What that tells me is that if Daniels rehab goes well and there's a new collective bargaining agreement by March, Daniels might try to force the Texans hand by shopping himself around. His value may be reduced but if he recovers fully, he will still be one of the best tight ends in the NFL - at least if he's in an offense like what the Texans run.
Of course that's a lot of 'if's.' The Texans could also franchise him next spring (again if there's a new agreement). I'm sure that would go over well.
Part of the reason I bring this up is that a new round of labor talks will occur this coming week, and Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith will be there. The vibe has been that a new agreement won't be reached before March, but you never know.
DeMeco Ryans' contract expires at the end of this season and is in the same situation as Daniels. He will remain restricted if a new CBA is not reached, but will be unrestricted if an agreement is reached and the Texans don't extend him before March. Ryans is probably the number one priority to re-sign if a new agreement is reached.
As far as other notable Texans contract situations, Dunta Robinson is a free agent in March if the Texans don't extend him, Matt Schaub is due a $10 million option which would kick in the last three years of his contract, and Mario Williams' base salary balloons to $9.6 million next year so he's also a prime candidate for a re-do.
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