G Wade Smith Visiting Texans [Signed by Texans!]

[Keith]

The Texans have lined up a weekend visit with Kansas City guard Wade Smith.

Smith, 6-4, 296, is an eight-year veteran who grew up in Dallas.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/6898618.html

[Keith]

Per McClain via Twitter:
McClain_on_NFL (http://twitter.com/McClain_on_NFL)
Bodden and G Wade Smith are having dinner with Kubiak and coaches at a Houston restaurant. They'll spend Monday visiting at Reliant Stadium.

[Roy P]

For those who do not remember, Wade Smith was drafted in 2003 in the 3rd round. He was in between Seth Wand and Dave Ragone. Of course David Diehl was drafted in the 5th round that year by the Giants.

[painekiller]

For those who do not remember, Wade Smith was drafted in 2003 in the 3rd round. He was in between Seth Wand and Dave Ragone. Of course David Diehl was drafted in the 5th round that year by the Giants.

Oh the wonderful Rasputin, what a smart man....

[Roy P]

Oh the wonderful Rasputin, what a smart man....

I sometimes think it's not what you know, but who you know. Now he is an "analyst" for the NFL Network and on CBS. Go figure. :confused:

[NBT]

Not too impressed....just another talking head! About all Casserly is good for. Of course his alter ego, Capers has fared well.

[Nconroe]

Is Wade Smith an upgrade to anyone we have now? Though I guess you don't have to keep him , but adds competition and depth during training camp. Why not just draft another OG/Center, although if you think we are young and need one more smart experienced guy around if losing Chester Pitts.

[Roy P]

Mike Briesel, Chris White, Kasey Studdard, Tutan Reyes and if Chester is let go or hurt......Yeah, Wade Smith is an upgrade. Of course, that's not saying too much. :o

[nunusguy]

Why not just draft another OG/Center
Because we have a limited number of picks with a long list of priorities even before we consider G-C, which is also a position where players don't necessarily develope rapidly enough to start as rookies, hence the need to acquire vet experience.

[chuck]

Oh the wonderful Rasputin, what a smart man....

You guys see the piece in the Comical the other day by that clown Dick Justice? He was arguing that Casserly actually really was a fine GM but that the coaches were the real problem both in talent evaluation and what happened on the field.

"But — and this can't be said enough — Charley Casserly knew there were problems and also knew how to fix them."

Sure, let Aaron Glenn go for nothing and throw in an unexpected, extra draft pick for a terrible replacement, trade up with a division rival losing another critical draft pick for a "pass rusher" who to this day has done nothing in this league... I'm not sure I'd call those moves "solutions."

It's a wonder the team every won any games at all back in those days.

Seth Wand. I'd forgotten all about that guy. Northwest Missouri State. Outstanding place to look for prospects, Casserly. Show everyone how smart you are by drafting guys from the most obscure colleges imaginable.

I think back on that clusterfk and am simply amazed that I am still an active fan of the team.

[WMH]

From PFT - http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/10/texans-sign-wade-smith/

Texans sign Wade Smith
Posted by Mike Florio on March 10, 2010 6:40 PM ET
Just when it appeared that the big money in free agency had dried up, the Houston Texans have coughed up an eight-figure contract to a veteran guard/center from the Chiefs.

Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com and John McClain of the Houston Chronicle report that the Texans have signed Wade Smith.

Per Marvez, it's a four-year, $12 million contract, with $6.25 million in guaranteed money.

"Wade really enjoyed his other visits to Arizona and Buffalo, but Houston was the first team we heard from after midnight Friday," Parker told Marvez. "He felt it was the right fit for him."

Smith played tackle, guard, and center in 2009 for the Chiefs, starting once at left tackle and nine times and right guard.

[kRocket]

I don't see this as much of an impact signing as a "Due Diligence"signing. Wade Smith will be able to cover any trouble spots in offensive line and may start in one of the guard spots. I just see him as a versatile backup for the OL more than an impact starter. Good signing that gives us some options we didn't have before. I still look for Pitts to come back also.

[Roy P]

I'm pretty happy with the signing. It improves the roster and helps the team focus on BPA during the draft instead of "Needs" - so that's cool.

[HPF Bob]

After past experience, I have an aversion to anyone named Wade on the Texans o-line. It's like drafting another QB named Carr, even if the first name isn't David.

Actually, "Wade Smith" sounds like a love child from the Astros front office.

[Keith]

NFLPA reports the base salaries for Wade Smith as follows:

2010 1,000,000
2011 1,750,000
2012 2,000,000
2013 3,000,000