Free Agent Target - Priority #1 - Asomugha’s a FA

[WMH]

Let the bidding begin.......

Come on Bob/Rick - GET IN THIS GAME!!!!!

From PFT:

Asomugha’s contract voids, heading to free agency
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on January 9, 2011, 11:31 AM EST
If you thought firing Tom Cable annoyed Raiders fans, wait until they hear about this.

Adam Schefter of ESPN dropped a bombshell Sunday morning: Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha’s contract has voided because of a previously unknown option in his contract. Asomugha is headed for free agency.

Even the Raiders appear surprised by the development. They had a team option to keep Asomugha for the 2012 season at $16.8 million or the quarterback franchise tag number, whichever was higher. But Asomugha had a “little known” clause that said his deal would void if he didn’t achieve his not-likely-to-be-earned incentives in 2010.

Asomugha played fewer snaps in 2010 than 2009, and made fewer big plays. That voided the deal. So Asomugha’s quieter season works against the Raiders in a few ways.

The Raiders can’t stop Asomugha from leaving if he wants to go. The contract also says they can’t use the franchise or transition tag on him.

Only 30 and arguably the league’s best overall cornerback the last five years, Asomugha figures to become one of the highest paid defensive players in history whenever free agency starts up again.

[Nconroe]

That would be an excellent start for sure if Texans could land Asomugha.

This article quotes Kubes as saying he is best CB we have faced.
Apparently the least challenged CB in the league last year, only 27 passes his way all year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nnamdi_Asomugha

He did have a hand and ankle injury this year it appears.

http://www.nfl.com/players/nnamdiaso...e?id=ASO415291

http://blogs.nfl.com/2010/10/31/asom...-ankle-injury/

[HPF Bob]

Now explain why he'd want to play for Houston.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Now explain why he'd want to play for Houston.

That's easy. Money.

[NBT]

There are other, more SB ready teams out there that he might relish more than just the money. That would not bode well for our chances.

[chuck]

I don't feel like starting another thread so I'll hijack this one. Watching the Green Bay - Philadelphia game is very, very depressing. Watching Clay Matthews and Tramon Williams make plays all over the place just reminds me emphatically of how bad the Texans' personnel decisions have been over the Rick Smith years.

[dalemurphy]

Originally Posted by chuck

I don't feel like starting another thread so I'll hijack this one. Watching the Green Bay - Philadelphia game is very, very depressing. Watching Clay Matthews and Tramon Williams make plays all over the place just reminds me emphatically of how bad the Texans' personnel decisions have been over the Rick Smith years.

The problem is in knowing who was responsible for his release. With so many of the question personnel decisions on defense, it is simply hard to know. Who was it that decided to keep Okam for a 3rd year? Smith? Kubiak? Bush? Kollar? all of them?

Regarding Matthews, I have no problem with that move. Sure I'd like him, but it is hard to argue with the Cushing draftpick. If the argument is "stereoids", I'd say that is as likely an issue for Matthews.

More than personnel decisions, I think the issue is in development at certain positions. I would argue there is a good chance that Tramon Williams would never have developed into a good CB if he stayed in Houston. Though, it is all conjecture.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by dalemurphy

Sure I'd like him, but it is hard to argue with the Cushing draftpick. If the argument is "stereoids", I'd say that is as likely an issue for Matthews.

It's hard to argue with the Cushing pick ? Only before he got suspended, because right now after his suspension and his mediorce second season it's real easy to second-guess the wisdom of taking Cushing. And Matthews now has 2 seasons behind him while his play on the field has continued to improve and he remains clean.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by NBT

There are other, more SB ready teams out there that he might relish more than just the money. That would not bode well for our chances.

Maybe but this is an argument that I hear a lot but I see little real world support for. I can think of very few, if any, players over the last 10 years who went into free agency and changed teams but took less to go to a winner. I ask this in all seriousness to the people that make the argument that free agents don't go to the highest bidder, can you name 5 guys (besides end of the career guys) who took less money to play for a winner? I can't. And didn't Nnamdi re-up with the Raiders 3 years ago despite the fact that they were terrible becasue they offered the most money? Just seems like an argument that sounds right but doesn't actually happen.

