UPDATE: Right on cue, not long after I posted this story, there’s a Dunta Robinson update article on HoustonTexans.com with some new quotes. Also – finally – mention of continuing/ongoing contract negotiations. He sounds absolutely genuine about wanting to stay in Houston, but if he hasn’t moved off the number he wants, he’s not long for the Bayou City.
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On Saturday, before the NFL Draft began, this article popped up on Chron.com. Obviously, it got lost in the shuffle since we were all so ready to sink our teeth into the draft. Now that some time has passed, let’s go back and make sure we didn’t miss something.
I’ve said it a thousand times. Dunta Robinson is/was my favorite player on this team. He brings an attitude and fire that I find to be sorely lacking in a lot of our other defensive players. I love his leadership, etc., etc. But the guy has all but forced me to the other side of the fence now.
One thing I want to say right off the bat is that I totally understand him being upset about being franchised. I get that he wants his guaranteed money, and I get that he would be grateful, thankful, and humbled to make the just-short of $10 million he would make if he signs his one-year deal. I get all of that. He felt like he was lied to, and that has NOTHING to do with dollar amounts and guarantees. It’s a respect issue… it’s a matter of principle. I understand.
Then it came out that he reportedly turned down a deal that would have paid him $23 million in guaranteed money. We of course do not know the rest of the details of that deal, but if his biggest problem with it is that he thinks he deserves MORE than that guaranteed number – I can’t get behind that.
That brings us to Saturday. DRAFT DAY. The story breaks on draft day? How is that a coincidence? I think we all know John McClain well enough to know that he – nor any other sports journalist – would “sit” on that story for any length of time, especially when a player is literally making threats to the team. What does that tell me? It tells me that Dunta wanted to get this info out there prior to the draft, so that the Texans would at least explore the option to trade him on draft day.
I mean – what else could the reason for this timing be? He says he wants a guarantee to not be franchised next year – or else he won’t show up until the regular season, or a few games into the regular season. That’s a pretty heavy-handed threat, and it shows that he’s no less angry than he was when he was first franchised. It also kind of shows that he has absolutely zero interest in staying in Houston.
Of course, maybe contract negotiations came up in the interview with McClain, but it didn’t make the final story – but either way, there’s ZERO mention of new/ongoing/revisiting contract talks in that article. It seems all Dunta wants is to not be franchised again.
So, my question is, why would the Texans even CONSIDER giving Robinson a no-franchise guarantee? He’s an on-field leader, a locker room leader, and a pretty good cornerback. We don’t really know how good until he hits the field at 100% – presumably against the Jets in game 1 – but we know that if he’s over his injury and fully-recovered, he’s easily the best corner on the team. Our secondary isn’t exactly one of our strengths – so I ask again, why would the Texans even consider giving in to Dunta’s demands?
Rick Smith doesn’t strike me as the kind of GM who will let players bully him around, but Dunta knows his value to this team. With him, the Texans have, at best, a mediocre secondary. Without Dunta? UGH, and he knows it. You can chalk it up to the increased aggression in the defensive philosophy last season, or the level of competition, or whatever – but the bottom line is, the Texans were 7-4 with Dunta in the lineup and 1-4 without him. I know that’s a very unscientific – if not completely useless – but the defense did play better with him in the lineup, and that’s probably one of the bargaining chips Robinson and his agent bring to the table.
The Texans need Dunta. If they are SO far apart on money, or the relationship is SO damaged that there’s no way he can stick, the team has two options, in my mind.
1 – Give in to his demands to guarantee he won’t be franchised next season, and live with what I feel is a near-certainty that he’ll walk at the end of 2009 with no compensation. This way you get him at his best in a contract year. If he stays healthy it will probably be his best season as a pro – but when it’s over, it’s over and he’s gone.
2 – Try to move him before training camp for a pick or picks in next year’s draft or a player, and live with what will once again be a shoddy secondary in 2009 – but at least you get SOMETHING in return for him. Then you put your faith in guys like Fred Bennett, Antwaun Molden, and rookies Glover Quin and Brice McCain that they can make the impact of his loss less devastating (because no matter what – it WILL be devastating, in my opinion.)
