Rick Smith [Contract Extension thru 2012]

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Mike

This had been rumored and is a smart move. Rick deserved the extension based upon his draft and FA work, and cleaning up the salary cap.

Like you, I was happy to hear this when I first heard of the extension talks and again yesterday when the agreement was announced.

I got to thinking though, and posted a new article on the ItB.com front page on it... Not to go all "agent" here, but exactly what has Smith done that has been so stellar?

I think he deserves a lot of the credit for finding a few street FAs (Demps tops that list), but what about everything else? He had nothing to do with the outstanding 2006 draft, and his biggest moves since (like the Schaub trade in particular) haven't completely paid off, at least not yet.

He's been a part of 'cleaning up' the cap, but he's done so mostly by biding time while dead money expires and limiting his big spending gaffes to Ahman Green.

I'm still on board with the direction of the team, like I said, the news made me happy, but just somethin to chew on in June. I think Smith's greatest quality to Texans fans so far is simply that he is not Charley Casserly.