790 AM Interview with DeMeco: Contract Talks Have Stalled

[Keith]

Just heard this replayed on the radio. I'll update this post with the link when I get back later.

DeMeco Ryans on 790 today said contact extension talks have stopped.

ETA - Here's the link.

[jppaul]

Probably just until after free agency and the draft.

[Mike]

I just heard the replay of the interview. I hope that they can make Dunta and Demeco happy with contract extensions. I am getting a bit wary of the reputation the front office might be getting.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by Mike

I just heard the replay of the interview. I hope that they can make Dunta and Demeco happy with contract extensions. I am getting a bit wary of the reputation the front office might be getting.

I wonder how much the CBA uncertainty is affecting negotiations this year. I know they are some rules in place if/when things go uncapped, but I'm sure agents might be more willing to push for a little extra money now, or delay talks, knowing that things will likely go uncapped. Throw that in with the likely declining revenue because of the economy and I think it's even harder to make long term payroll decisions than usual.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by papabear

I wonder how much the CBA uncertainty is affecting negotiations this year. I know they are some rules in place if/when things go uncapped, but I'm sure agents might be more willing to push for a little extra money now, or delay talks, knowing that things will likely go uncapped. Throw that in with the likely declining revenue because of the economy and I think it's even harder to make long term payroll decisions than usual.

Ah, just saw this. I pondered the same thing in the other thread about the Skins signing Haynesworth.

I am really starting to think the uncapped year might be front of mind for Rick Smith and Chris Olsen. If the Texans can wait until 2010 to sign these big extensions for DeMeco, Kris Brown, Owen Daniels, Chester Pitts, and Kevin Walter, then they'll save themselves lots of room this year.

Dunta's a little different in that a new contract would probably lower his cap figure this year (at least I would hope so).

Also, without a new CBA, I think Ryans would become a RFA next year, not a UFA.

[Keith]

Added the link to the podcast of the interview in the OP.

Some notes:
- DeMeco was playing Madden with Morlon Greenwood at the start of the interview. DeMeco was Dallas, Morlon was Houston. At the end of the interview, he said he was winning 14-0.
- He and Dunta "want to be locked in here for the rest of our careers".
- "We tried to get a deal done, but ... contract talks stalled on that end. We did talk about re-doing the contract, but we couldn't agree on a number."
- "I'm looking to get a deal done before the season. I'm hoping we can re-open talks and hash out all the grievances and get a deal done. ... I love Houston. This is where I want to be. I just want a great deal that locks me up here in Houston."
- No further talks are scheduled at this time.
- "I'm just trying to see what they're going to do here in the offseason with the free agent moves because it seems like they're gonna make some big move in some way."
- "At the same time you want your core guys to be locked up. Me and Dunta, I feel like we're core guys. ... We should be a priority to be taken care of first."
- "I would focus on me. I feel like I played out the rookie contract two years ago."

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by Keith

Added the link to the podcast of the interview in the OP.

Some notes:
- DeMeco was playing Madden with Morlon Greenwood at the start of the interview. DeMeco was Dallas, Morlon was Houston. At the end of the interview, he said he was winning 14-0.

For whatever reason, I found this the most interesting. We cut Greenwood, yet he still plays as the Texans and Demeco plays as the Cowboys. Huh.

[jppaul]

Still playing as himself for the last year that he is on a Madden roster.

[superbowlbound]

Call me crazy, but I don't think it's a good thing that 2 of our core defensive guys are pissed off. I heard on 610 yesterday Demeco say that he was "very disappointed" that a new deal couldn't be worked out, and he didn't exactly close the door on him potentially leaving, though he did say he wanted to play his entire career in houston. IMO, there had better be some sort of a splash made by the texans this offseason to quell the feelings of demeco that he's been brushed off. if Ryans and Dunta remain unhappy, that's bad news bears.

[jppaul]

Considering how much we've spent in free agency, there will certainly be enough money left over to sign one or two of Demeco, Dunta and OD to long term deals.

[dadmg]

I think that the cost to keep Demeco just went up quite a bit today. Jonathan Vilma scored a 5 year, $34 million deal with the Saints ($17 mil guaranteed) and Bart Scott pulled down 6 years, $48 million with $22 mil guaranteed. Ryans is younger, better and healthier than Vilma and, while Ryans and Scott are relatively dissimilar players they're both interior linebackers (and, once again, Ryans is several years younger) and that should help Ryans negotiating position. Similarly, I think that by the time deals come in for Jabari Greer and Bryant McFadden come in (as well as a potential new Lito deal), Dunta's going to be in a nice position (as if the Asomugha deal wasn't enough.)

[popanot]

I'd be willing to bet they get long-term deals done with Demeco and OD before the season starts. I think Smith is just holding the money for now to see what shakes out of the FA tree. I think DRob will be "stuck" with the F-Tag money until he proves he's back or worth the BIG $$$.