It’s too bad that it’s gone this far and gotten this bitter. Dunta would be such a huge asset to this team in camp, as he could help bring along all these young corners and teach them the value of being a team player, being aggressive (if it fits their skill set, of course), and what it means to have an unbeatable work ethic, as Dunta does.
But, clearly, Dunta Robinson understandably wants what is best for him, and him alone. Do I think he’s selfish? No. I just think he’s overvaluing himself. It’s hard to blame a guy for feeling that way when he’s been conditioned to fight, hit, compete, and crush the other guy his whole career – but come on, D-Rob. $23 million dollars guaranteed? Nobody else is going to offer you that after your injury, and if they do – take it and best of luck. I won’t hold it against you (unless you go to Dallas or GOD FORBID Tennessee.)
My question to anyone reading this is: If you know that there’s a very strong chance Dunta will walk after next season, do you want to get one last good year out of him on an average secondary – or would you rather at least get SOMETHING for him (let’s say a third-round pick) and pray that Bennett or Molden steps it up big-time in 2009 and lessens the blow?
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Apr 28, 2009 at 18:16:32
My initial reaction and one that I might possibly circle back to after savoring it for awhile is to keep him one more year and get the most production for him and hope for a miracle he stays (realistically not likely), while hopefully mentoring some of the young DBs.
But after thinking before letting my fingers regurgitate my brain, is to trade him for a 3rd and see what happens. As much as we should improve this year, I don’t think we are going to go all the way, so getting a pick for next year’s draft is only a plus.
With that said, losing a Dunta in any capacity, even if he’s only 80% of pre-injury, is a huge loss to this team IMO.
Apr 28, 2009 at 18:43:43
A while back I wrote a long post on BRB about all the reasons why Dunta is being stupid and why it’s in his best interest to play his best football ever this year so I’m not gonna rehash it too much. I really don’t think we need to freak out too much, even if he sits out through camp and preseason, I absolutely guarantee he will be there for week 1 and beyond. If he wants more than $23 million he needs to show the Texans and the rest of the NFL that he’s an elite corner and sitting on the bench is no way to do that. If he has anything but an amazing year no team will give him anything near $23 million, much less the contract he (IMO wrongly) thinks he deserves.
Why on earth would Rick Smith agree to not franchise him again? Smith’s first (and only) priority is the best interest of the Texans organization as a whole. Why would he undermine his own power at the negotiation table and show weakness by bowing to the unreasonable demands of a player who has absolutely no leverage. At this point Dunta is not anywhere near being an elite player, and while he may return to form this year, that return to form benefits Dunta as much, if not more so, as it does the Texans. Smith will (and absolutely should) stay the course and take the high road in this process.
One last point, there is no way Smith will trade him this year. He would not get the value for Dunta that he could be worth if he has a lights out year this year.
My prediction? Dunta will sit out until the second half of training camp and then come in. Smith will continue negotiating with Dunta’s agents (after signing Demeco and OD) and make another reasonable offer. Dunta will take it or leave it (probably leave it) and if he leaves it and has a great year, Smith will tag him again and then trade him before next year’s draft for far more than he would get if he traded him this season. If Dunta doesn’t play like the second best corner in the league (which, by his contract demands he thinks he is) or even very well then he’ll shop himself in free agency and not get more than what he was offered, and probably far less.
Apr 28, 2009 at 18:56:52
No way in hell can we lose him.
Can you imagine a secondary of Reeves and Bennett as your #1 and #2 corners? No, no, no. Even if we were to receive a third or a second rounder in return, no. Only if it had happened during this past draft would I have been OK with that, but losing him for a whole season would be, as you said, devastating.
We can’t risk a whole season being contingent upon Fred Bennett and Antwaun Molden stepping up. Thats, once again, a HUGE no no. Let him walk after the year if he wants to, we can address the secondary need then (about freakin time we address that area anyway), but if we’re going to have any shot at the playoffs, it’s with a 100% healthy Dunta.
