[Keith]

Originally Posted by Bigtinylittle

I just happened to find some numbers yesterday that came from HPF and I thought they were pretty interesting. They were from April 2007 and were a projection of what salaries would be this year.

HPF will live forever in cache and wayback machines. I'm guessing all of us know already, but for accuracy of the figures, you'll be better served by the cap #s currently available here.

Originally Posted by Bigtinylittle

It really struck me how many of those guys have been cut. Not only have the Texans gotten better in the last year or so, they are doing it for less money. It is really impressive how they have been able to turn around our cap problems.

Yes, that is one conclusion, but another is that the Texans have been better able to add valuable players for a wage at or below their contributions. Some of that is because they are building from the ground up with youth, which is cheaper, but also because they are supplementing with affordable vets, too.

Green and Reeves are really the only recent exceptions to that in the last two years that come to mind. And Andre Davis earned his new contract, but now he'll have to live up to it.

Originally Posted by Bigtinylittle

I looked down the list for other players who are still here that aren't earning their keep. Two names stood out the most. Anthony Weaver and Demarcus Faggins.

Faggins was paid a contract three or four years ago as a developing nickel corner, and while he won't be the nickelback this year, he isn't grossly overpaid. He is playing out the final year of that deal, while he may not have been a bargain by any stretch, I think it's been fair. Not many guys play out their contracts anymore.

Consider instead that Reeves, who is getting WAY more this year (more than double cap-wise at least and far more pocketbook-wise), might not even be the nickel once Dunta is healthy and Antwaun Molden inevitably passes him on the depth chart. (Bennett of couse is already ahead of Reeves as it is.)

Reeves will need to make an IMMEDITATE impact in the first month of the season. I intend to watch him and Molden closely at tonight's practice. Having only been to one so far, I haven't seen enough of either yet other than to say that Molden's raw talent is much better than Reeves'. The best thing Reeves has going for him now is that he is a veteran and the job is his to lose, but I'm wondering how much longer until his cap figure will look pretty freaking huge to us.

On a somewhat related note, Reeves' value to the team will play an interesting role in Dunta's new contract, something I think is one of the most intriguing front office storylines this year.