AJ is on his way out

[painekiller]

Heard it on the radio on the way home. BOB wanted to cut AJ's playing time said he would have about 40 catches next season. AJ basically said, trade me or cut me.

We all know trades don't happen often when these type of things happen, so he is most likely a June 1st cut.

Where does he end up? I am betting Denver or NE
and
Where are they going to get his production from?

[Keith]

Welcome to the New England way of doing business. Which is a lot like the 49er way of doing business in the 80s. Smart teams only pay for their players' best seasons. Is Andre worth $11.5M in 2015? Heck no.

Sad end in Houston for the franchise's top player, but it's standard NFL business procedure. Ask Jerry Rice, Brett Favre, Joe Montana...etc. I really did think Johnson would take a pay cut to stick here, but that was an optimistic, sentimental viewpoint in hindsight. As sad as it is to see AJ go, he is 34... moving on and spending that kind of money on a player under 30 makes a lot of sense. Finding a WR to average 11 YPC - about what AJ did in 2014 when he was a year younger - isn't as hard as you might think.

I don't see him landing in Denver, since the team already has such a strong corps of WRs there as it is, but who knows. I do think he probably takes an offer from a team with deep playoff aspirations over a better financial offer.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Keith

Welcome to the New England way of doing business.

You mean that team that just won the SB ? Works for me.

[HPF Bob]

They could afford AJ while Watt was on his rookie contract. Essentially, Watt is the new AJ and there's only one guy on the roster who can make that sort of scratch. That's the way you have to see it. Oddly, most teams have to do that with their QB so if/when we get some top-flight QB, we'll have to decide how much we can afford J.J.

Rinse, repeat.

A.J.'s not going to find that amount of money anywhere else. He can accept a trade where the Texans pay part of the balance or get cut and sign a contract for roughly half of what he makes now.

Now that the league knows we aren't keeping AJ, the only teams that will trade for him are the ones who, for some reason, don't want to get in a bidding war for his services. Heck, I was shocked the Raiders did that for Matt Schaub so anything is possible. More likely, he has value to a team that needs a #2 receiver and wants a veteran to take coverage away from their star guy - like the Lions maybe.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

I was shocked the Raiders did

I don't know how this is possible.

[sinnister]

AJ said that he was going to backup someone. If that is true, then for the life of me I can't imagine whom he would backup unless we draft a receiver number 1.......or sign a free agent.

[barrett]

Drafting WRs #1 worked out pretty well last year (Beckham, Evans, Watkins) and it's a copy cat league. It would not surprise me at all.

[Nconroe]

Best Wishes and thanks for all the memories Andre.

[chuck]

I hope whoever picks him up kicks the shit out of the Texans and I don't care if it's a division rival. So much the better, even; they can do it twice.

[Arky]

It's gonna be weird to see AJ with that horseshoe on his helmet....

[WMH]

Originally Posted by Arky

It's gonna be weird to see AJ with that horseshoe on his helmet....

@LanceZierlein, Andre Johnson and Frank Gore both agreed to head to Indy together. Would be a big get for Colts if true.

[Keith]

The Colts are about the single worst destination for Andre if you are a Texans fan. The Cowboys, the Titans... anyone but the Colts.

Colts are adding old guys if they pick up players like Andre and Gore (and maybe Wilfork too if they plan on a big ol Miami Hurricane reunion party). Makes them tough to beat in 2015, but hopefully cap strapped beyond that.

[popanot]

Hopefully AJ not signing immediately with the Colts is a sign some other team is making a run for his services. I'll never begrudge these NFL players for making as much money as they can or chasing a title, and I won't hate AJ for it, but man, I'd sure hate seeing him in a Colts uniform. Unfortunately, I think it's still going to happen. Come on, SEA/DEN/BALT/NE - anyone other than IND or TENN (don't even care if he goes to the Hags)... Step in and save us!! I don't even care if it's the Cowpies!

[WMH]

Originally Posted by popanot

Hopefully AJ not signing immediately with the Colts is a sign some other team is making a run for his services. I'll never begrudge these NFL players for making as much money as they can or chasing a title, and I won't hate AJ for it, but man, I'd sure hate seeing him in a Colts uniform. Unfortunately, I think it's still going to happen. Come on, SEA/DEN/BALT/NE - anyone other than IND or TENN (don't even care if he goes to the Hags)... Step in and save us!! I don't even care if it's the Cowpies!

Other than sentimental reasons, I'm not sure having Dre as the #2 on the Colts is a bad thing. He's not that fast, but runs great routes. Seems like that's the type that both JJo and KJ can match up with. The other guy can cover TY with S help. Don't need S help with Dre, he's not blowing past anyone. If the the Colts had 2 burners, that would be a problem.

Yes, I am trying to find some glimmer of positivity on this.......

[WMH]

@JaysonBraddock RT @RapSheet: The #Colts are paying WR Andre Johnson $21M over three years, source said.

[Keith]

Adding Gore (and possibly Wilfork) is much more important to the Colts' success in 2015 than adding Andre, but that's just a horrible outcome for the Texans. It also makes T.Y. Hilton more dangerous, too.

Have to imagine the Texans would have been willing to offer that kind of money over three years, so Andre is seemingly accepting less to play with a title contender. Andre's earned the right to sign wherever he wants.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by WMH

@JaysonBraddock RT @RapSheet: The #Colts are paying WR Andre Johnson $21M over three years, source said.

This money is front-loaded, $17.5 million coming before the 2016 season.

@RavensInsider
Andre Johnson three-year, $21 million Colts deal, $10M bonus, salaries $3.5M, $5M, $6M; 2015 $4M roster bonus, 2016 $2.5M roster bonus

@corryjoel
Andre Johnson's $10M of GTD money is a $4M 3/24 2015 roster bonus, $3.5M 2015 base salary & $2.5M 5th day of 2016 league year roster bonus.

Reports are that Andre turned down more money from the Chargers.

[popanot]

Will always be an AJ fan, but here's hoping the Colts never win another Super Bowl and go into cap hell real soon.

[HPF Bob]

I'd just be happy if Andre remained winless in Indianapolis.