[Blitzwood]

Originally Posted by Joshua

That's easy. Money.

Bob McNair is not that kind of owner. He will not break the bank on FA. He's a business man first and foremost. I don't see us giving him 16+ mill/per for a CB.

Sorry. I'd love to be wrong though.

On the Matthews deal, he plays OLB in a 3-4 in GB, which is a stand up OLB. He basically played the same position at USC, think they called it the elephant line backer.

Cush played the SAM at USC and had an outstanding rookie season for us, this year he obviously struggled because of the loss of Demeco. But we basically got the same player in Connor Barwin(size, speed) in the second round that Matthews is today. Only difference is Barwin is playing end in a 4-3, and Matthews is playing OLB in a 3-4. We'll see how good Barwin looks next season playing OLB in our 3-4 after his injury. Hopefully he makes a full recovery.

The best we can hope for now is to draft Clay Matthews younger brother, Casey. For those not familiar with him, he'll be playing Monday night for Oregon. He'd be a nice insurance plan incase the coaches have some reservations about Barwin's leg.

[dalemurphy]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

It's hard to argue with the Cushing pick ? Only before he got suspended, because right now after his suspension and his mediorce second season it's real easy to second-guess the wisdom of taking Cushing. And Matthews now has 2 seasons behind him while his play on the field has continued to improve and he remains clean.

If he was great as a rookie, then clearly they accurately identified his talent. When a team goes 6-10, lots of things go wrong. For Cushing, he missed a month of time and did not handle Demeco's absence well. Picking in the middle of the first round in 2009, they selected the ROTY and a player at a need position that has already been to the probowl.. I'm saying that it is hard to argue that was a poor selection. A lot of teams passed on Matthews. Draft grades can't be simply based on selecting the best player in hindsight.

[cland]

Originally Posted by Blitzwood

Bob McNair is not that kind of owner. He will not break the bank on FA. He's a business man first and foremost. I don't see us giving him 16+ mill/per for a CB.

Sorry. I'd love to be wrong though.

I considered this, but I think it's exactly what a business man should do. McNair cannot be immune to his customers reactions over a 6-10 season and his non-firing of Kubiak. Sure we're selling out the stadium, but we didn't keep it full. Less fans, less stadium business, less money...

With the lockout having a potential impact on season-ticket holders renewing their seats, there is one clear message he's going to need to deliver: It Won't Happen Again!

If Nnamdi costs 16 million per year, he can write off half of that from the marketing budget.

To get him, Bob needs to have a talk with Nnamdi's good friend Andre Johnson. And Andre needs to go something like, "Look man, you're badass and I'm badass--but neither of us has been rewarded for it. Now here's Bob's blank check, come down to Houston, and let's role through the playoff's together.

PS. You can cover Kevin Walter in practice."

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by dalemurphy

If he was great as a rookie, then clearly they accurately identified his talent. When a team goes 6-10, lots of things go wrong. For Cushing, he missed a month of time and did not handle Demeco's absence well. Picking in the middle of the first round in 2009, they selected the ROTY and a player at a need position that has already been to the probowl.. I'm saying that it is hard to argue that was a poor selection. A lot of teams passed on Matthews. Draft grades can't be simply based on selecting the best player in hindsight.

Are you really in total denial about the possibility if not likelihood that his dramatic decline in performance from his rookie year to his second season was because he no longer had the "benefit" of PEDs ?

[dalemurphy]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Are you really in total denial about the possibility if not likelihood that his dramatic decline in performance from his rookie year to his second season was because he no longer had the "benefit" of PEDs ?

No. My point is that the same rumors were swirling about Matthews, not to mention the evidence that he had ballooned up from 165 lbs. while in college. My guess is that you were celebrating the Cushing pick 12 months ago. I'm not going to be hyper-critical of decisions made two years ago simply because they aren't working out great in this moment. That's what happens when you go 6-10.... lots of decisions look worse than they did when you were 9-7 and improving.

