UPDATE: Reports have now surfaced that the Texans have agreed to terms with backup QB Matt Leinart. This seals the fate of one Dan Orlovsky, who will become nothing more than a camp body. He will be one of the first cuts the Texans make if they need to dump salary in order to sign a costly free agent. This of course will be in addition to the numerous contract restructures they’ll have to do to get their financial house in order.
Quick morning update as day two of the post-lockout world kicks off – the Texans reeled in two of their key free agents late last night. As expected, the team was able to come to terms with WR Jacoby Jones, who is back for three years, $10.5 million, with $3.5 million guaranteed. Not an unreasonable deal for Jacoby, who I thought would pull in slightly more on the open market. He may well have been able to, but the Texans were able to make it happen.
Shockingly, swing tackle Rashad Butler will also return to the Texans. I had gone out of my way to repeatedly state he was leaving the Texans, which he said he intended to do both on Twitter and on local radio. In the end the market wasn’t as hot for him as I thought, or he thought it would be. Butler gets two years, $3.8 million, with a $1.25 million signing bonus. A very smart, economical signing for the Texans. Having a swing tackle who can come in and start or fill in with no notice and little worry is a GREAT thing. The Texans have been very fortunate that their starting tackles have been healthy for quite a while now, but one bad injury could have created a lot more uncertainty without Butler in the fold.
Despite various reports, QB Matt Leinart has yet to sign with anyone, though I’m sure we all expect him to end up elsewhere. There will be many veteran free agent QBs out there, but if it means jettisoning Dan Orlovsky – I’d like to have Leinart back as Matt Schaub’s backup. I can’t imagine he will cost that much, and even if he does – you know the Texans are willing to pay him considering the amount of cash they dropped on Orlovsky.
The next domino to fall could be Vonta Leach. While the Texans may in fact want him back desperately, they are also loading up with other options, including two undrafted free agent fullbacks, Justin “Bubba” Bartlett and Zac Pauga. Of course we all know that TE James Casey has also been preparing for a shot at the position should Vonta go elsewhere.
Vonta may be a casualty if the Texans are going to make room to sign a big name, or second-level free agent cornerback. I’ve been in the camp that says losing Vonta isn’t going to be devastating to the offense, but at the same time – I don’t want the Texans to mess with what they know works. But this team has some CRIPPLING needs right now, so if Leach won’t come to terms, I’ll wish him well and go forward with the understanding that the money meant for him will go to something more vital to the immediate future of the team.
The Texans also signed 33-year old journeyman defensive lineman Damione Lewis to a one-year deal at the veteran minimum on Tuesday. He had 13 tackles and a sack in 10 games with the Texans in 2010.
Feel free to pop in all day and post updates in the comments about ongoing free agency signings for the Texans and throughout the league.
Jul 27, 2011 at 10:05:13
The one thing I can’t understand is why haven’t we heard anything on rookies signing? Under the new CBA and the rookie wage scale, it makes it a lot easier to sign rookies. Yet FA can’t sign a deal with another team until 6:01 EST on Fri. I know they can come to an agreement before then, but can’t make it “official” until Fri. But you have guys like S-Q.Mikell, LB-T.Spikes….etc… already signing with other teams. I know FA are important but so are our rookies. Camp is about to start and they of all people need to be there. Vets. know how to adapt better than rookies, coming into camp late or learning a new system.
Surely the Texans have one set of guys working just on FA and another set of guys working on rookies….Well, then again it is the Texans we’re talking about. Maybe I’m giving them too much credit.
Jul 27, 2011 at 10:38:58
Rookies aren’t going anywhere else, free agents can.
Jul 27, 2011 at 12:00:25
That doesn’t mean you can’t still sign them.
Jul 27, 2011 at 12:16:28
John McClain just reported Leinart resigns with Texans. Last nights report about Seattle was wrong. Now drop Orlavsky (sp).
Jul 27, 2011 at 13:05:49
Eric Weddle just signed with San Diego for the richest offer a safety has ever gotten. We might have to stick with Mikel or Danyel Manning for our safety. I would still sign sensabaugh. I just like the other two I mentioned better
Jul 27, 2011 at 13:44:52
True Doom but I would prefer they focus more on free agency than draft picks right now. Like you said I’m sure someone is handling the rookies but I would rather free agency be the priority
If you were talking about Quinton Mikell Truth he has been had by the Rams already. He was a target I had hoped the Texans would have considered.
Not a fan of Jacoby signing unless we get a solid 1 year vet threat as a legit #2. I’m with Chris almost word for word with Walter. Was and am a fan just not a believer as much anymore.
Shocked and love the Butler signing. Huge.
Jul 28, 2011 at 01:30:31
Nnamdi + Sensabaugh + Stephen Cooper
The writing is on the wall for the ILBs of San Diego. The Chargers were one of those teams that were going to have to make some tough choices, and they chose Weddle and OLB Antwaan Barnes over locking up Stephen Cooper and Kevin Burnett
Both Cooper and Burnett are solid ILBs that deserve to start in many teams’ 3-4. Cooper, 32, has more experience working with Wade and will come more cheaply due to his age, although last season proved that his skills have not declined yet.
Kevin Bentley is gone. We need depth at the linebacker position, even if DeMeco is healthy, because all of our linebackers besides Brooks Reed and Cheta-O were drafted during the 4-3 era, so we really don’t know what we have.
If it were up to me, once we got around to signing nothing but camp bodies, they would be nothing but inside linebackers (I think we have enough OLBs), DTs with nose tackle potential, and guys who could potentially play well on special teams.
I think San Diego’s #1 offense and #1 defense last year proved implicitly how important special teams are, so if this is “the year” lets get that third of our house in order.
Jul 28, 2011 at 12:13:43
@ DR. DOOM
The Rookies have been at Reliant since the lockout was lifted. The Texans have way more important things to focus on now. All hands on deck when it comes to get Nnamdi. Besides, Texans camp starts later than any other team. That allows us some extra days to work with.
Jul 28, 2011 at 17:01:10
@kd
yeah but the team that is are main competition for nnamdi starts the same day as us.
@american idle my bad on mikel. did u see we are one of three teams in the daneal manning sweepstakes.