John McClain went on the radio this morning and said that there’s no way the Texans can sign Nnamdi Asomugha or a top free agent because of the team’s cap situation.
First of all, consider the source. McClain is certainly well-connected and often has the inside scoop… but cap talk is not his area of expertise. It’s not mine either, but I’m good at stuff like… thinking and reasoning.
We don’t yet know what the new salary cap will be. Some have said $120 million. Some have said $127 million. Some have said that the salary floor is actually going to be $120 million. Hopefully by the end of the week some more light will be shed on the issue.
What we do know, is that despite ridiculous, uninformed claims that Bob McNair is cheap, the Texans are at or just below the salary cap every season. It appears this will be no different when a cap is reinstated for 2011. Should the Texans want to sign one of the top-tier free agents, presumably a cornerback, they’re going to have to cut some salary fat. Who are some prime veteran candidates who the Texans may look to cut loose (or take a pay cut) in order to bring in a big name free agent?
QB Dan Orlovsky
Matt Leinart isn’t likely to return, and T.J. Yates is just a rookie, so the Texans are probably still going to need the services of a veteran quarterback. Orlovsky has the size, he knows the system, and he’s been under Gary Kubiak’s tutelage for a while now. So even though fans may clamor for the team to cut him, if the Texans are smart they will actually CUT HIM THE SECOND THE LOCKOUT IS OVER BECAUSE HE IS GARBAGE.
DE? NT? Amobi Okoye
I’m curious to see what Amobi can do under Wade Phillips, but in the end I just think he’s going to get eaten alive in the 3-4. I don’t see him as a good fit at either defensive line position, but his youth and talent certainly remain intriguing to me. I know, he’s had more than enough chances, but for me – I’d give him one more. By one more, I mean, you know, through training camp and preseason. By then, I think I’ll have seen enough, even if he’s only had a short time to work with Wade. Amobi’s not as awful as a lot of people say he is, but for what he makes, and the fact that we just need to get more out of the D-line period – his time in Houston is drawing to a close. But he’s still young, dammit! (While I honestly do think there’s something to that, it doesn’t mean the team should (continue to) wait.
RB Steve Slaton
Another lock to be gone, like Orlovsky. I’d still like to see Gary Kubiak do something with him as a receiver coming out of the backfield, or lining up in the slot – he just has too much ability in the open field, but since he proved an inept return man last year, it would be a waste of a roster spot to keep him around for the kind of role I’m talking about. He’s slated to make over a million in 2011, but not much more. Damn, Stevie Wonder. Where did it all go wrong?
Now for some ridiculous names
Eric Winston
Seems to be sliding back, but is always talked about being on the verge of a Pro Bowl. No way he’d take a pay cut.
Owen Daniels
With such depth at the position, he’d be a prime candidate to take a pay cut. What’s that? He just signed a new contract?
Derrick Ward
The Texans have Arian Foster, and Ben Tate is back. They could add another veteran on the cheap. Ward could be a cap casualty, or they could ask him to – what’s that? The Texans signed him to a one-year deal for almost two million? Uh, whoa… really?
Shaun Cody
*Beats head against the wall repeatedly*
Jul 21, 2011 at 07:59:28
What about Antonio Smith? Not cut him but a restructure? Im curious what is cap number is.
Jul 21, 2011 at 10:07:29
FYI, if you haven’t seen John Clayton’s article, it lists where every team stands with relation to the $120 million cap:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6786350/reggie-bush-potential-cap-casualties
The Texans are not in a position, based on those numbers, to pursue Asomugha. They’re only $7 million under the cap. I think they’ll cut Slaton and Okoye for sure. I agree about Orlovsky being garbage, but Kubiak likes keeping three QBs now so I think he stays. Some teams like Jacksonville have some $30 million dollars to spend to get above the new minimum that will be outlined in the new CBA, which is around $110 million. I see Asomugha going to one of those teams.
As for the Texans, I think their #1 priority is Sensabaugh for the other safety, and his money can be freed up with the cuts of Okoye and Slaton. Their #2 priority is retaining the ability to resign Mario Williams next year. Therefore, they may strike out in the cornerback market (which is nothing new), especially since there are only really 2 or 3 appealing options. They’ll sign somebody for sure, but that signing is very likely not going to present a marked improvement over the current CBs on the roster. So, I’m going to mentally prepare myself for the possibility of Allen and Jackson at starting CBs this year. I suggest you do the same.
Unlike a lot of others, I don’t think this is a make-or-break year for Kubiak. I think he’s going to be back next year to finish out his contract and, thus, the high priority on retaining Williams.