If the question is, "would I rather have Matthews than Cushing based on the information gathered in the 2 years since the draft?" yes. "Could I have a different answer to that question by December of 2011?" yes. "Does the Cushing pick show me that the Texans' can't evaluate talent in the draft?" no. "Does the Kareem Jackson selection and 2010 performance worry me that the Texans struggle to identify and coach defensive talent?" yes. "Is Rick Smith accountable for many of the current Texan talent issues?" yes.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by dalemurphy

No. My point is that the same rumors were swirling about Matthews, not to mention the evidence that he had ballooned up from 165 lbs. while in college. My guess is that you were celebrating the Cushing pick 12 months ago. I'm not going to be hyper-critical of decisions made two years ago simply because they aren't working out great in this moment. That's what happens when you go 6-10.... lots of decisions look worse than they did when you were 9-7 and improving.

If the question is, "would I rather have Matthews than Cushing based on the information gathered in the 2 years since the draft?" yes. "Could I have a different answer to that question by December of 2011?" yes. "Does the Cushing pick show me that the Texans' can't evaluate talent in the draft?" no. "Does the Kareem Jackson selection and 2010 performance worry me that the Texans struggle to identify and coach defensive talent?" yes. "Is Rick Smith accountable for many of the current Texan talent issues?" yes.

Correto. I was thrilled with the rookie year that Cushing had but really didn't think he could have a PED issue because he was flagged more than any other player in his Draft for that risk and just assumed the Texans would not blow the research on clearing him, especially given their conservative image ?
And since Matthews was a 3-4 guy and we had no idea that we'd go 3-4 in the near future, I really don't think Matthews should have been on our Board.
Re the apparent mistake of taking KJ with the top pick this year, I think that involves different issues than the Cushing selection ?

[Warren]

If McNair is going to take certain types of players off the board due to character, then he needs to open the checkbook for Asomugha. Not only is he an outstanding player at a position of need, but he's everything that McNair could ever want as a representative off the field.

[dalemurphy]

Originally Posted by Warren

If McNair is going to take certain types of players off the board due to character, then he needs to open the checkbook for Asomugha. Not only is he an outstanding player at a position of need, but he's everything that McNair could ever want as a representative off the field.

There was a dark time about 20 years ago when I was a petulant, young Dallas Cowboy fan. Like most Cowboy fans, as soon as a big name player became a FA, I treated it like it was Christmas Eve and the only thing standing between me and my new toy was one night’s sleeep. That was then. Today, I am a Texan fan. I have no such illusions that the premier free agent is destined to come to Houston. For many fans, this reality combined with nine consecutive years without a playoff birth is infuriating to deal with. So, today, fans will be screaming at Bob McNair not to be cheap and to “back up the Brinks truck” and “pay the man what he wants”, etc… Some fans will daydream thinking about the possibility and others will simply use Nnambi Asomugha’s impending free agency as an opportunity to convict Bob McNair for treason against the fan base.

Not only is it very unlikely that Asomugha will become a Texan, I think bidding blindly for the CB is a horrible idea. Clearly, the defense will need to be infused with veteran free agents if the team is truly committed to turning it into a strength next season. However, there are a number of complications and factors (other than any alleged frugality of the owner) involved in the attempted acquisition of Nnambi Asomugha:

1. Salary cap ramifications- Last year’s salary cap was roughly $127 million. The idea of giving any player 10% or more of the team’s salary cap room seems fraught with problems, particularly for players that are so far removed from the line of scrimmage. In other words, an elite DT, for instance, impacts every play and an opposing offense is limited in its ability to avoid that elite player’s impact on the game. Think about his: as great as Asomugha has been, he has not been a member of a team with a winning record. If that is so, what does that say about the ability of one, single player (especially if he is not a Qb) to influence a game and the season? Could he make a team better? Certainly. But, in reality, wouldn’t the 3rd or 4th best CB in a solid free agent year (like this one) combined with a NT and maybe some LB depth do more for the team than a single player, without costing more? Also, if I spend $15 million on one 30 year old CB and he pops his ACL in the week 3, where am I now? But, if I spend that money on three players, lose one to injury, I have still improved my team. This season’s special teams’ performance also highights how important quality depth is. In the second scenario, not only is our defense stronger because we have two free agents ugrading the starting unit, but those players also mean better players will be playing on the special teams’ units.

