Okay, so since worrying about things way before it’s time to do so is one of the things I’m really good at, I have to throw this out there.
Do we need to worry that Steve Slaton will hold out at the beginning of the 2009 season? He’s clearly the Texans running back of the present and future – even if their plan next year is to bring in a bruiser to compliment Slaton – he’s clearly the guy.
He’s scheduled to make $385,000 next season, and all I can think about is Ryan Grant.
Of course, Grant was an undrafted free agent, and wasn’t making the kind of money Slaton is as a third-round pick… but if I sit here and think as if I were Slaton’s agent, I think like this:
“My guy Slaton was the steal of the 2008 draft. He rushed for over 1000 yards in his rookie year. He started 15 games, scored __ touchdowns, had an incredible number of 40+ yard plays, and finished with an unreal 5.0 yards per carry average (let’s just say he continues that pace). Ryan Grant only started seven games in 2007, and ran for 956 yards… yet based on that rookie season he signed a four-year, $20 million contract. Pay my guy, or he’s not going to show up at camp.”
So yeah – in the midst of this franchise’s second three-game win streak of the season (and second in team history), I’m sitting here worried about this instead of focusing on how much I hate the Tennessee Titans. Does anyone care to allay my fears?
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Dec 11, 2008 at 10:15:02
The only thing I can think that would prevent it is this team is someone like Andre or (especially) DeMeco might pull Stevie aside and say “look, they took care of me when I showed I wasn’t a one-year fluke…they’ll do the same for you. Now get your ass in camp before I stomp a mudhole in it.”
Dec 12, 2008 at 10:31:13
Agreed. This is where the Texans’ past loyalty should pay off.
Jan 4, 2009 at 03:35:49
I wouldn’t blame him if he held out. Every guy in the NFL is always one play away from never stepping on the field again, and RBs are especially prone to that. What are the odds that we could get him cheaper if Rick Smith were to approach him before a potential hold-out with a contract offer? $5 million a year seems like a lot to me, but maybe I’m just not privy to the times. $15 million over 4 years seems more reasonable.