Apr 28, 2009 at 20:22:29
Implicit in the idea of a no-franchise-tag guarantee is the idea that there will not be a contract signed between now and the franchise tag deadline at the end of the season. It’s not only an agreement to not franchise the guy; it’s an agreement to not even bother with contract negotiations anymore, or at least until the end of the season.
Smith can’t really say “okay, I won’t franchise you, but I am taking our offer off of the table and won’t replace it with a new one” because Dunta could have a pro-bowl year and fans would scream for us to sign him during free agency. Smith would then have to compete on a level playing field with other teams, and the price could really only go up, unless Dunta gets hurt, in which case you wouldn’t want to sign him anyway.
Let’s look at the $23 million deal again. Corey Webster got $20 million in guarantees on what amounted to an extension. Nate Clements got $22 million in guarantees a few years ago. Nnamdi Asomugha got $28.5 million in guarantees, but he is far and away the best cornerback in football, and the Raiders probably had to overpay just because they are the worst sports organization ever. $23 million is an out of this world offer, even if you adjust for the inflation that occurs every year during free agency. I can’t believe Dunta didn’t sign it.
All that being said, I don’t see what you gain by franchising a player a second time. In the first year you have to pay him top-5 for his position. In the second year, you’d have to pay him top-5 in the league overall, IIRC. That’s a lot of money without any guarantee of future services. I guess you gain a little bit of leverage but you surely would piss the player off to such a degree that he won’t play very many games for you.
I would just prefer the Texans agree to the condition if Dunta’s agent presents a reasonable offer and starts negotiations again. Dunta and his agent have to concede something if the Texans are going to agree to not franchise him.
How long is it until players start refusing to negotiate with a team in the last year of their contract until the team agrees to not franchise the player the first time?
At any rate, all this will affect DeMeco’s contract, too. And probably ODs.
Apr 28, 2009 at 20:31:27
american idle – I kind of like the idea of trading him for picks, but here’s the thing: if we agree not to franchise him, and let him hit the open market, and even if he doesn’t resign with us, we still get something.
How?
Compensatory picks. A big part of the formula that determines who gets which compensatory picks (which I believe begin at the end of the third round) is the size of the contract that a free agent player formerly on the team signs. So even if he prices out of our range, we’d get something close to a third-rounder for him anyway.
Doc Texan – I think you nailed it in your post. The only difference I would have is conceding the no-franchise-tag-again thing in exchange for something from Dunta. I’m not really sure if an honest return to the negotiating table is tangible enough, though. You made a very good point about how franchising him again gives us the ability to trade him away… I had forgotten about that. I guess I’ve changed my stance on that to be more in line with where you sit.
Apr 28, 2009 at 23:42:04
I think this is very simple. We don’t give into his demands which forces him to play at a high level this year. If he does that, we try like hell to resign him with the risk lessened as he would then have proved he is able to take a 16 game season and play at a high level. Offer him top 5 money and at that point its to risky not to accept for him. If that doesn’t work we franchise him again, if he then plays a great season we try again to resign him if by the third year in this cycle (would never get to this if he doesn’t stay healthy and play well)he doesn’t sign then we franchise him and trade him….either way we get the best out of him as long as we want or we don’t risk a guaranteed huge deal and he gets hurt or plays bad. either way he carries all the risk while we always have the leverage…..bottom line i don’t think giving up the leverage for a couple of months of training and mentoring is best for the Texans. Coaches can mentor and dunta who is always on a one year deal will be forced to train and keep in shape. Either way Rick Smith will do whats best for the Texans and dunta’s play will dictate what happens.
In the end Dunta better play his tale off this year and if he does give him what he wants because he eliminated the injury risk associated with his
Apr 29, 2009 at 01:06:57
i say give in to his demands hes a real leader on defense even if he doesnt play well. and if he doesnt play at a pro bowl level or even the level before the injury his stock will drop and if we make the playoffs he will want to stay at a lower price. but if he does have a stellar year and wants big money that we dont think hes worth or are not able to pay franchise him again and then trade him for picks.
