Here comes Tatum [to visit]

[Joshua]

Tatum Bell is set to visit -

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/09/03/bell-to-visit-the-texans/

[papabear]

Saw this about Tatum at DGDB&D:

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/09/02/rudis-crazy-day-in-detroit/

No idea if it's true....but it is kinda funny.

[nero THE zero]

Isn't he Steve Slaton redux?

I know he knows the system, but he seems a bit redundant.

[Nconroe]

here is Tatums stats from NFL.com
http://www.nfl.com/players/tatumbell/profile?id=BEL598152
looks like he did ok at Denver thru 2006 and not good at Detroit last year.
5'11", 213 lbs, 27 years old. might fit if someone gets injured? not sure who else we could cut to make room for him right now.

[kravix]

Robinson, Zgonina, Feguson, Harrison, Barber, Thompson. These are the only guys on the roster I see that are expendable.

[KJ3]

to pile onto kravix's list:
studdard and weaver

i'm not going to freak if they sign him, but i hope they don't. he fumbles. but his average per carry hasn't been less than 4.1 so....that's good. if they brought him in to say, "look at how fragile ahman is...when he goes down your the first one up" then i'm cool with that. check him out, make sure he's in shape and has his own bags and send him on his way.

[nero THE zero]

If they were to sign him right now, which I don't think they're going to do, I think a DL would be the next cut. We have 11 DL on the roster which is pretty excessive. And, unfortunately, I imagine it would be someone young like Deljuan Robinson who they would likely be able to slip onto the practice squad.

But, like I said, I don't think he is an imminent signing unless Steve Slaton's turf toe is worse than originally thought

[Keith]

It wouldn't surprise me if the team wanted to give Slaton a couple weeks of rest for the turf toe. I think they're nervous anyway about having a rookie RB out there in Week 1... part of why I think they've kept Ahman Green.

Tatum 'Tinker' Bell might be a nice addition, at least for the short term. It might mean that Kubiak and Smith might need to cut a 'buddy' though (Studdard for Kubiak, Zgonina for Smith). I'm guessing Robinson might be next though.

[nero THE zero]

It wouldn't surprise me if the team wanted to give Slaton a couple weeks of rest for the turf toe. I think they're nervous anyway about having a rookie RB out there in Week 1... part of why I think they've kept Ahman Green.


Given that turf toe takes approximately 3 weeks of rest to heal for your average Joe, and that Slaton's injury popped up two weeks ago, you'd have to think that he's not fully recovered from it. And, turf toe is something that can nag, so you'd like to think this is something they wouldn't rush him back from.

Couple that with the limited (no) activity Green saw in the preseason and I could see how you might want to sign some insurance. But, for me personally, I'd rather go with a Green/Taylor platoon until Slaton gets back healthy. That way you can see what you're going to get out of Green this season. If he stays upright, gradually increase his carries in week 2, 3, and so on. If he doesn't, gradually work Slaton back in the roster.

That way, you always have someone - Green or Slaton - platooning with Taylor, you can bring Slaton back slowly, but hopefully keep your best back on the field (Green.)

Best case scenario, you have a healthy Slaton, Green, and Taylor sometime around week 4 or 5. But, I can see how you want to bring in a vet with experience in the system in case you have a worst case scenario where Green and Slaton are both injured. And, I can see how a Tatum Bell would be more complimentary to CT in that scenario than someone like Mike Bell who'd be more redundant.

[KJ3]

with green's contract restructuring...aren't they (including ahman) basically implying they don't think he'll make it? slaton looked good and all, i think taylor should show a glimpse or two of why we've kept him around but are we really going to rely on a rookie and a dude with the experience of a rookie when ahman hits his breaking point?

and really....what of darius walker? if he's not getting equal consideration with tatum bell then i just don't know why we are keeping him around.

[Xetuoh1836]

I doubt that the Texans take this clown on (with his and/or anyone elses baggage):

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/BLOG21/80903043/&imw=Y

[nero THE zero]

with green's contract restructuring...aren't they (including ahman) basically implying they don't think he'll make it?
I don't think so. They could be saying, "we'll pay you... but only if you play."

That doesn't necessarily mean they don't think he'll play.

[HPF Bob]

Bell has second-round talent but a sixth-round head. He does know the one-cut running system, has breakaway speed and, if signed, will clearly be the most talented back on the Texans. But he has a knack for fumbling, blown assignments and thinking too much of himself. Denver traded him because he thought he deserved Clinton Portis money. The Broncos didn't even think Clinton Portis deserved Clinton Portis money.

[kravix]

I agree with Bob.

He is a system back, and not a great sytem back at that. After the "bag" incident his character is a big concern. I doubt he makes the roster after that. No one wants to count their cheerios after every game....

[KJ3]

I don't think so. They could be saying, "we'll pay you... but only if you play."

That doesn't necessarily mean they don't think he'll play.

if they thought he was going to play a whole season why are they paying him per game? or why not just keep the original contract?

[nero THE zero]

if they thought he was going to play a whole season why are they paying him per game? or why not just keep the original contract?

Because they are concerned about his injuries. That's not the same thing as not expecting him to play, though.

I mean, I'm not in the room with them; we don't know for sure what they think. But, it just seems to me that they are covering their own asses with an over-the-hill, oft injured player.

[KJ3]

well....seems to me that you don't "cover your asses on an over-the-hill, oft injured player" unless you expect that he won't make it. of course they expect him to play the games, but we haven't covered any other ass besides ahman who is, generally considered, an over-the-hill, oft injured player...come on don't make me connect dots.

if he makes it he'll end up making more money than the original contract. incentive to stay healthy, you know? though, hopefully not an incentive to shy away from the game...i'm pretty sure they weren't just planning on giving ahman green a raise for his stellar play last year...

i can't wait to see what we actually get out of him this year.

