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Ryans isn't letting facts get in the way of a good argument
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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 |
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