Apr 29, 2009 at 08:24:51
If Dunta is really feeling that way….tell him to leave his ass at home and watch us play on TV.
He feels disrepected but as from a team perspective he’s disrespected everyone in demanding money he essentially doesn’t deserve.
Often times these kinds of football players are accustomed to getting what they want when they want….so they tend to throw ***** fits when they don’t get there way.
Like socctty said he turned 23M….Nnandi signed 28M…surely Dunta doesn’t believe he is on par with the best corner in the NFL…In all seriousness he’s not even in the top 10 and thats if you consider him before his injury.
He will be hurt by this dearly in the upcoming offseason, and I’m almost willing to bet that he’ll end up signing for less for another team and end up being the number 2 guy.
I’m not even going to get into the fact that were unsure if he’s even returned to form.
There is no “I” in team.
Apr 29, 2009 at 09:59:36
Dunta “WAS” my favorite player until he started this 1st grade temper tantrum. I wore his jersey to every game, but not this coming season ! It’s being Retired ! He is a punk and a baby. If he is stupid enough to not understand what happened and why he was franchised, Wow, Thats Bad. The Texans Gave you a Great Offer (especially since you were on IR for 1/4 of the season), You Turned it down just before the Deadline, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO LET YOU WALK AND GET NOTHING IN RETURN ! Someone please wirte this out in crayon for him so he can understand.
I say don’t guaranty him a Damn Thing, if he Shows up, He Shows up. Then Franchise him again next season just for spite. He should be thankful to the fans and orginization for all their support during his injury, and thank god that he is able to play football for a living. If he doesn’t like it Screw Him.
Apr 29, 2009 at 18:01:38
Some very good arguements are made here for just about every conceiveable scenario (Kudos to all). It may be difficult to accurately assess his league standing among CB’s due to the poor pash rush. Weve added 3 potential assets Cushing, Barwin, Smith) towards improving that area. It will be interesting to watch how this develops, as well as (hopefully)improvement from returners such as Okoye, Adibi, and even Mario! Also the promised (again) increased aggression philosophy from the DC. Replacing Smith may be the biggest D improvement of all!!
Apr 29, 2009 at 19:01:24
As a side note, it will be interesting when the first big-time player who gets franchised ends up getting hurt during the year in which he’s franchised. It is a matter of when, not if. You will see the player’s union throw a HUGE fit…
May 1, 2009 at 15:10:17
I am an even bigger mark for Dunta then Chris. but I wanted to get yalls opinion on trading Dunta for Sheldon Brown of the eagles. Both of them are unhappy with their contract situations. The good of Sheldon Brown is that he has made a probowl. THe bad about Sheldon Brown is that he is 30 years old and has more tread on the tire then Dunta. This way we get don’t lose him for nothing and we have somebody that has made the probowl and do not have to hand the raines to Bennet, Reeves, Moldin, or one of our rookies.
Ideally I would want to keep dunta on our team. But if he really wants to leave,we need to get a veteran over a rookie and then we can use our first round pick next year to get a shut down corner. What do you guys think?
May 3, 2009 at 20:22:58
In the narrow context of your paradigm (i.e. that he will walk after the ’09 season regardless) I say that we keep him simply because we are better this year with him than without.
Furthermore, as socctty and DocTexan have explained, if we lose him to a huge deal next year we will likely get the same #3 pick in 2010 (compensatory) that we would get by trading him now. If that’s the case, then by keeping him we get the benefit of him being our best DB playing his ass off for a contract, and still end up with the extra #3 in the 2010 draft. That’s a classic win-win, and therefore a no brainer.
Outside your paradigm, by caving to his demands and keeping him, there is still the (albeit slight) chance that he will have an epiphany, do a 180, and remain a Texan for the duration. If he returns to pre-injury form, that would definitely be a win-win.
Prayers get answered, or so I have been told.