[Chicago Sun-Times] Texans Interested in Danieal Manning

[Keith]

The Bears are obviously not going to bring safety Danieal Manning. ...

One of the most versatile players on the Bears, Manning is drawing interest from several clubs, including the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints.
http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2011/07/danieal_manning_drawing_interest_houston_texans_sa ints.html

Manning's from Corsicana and played college ball in the state.

[WMH]

I would rather have that guy than Sensabaugh.

He gives you some return options as well.

[Warren]

Manning would easily be the most athletic safety the Texans have ever had, which is kind of like calling somebody the world's tallest midget, but he is a great athlete. He was highly recruited out of high school and signed with Nebraska but never played there due to academic isssues so he ended up at Abilene Christian. He's good in enough in coverage that he's played some nickelback for the Bears -- definitely not a box safety. The biggest knock that I've seen on him is that he's been known to have some mental lapses.

[cland]

Looks like we're finalists: http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?sport=NFL&id=3696&line=207545&spln=1

[Fonz the Boss]

We got him!!!... according to McClain it's four years, $20 million, 9 guaranteed.

[Keith]

$11.5 million over first two years.

Talk about upgrading the secondary today. Good stuff.

[cland]

Huge, huge signing. We just upgraded the speed and coverage ability of 3 out of 4 secondary positions. (Joseph, Manning, Quinn) He's a great fit for a scheme where the front 7 is in charge of run defense.

[TheMatrix31]

Damn it feels good.

[WMH]

Nice!!!!!!!!!

:D

[nunusguy]

Alright !!!!! Secondary is now so much better than it was 24 hours ago.
With these important and talented additions, I'd have to say right now that the LB crew just replaced the secondary as the weakest link in our chain of defensive components ?
So it's now all up to Wade to put this group of guys together and make them an effective 3-4 unit.

[Arky]

Excellent pickup. Both Joseph and Manning are 5'11" guys with some meat on their bones. The secondary just got a whole lot more physical.....

[Nconroe]

Seems the Texans and Rick Smith have done excellent work helping defense and special teams. Things may just get pretty exciting this year.

[popanot]

Wish they had enough money for a good, beefy C.

[NBT]

Where is Chuck now, saying that the Texans are a bunch of idiots? I think the blind hog just got an eye transplant! :p

[painekiller]

Wow, Rick Smith had an excellent day, and the NFL network can only talk about the Jets, Fat Albert and OchoCinco. What tools.

We might finally be able to say that the defense has as many solid players as the offense.

So now:

We have

Joseph Smith Mitchell Watt Jackson
Barwin Cushing Ryans Williams
Manning Quin

Now that is a huge upgrade over last season. I have to agree the LB core is now the weaker link. The starters look OK, depending on Ryans recovery, but the depth in the middle is suspect. Sharpton and then nothing. But IMO I am now splitting hairs. This is a young talented team, now they need to learn to expect to win each week, not hope to win. That is the next step.

Congratulation Rick Smith, one hell of an off season, way to answer the critics.

[chuck]

Where is Chuck now, saying that the Texans are a bunch of idiots? I think the blind hog just got an eye transplant! :p

I'm here. You knew that.

The Texans added what seem to be two very important pieces to their defense. That elevates their secondary from worst in history to, who knows, average? Average would be awesome after last year. I'm still not sold on the front seven or on Wade but you never know.

[Arky]

Wow, Rick Smith had an excellent day.........

Congratulation Rick Smith, one hell of an off season, way to answer the critics.

Ya, I think Mr. Smith has bought himself at least another year. I'd say even the harshest critics are having a hard time poo-pooing these latest transactions. Rick Smith should do this every year.... Despite the early talk ("won't go crazy"), the Texans were very aggressive and they now have "on paper" a ton of quality....

The ball is now in Kube's (and Wade's) court. Kubes has got to produce with this talent.....

[painekiller]

The ball is now in Kube's (and Wade's) court. Kubes has got to produce with this talent.....

Truer word were never written. It's now up to this staff to produce a winner.

If this team stays healthy, and gets through the harsh early schedule, they have a real shot at the division.

So Gary, lack of talent is no longer an excuse. You have a legit defensive coaching staff for the 1st time since you have been here. And now you need to produce wins.

[nunusguy]

Boy oh boy, could we have ever used those OTAs & Mini-Camp this offseason for Wade & crew to get his new defense atleast a basic intro to his 3-4. Wade will have to be nothing short of a miracle worker to get that group ready to go for the 9/11 opener because that's only a month and a half.

[NBT]

I'm here. You knew that.

The Texans added what seem to be two very important pieces to their defense. That elevates their secondary from worst in history to, who knows, average? Average would be awesome after last year. I'm still not sold on the front seven or on Wade but you never know.

Of course I knew that Chuck. Just poking a little fun at you, that's all.

[chuck]

Of course I knew that Chuck. Just poking a little fun at you, that's all.

Happy to be made fun of, I often deserve it. But you know, just because Smith signed a couple of veterans that everyone knows can play doesn't suddenly make him Ron Wolf.

[painekiller]

Happy to be made fun of, I often deserve it. But you know, just because Smith signed a couple of veterans that everyone knows can play doesn't suddenly make him Ron Wolf.

Well I have to agree with that. But the Texans have had a heck of an offseason. And they stayed with guys that still have tread on the tires, not over the hill types.

[popanot]

The Jospeh signing was big, but we'll see what we get with Manning. He should be at the least an upgrade to anything we've ever had back there (crosses fingers), but it's not like he's been an All-Pro level player. Hopefully Wade can get him to the next level. What's key to Smith's off-season success, IMO, is this last draft. If they don't get a big-time performer (and that performer probably needs to be Watt and/or Reed) out of this draft class, THIS YEAR, the D could be below average again. And yes, I'll probably be here bitchin' about Smith. :(

[Nconroe]

We should all reserve our right to complain, but this week, seems we should be giving Rick Smith and the team who gets personnel a bunch of credit in filling the holes in a priority sequence.

Getting the top FA ands spending money when needs has a complaint for quite a while which seems was overcome this past week, even with a tight salary cap for this team.

The draft class, UDFA, and FA signings and acquisitions all look like a reasonable upgrade opportunity for team in the future. Now the coaches and players need to come through pretty quickly with quite a few new players and new coaches.

Back to looking forward to the upcoming season.