Signs of life on Kirby, Finally!!!!
 

Texans are reported to have signed former Chiefs NT Jerrell Powe.

27 year old 6-2 330lbs

Seems Powe has the upside that hasn't yet shown up in 3 years at KC.

Since he was initially drafted by Romeo Crennell in 2011, perhaps the scenery change will help, or atleast be depth and perhaps shows the size of DT we might expect this year.

Welcome aboard Jerrell.

I guess the positive spin is that he shouldn't exactly be worn down from overuse in college or the NFL. He was a star recruit from a Mississippi high school but also dyslexic and has ADD. He signed with Ole Miss in 2005 but didn't qualify academically so he went to a prep school. He still didn't qualify but kept trying, working as a jailer while trying to get his grades in order. In 2007, the NCAA granted him a waiver allowing him to go to school at Ole Miss on a football scholarship but not play. He finally suited up as a junior in 2009 and played two seasons before being drafted in the 6th round by the Chiefs.

He rarely saw the field in KC (12 games) and was waived in the final cutdown last year. They re-signed him in December. Coming out of college he was supposed to be a widebody who can handle double teams and push the pocket but not much of a penetrator and not always the best conditioned guy around.

You don't have to be too bright to follow these instructions: "Stand here next to Mr. Watt. Look down at the football. When the ball moves, you lunge forward, grab as many of the other team's jerseys as you can and fall on top of them so Mr. Watt and Mr. Cushing can do their jobs. Got it, Mongo? Good boy!"

Mongo, like Sheriff Bart......:D

The Texans agree to terms with Fitzpatrick. Interesting.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the signing of this 31 year old journeyman doesn't eliminate the possibility of taking a QB #1.

2 years, $7.5MM, $4MM gtd. per Berman

Ugh... IMO, $4MM guaranteed is way too much for a journeyman QB of Fitzpatrick's declining skills (if he ever had any to begin with). They probably could have waited and got him for the vet minimum at some point. Why is it they always tie up decent $$ on these has-beens and let fairly serviceable players walk? I'm sure BOB was good with this signing, but I don't get Rick Smith at all when looking at his moves and the contracts he doles out. What is his plan? I have no clue...

What does this say about the other QBs on the team and about Schaub's trade prospects? Unless they have some other moves they expect to announce soon, what I don't understand making this signing when there is so little cap room available and so many needs still left to fill.

Not sure they could have done much better, or less in this case. Look at Orton, McCown, Hassleback, etc. I think Jabba reported his cap hit is $3.7MM, so its more or less a 1yr deal.

I'm OK with this as a stop gap/backup. We're likely going to struggle this year regardless.

Likely alternative available experienced FA QB are Vick or Sanchez which both presumeably would cost even more per year. Perhaps.

Fitzpatrick didn't exactly light it up with Titans last year.

But I guess this means Schaub gone soon one way or another.

I agree with this. He is supposed to be a Vet Backup, Schaub still believes he should get a shot at starting. And I dont see that. This signing gives them options. And one of those is the likely departure of TJ Yates.

Backup QBs get paid. Hopefully some of the gaurantee is in the form of a roster bonus if he's on the team next year.

Texans sign FA safety Kendrick Lewis
Free agent safety Kendrick Lewis has tweeted that he's coming to Houston to join the Texans.

former KC S. Romeo is trying to put the band back together. Don't know him, but D Manning has to be wondering...

http://www.csnhouston.com/football-h...kendrick-lewis

I would have preferred Thomas DeCoud over Kendrick Lewis, but I'm fine with having a guy to make Keo expendable. I love the Fitz signing, he can start/mentor until the "Franchise QB" gets ready to play. Powe is a NT that we didn't have on the roster. Still like the idea of Zack Kerr in this draft, but we shall see.

Now we have Schaub gone and some space on the Cap....who would I like to see targeted?

1. OL Davin Joseph
2. OL Travelle Wharton
3. DL Eric Carriker
4. CB Antoine Cason
5. LB Pat Angerer
6. TE Chase Coffman
7. FB Michael Robinson
8. LB Dan Connor
9. RB Brian Leonard
10. OL Levi Brown

@RavensInsider: Chris Clemons' two-year Texans deal is $2.7 million, $450,000 of it is guaranteed, a source confirmed.

Looks like Manning will take a pay cut or be cut.

Maybe secondary and safeties gave up to many big plays last year, so we now have two new safeties with 3-5 years experience.

Clemons was one of leaders on Fins defense. And at 6'1" was able to stay with some of bigger TEs.

I hope Manning agrees to restructure, but less urgent now.

Wonder how Keo hangs in?

And maybe lowers priority on drafting a safety early.

Yup, I'm guessing there's no shot at the Texans drafting Deone Bucannon now. I suppose they can focus on other needs now. The Safety positions definitely needed attention. Wondering if Swearinger starts now.

Looks like he has been cut:

Adam Schefter‏@AdamSchefter·2 mins
Texans release S Danieal Manning, per source.

I guess Daniel Manning had a choice to take a pay cut, those are always tough on the ego. And he has been paid past three years.

Anyways, Manning was 32, injured 10 games last year, and the cut saves team 4.5 mil on cap.

Good luck to Daniel in continuing to play in NFL. He helped Texans get to their first playoff season and seemed to be a team leader.

Wonder if there will be more of this type deal coming up?

The Texans now have about 18 mil in dead money, which sounds bad, but has helped them get more cap space this year than if those players kept. Schaub was 10 mil of the 18 mil.

O'Brien has said that the door is open for Manning to rejoin the team but at a reduced salary. SO I guess it's on the open market on if he rejoins the team.

Today resigned CB Elbert Mack who was active for Texans six games last year. Six years experience so good depth.

Appears we signed an. R B. Andre Brown, 4th rnd pick of Giants in 2009, To replace Tate.

http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/story?storyId=10745448

1yr deal for the vet min, $645k.

Safe gamble... low risk for decent upside at that price. I wouldn't put it past an undrafted rookie to beat him out. Brown needs to prove he can stay healthy.

Looks like today Texans signed free agent defensive end Ricardo Mathews. Mathews was drafted by Indy in the 7th round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati.

He is 6-3, 300lbs. hasn't played much but could give experienced DL depth.

DL on roster right now are not many

98 Browner, Keith DE 6-4 288 26 2 California
93 Crick, Jared DE 6-4 285 24 3 Nebraska
96 Jamison, Tim DE 6-3 287 28 6 Michigan
99 Watt, J.J. DE 6-5 289 25 4 Wisconsin
94 Mathews, Ricardo DT 6-3 300 26 5 Cincinnati
95 Powe, Jerrell NT 6-2 331 27 3 Mississippi

Then noticed that 27 of about 65 guys on roster, this will be their second year, so lots of new players for new coaches.
31 players are 24 years or younger.
12 players entering third year,
10 entering fourth year,
five entering fifth year,
six entering sixth year,
six between 7 and 12 years
four over 30 years old

Mathews and Powe are just bodies for the NT position. They may have the right skill set to tie up traffic but are likely just camp fodder.