Jul 21, 2011 at 10:48:52
I just saw this and, if LZ is right, the cap situation could be a moot point for the next year or two:
http://blog.chron.com/fantasyfootball/2011/07/there-could-be-some-surprising-elements-to-the-new-cba-deal-in-the-nfl/
Jul 21, 2011 at 14:11:48
TexanKurt, not to start an argument, but, McNair is already playing a dangerous game with his fans by retaining Kubiak THIS year. If we go yet another year with mediocre results, things will be ugly QUICK between McNair and the fans.
It’s already been six years w/out a playoff run. Giving Kubiak a seventh? That’s nearly a decade. Not going to happen.
Jul 21, 2011 at 20:14:40
Chris you had me going there with the Dan O argument!
Jul 22, 2011 at 06:17:50
The Zierlein report of a temporarily soft salary cap makes sense for the very reason he said it: the NFLPA would not agree to something that would inherently negatively affect the players right out of the gate.
(I could even go as far as to argue that THAT is what drug out that portion of the debate, not the revenue split, because I doubt someone just said after 3 months…wait, we STILL make money if we just go with a percentage but make it lower than 50%!)
Anyways, the players and owners both know that the 2011 Free Agency season will be a new kind of epic. With new free agents PLUS all the players who got shafted by the temporary rules change in 2010 will all descend upon the market.
And, if it is true that the “big” owners are trying to muscle out the “small” owners, then the last thing they’ll do is put them in a position to win.
Think about it, if $120 MIL goes into place, Dallas has to cut payroll, but Jacksonville has to magically infuse their cap with 30 MIL to meet the floor. So, by default, any and all big-ticket free agents end up in small market cheapskate teams.
There is no way Jerry Jones will allow this to happen.
We will be eased into a salary cap over probably 5 years, because it is generally agreed that a cap is good for the game, but, no, you guys are out of your minds if you think McNair would set himself up to be unable to keep his team handcuffed in this free agent market.
Oh, and to those who want Kubiak/Smith fired after this year, I GUARANTEE signing Nnamdi/Joseph buys them til the end of Kubiak’s contract just to see if he can make something out of that.
Jul 22, 2011 at 12:45:07
@kyle: PROPS!
I don’t think they even need to sign Nnamdi or Joseph. I think just the infusion of Wade Phillips alone buys Kubiak the remainder of his contract to see if he can make something out of all this. McNair’s going to see improvement this year and that’s enough for him. And this team WILL improve this year. It’s not possible that they can maintain the status quo or get worse, right? The defensive improvement alone buys Kubiak at least two more wins and another year. They finally have a legitimate defensive coordinator. Now that they’ve jettisoned all the jokers from that ridiculous excuse for a defense we saw last year (I’m reserving judgment on Kareem for now), there’s just no way they don’t improve this year. If they finish worse than 8-8 this season, I’ll be stunned.
Jul 22, 2011 at 18:45:55
Probably a good idea to move GQ back to corner and sign a FS since they command smaller salaries than CBs. I’ll take Stephen Bowen over Antonio Smith if it makes 3 or 4 million cap space for Vonta. We’ll probably end up getting a cheaper CB like Richard Marshall. GQ/RM… I’ll take it! Weddle/Pollard 0r Sensabaugh… Bring it!
Jul 23, 2011 at 04:32:26
Don’t get me wrong, I want to keep Vonta…
…but I’m all in for a Tier 1 cornerback, Sensabaugh, and Stephen Cooper or some other appropriate Kevin Bentley/Zac Diles-level ILB depth that fits the 3-4.
If we have to sacrifice Vonta for Nnamdi, let’s just have a vote on who’s for that.
Here’s the other thing: yes, Vonta was ridiculously good at one thing: making linebackers regret their positional choice. And it is undeniable that his presence improved the running game…
…enter James Casey. What do we know about him?
A: He’s been bulking up for the role (TE -> FB isn’t that big a change)
B: He’s smart (YOU go get a degree from Rice)
C: He’s talented (YOU earn a NFL draft spot playing for Rice)
D: He can catch passes…
…think about it. While I’m sure Casey can block or he would have been a wideout instead of a Tight End, what if, instead of plowing through linebackers, he starts sprinting past them? How many playaction passes where Schaub hands the ball out, then takes it back, turns around, and zips it to Casey in an open midfield would it take before Casey could make the MLB do a stutter-step before charging in on Foster?
Maybe this adds a whole different wrinkle to an already dynamic offense.
Bottom line: Vonta is peaking from a financial standpoint, and we need secondary help more than we need him – not because FB is a meaningless position, because it’s not…
…but because the difference between Vonta and Casey is A LOT SMALLER than the difference between Scrabble and K-Jax Bleach.
Jul 23, 2011 at 09:52:03
I agree on a top tier corner over vonta. Problem is that’s gonna cost 10-12 million more than vonta. Spending money on depth doesn’t make sense since we’re short at least 3 or 4 starters. Let’s not forget we need a punter.