[kravix]

It is the same principal as contract incentives, sales comission, or you every day annual bonus. Why would a team put in contract invetives for production if they think the player is going to hit them anyway? Because if they dont then the they dont get paid.

Green's body may be old and used or maybe he has had a run of bad luck on injuries. Either way the Texans are ensuring that if he stays healthy and plays then he gets paid, if not then the team is in a better postion finacially.

[KJ3]

wow...this has gotten off track a bit...i promise i had a point before semantics took over...

ok...production incentives are one thing. ahman's 200K per game isn't production based though, it's if he makes the active roster for gameday. a.k.a. if he is healthy enough to play or not. if he makes it the whole year, he gets a raise on top of a contract he wouldn't be able to replicate anywhere else anyway AND we get a decent RB for a whole year. everyone wins. they wouldn't rework his contract unless they think at some point he's probably going out with injuries. keep that in mind, there's still a point coming...

if, or as most people who pay attention (like for instance, our GM) expect, when ahman goes down are we really okay with slaton/taylor combo? secondly (the real point), would bell serve any purpose that darius walker couldn't? if he can what exactly sets him apart from walker? also, if he can why exactly are we keeping darius walker around if he's no help even in an injury-call-up situation like he was last year?

[Nconroe]

I think Darius did real well last year and should do well if we need him this year. As I understand it, they haven't yet called in Bell to talk with him, just a rumor they might. But, one could always look to upgrade,

[kravix]

Evidently this was just a rumor..

http://houstontexans.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=4594

Kubiak laughs off Bell rumors: It was reported in The Detroit News that former Detroit Lions running back Tatum Bell had flown to Houston to try out with the Texans. Bell is connected to the Texans because he played under Kubiak in Denver, but the coach confirmed that the running back had not worked out with the Texans.

“You know, that’s news to me to be honest with you,” Kubiak joked. “I saw before I came over to practice on TV that we were working him out. So, I guess I need to go check with somebody.

“I know Tatum. I had him in Denver, but other than that, I know nothing about a workout.”

[BigBull]

Evidently this was just a rumor..

http://houstontexans.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=4594

ESPN insiders NFL rumors.
"Tatum Bell, the former Lions running back who was recently released following the signing of Rudi Johnson, flew to Houston for a try out with the Texans, according to multiple reports. Bell has a connection with the Texans in that his former line coach with the Broncos, Alex Gibbs, is now an assistant head coach in charge of offense with the Texans. With the re-emergence of Kevin Jones in Detroit, Bell saw his role diminish drastically in 2007 as he only rushed for 182 yards."

Is journalism this bad or is Kubiak lying.

[Keith]

Is journalism this bad or is Kubiak lying.

I weep for journalism.

[KJ3]

not that i know for sure either way, but if we're coming down to who do you believe more....kubiak or the detroit media, i'll take kubiak everyday.

[Joshua]

ESPN insiders NFL rumors.
"Tatum Bell, the former Lions running back who was recently released following the signing of Rudi Johnson, flew to Houston for a try out with the Texans, according to multiple reports. Bell has a connection with the Texans in that his former line coach with the Broncos, Alex Gibbs, is now an assistant head coach in charge of offense with the Texans. With the re-emergence of Kevin Jones in Detroit, Bell saw his role diminish drastically in 2007 as he only rushed for 182 yards."

Is journalism this bad or is Kubiak lying.

It would be kind of hard to lie about someone who's actually at the facility working out. I don't really recall teams trying to keep this sort of thing a secret even if they wanted to. If Bell was here working out, I suspect someone would have seen him.

[kravix]

As bad as the Chron is I would have expected to at least see something about it from them if it were true.

[ramp1028]

Could it have happened without Kubiaks knowledge. Like with a scout.

[papabear]

Baltimore was reported to sign two or three quarterbacks last week I think. None of them were true. If he had been here it would be pretty easy to confirm. Everybody wants to be the one to break the news so it doesn't take much for rumors to grow. I'm sure it was discussed. With our banged up or inexperienced RB I'm sure we had a conversation about damn near every RB that got cut. With Bell, he played for Kubiak and fits our system, so it would have been pretty logical for him to work out here. Combine the rumor with the fact that it makes logical sense, and it doesn't take long for someone to report it as fact.


....Of course there is always the possibility that after the bag incident Kubiak DID just want to keep it quiet.

[Warren]

According to "the Bellboy" himself (http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/09/05/tatum-bells-not-no-thief/) the Texans contacted his agent then backed off when the story broke. So despite "multiple reports," Bell did not work out for the Texans (or as Bell himself might say, Tatum Bell didn't have no workout for no Texans).

[Texan from KC]

ESPN insiders NFL rumors.
"Tatum Bell, the former Lions running back who was recently released following the signing of Rudi Johnson, flew to Houston for a try out with the Texans, according to multiple reports. Bell has a connection with the Texans in that his former line coach with the Broncos, Alex Gibbs, is now an assistant head coach in charge of offense with the Texans. With the re-emergence of Kevin Jones in Detroit, Bell saw his role diminish drastically in 2007 as he only rushed for 182 yards."

Is journalism this bad or is Kubiak lying.

Well, for one thing, Bell was drafted in 2004, and according to the bio on HT.com, that was the first year that Gibbs was in Atlanta. I don't know for certain whether the article's wrong, whether NFL.com got the year Bell was drafted wrong, or whether the resume for Gibbs is wrong, but I'm pretty sure I know who I'm betting against.

When a very straightforward fact gets botched up, you kind of lose interest in whether anything else in the article is accurate.