2. CBA Situation- The lockout begins before the scheduled free agency period begins. Therefore, barring a miracle, the off-season schedule will at least be condensed and modified, even if an agreement is reached well before the season. In a condensed FA scenario, it is highly likely that players will be anxious to sign and teams will be anxious to acquire talent quickly. This scenario will likely lead to overbidding on top-tier FAs but also a buyer’s market for second-tier FAs. In addition, there will likely have been adjustments in the new CBA regarding RFAs, Franchise tags, and even the nature of the salary cap, itself. Given this environment, a level of caution is likely warranted.

3. Nnambi Asomugha is 30 years old. Teams will likely offer him a 5 or 6 year contract approaching $100 million. The closest example I can think of to that deal is SF’s 8 year $80 deal given to Nate Clements (who was about 4 years younger at the time). Check out San Fran’s record since that deal was made.

4. Why would Asomugha come to Houston? This isn’t a criticism of the city nor the team. However, it is a question that every team should look at before signing free agents. Asomugha would not come to Houston because his primary concern is winning championships. He would not come to Houston because of a relationship he has with the Texans’ coaching staff. He would not come to Houston to return home (he’s not from Texas). When everything is stripped away, the primary reason Asomugha would come to Houston would be only because the Texans offered him significantly more than any other franchise. Based on that, my question would be “why were the other 31 organizations unwilling to offer Asomugha what the Texans did?” Beyond that, why didn’t any of the elite organizations offer the best player in free agency an offer competitive with Houston’s? The answer is likely to be that they don’t think the player, at that price, is an effective way to improve their team. Does that mean that the Texans would win fewer game in 2011 with Asomugha than without him? Probably not. However, their decision to sign Asomugha to more money than any other NFL team is willing to, certainly impacts their ability to compete for other FAs as well as retain their own personnel.

Now, you may say to yourself, “that’s the nature of FA. Usually, the highest bidder wins”. While that is true, when there are 150 FAs, most FAs will get no interest from the majority of the NFL. Therefore, with most of the group, you are only competing with 5-10 NFL organizations for their services. If the Texans have the worst secondary in the NFL, a reasonable goal in FA is not to, thru FA, turn the secondary into the best in the NFL. The goal should be to strengthen its weakness by making quality signings. That’s where value in NFL free agency is found. Here are some examples of what I mean:

CONTINUE ARTICLE HERE

[edo783]

OK, There isn't a CBA in place nor is there any idea of what the CAP might be, do any of you honestly think ANY owner is going to jump out and offer a blank check to a player in that situation? As a matter of fact, without a CBA I don't think they can even make any sort of overture to players until there is one.

[WMH]

Originally Posted by edo783

As a matter of fact, without a CBA I don't think they can even make any sort of overture to players until there is one.

Yep, that is correct, IIRC. Can't even chat with him until the new year, which is March 3 or 4, which is also the 1st day of the lockout.....

It's gonna be a crazy time when it ends, teams locking up thier own RFA's, there will be a BOAT load of FA's, draft picks, etc.

Depending on when its all settled, it could be even crazier than we imagine.....

[popanot]

I don't care what the situation is - CBA, no CBA, CAP this or that. Even if they were able to by league rules, had money to burn and all the planets aligned, no way in hell McNair is going to pay the money, nor is Kubiak and Smith polished enough to convince Asomugha to come here. These are the same idiots who wanted nothing to do with Bailey, Woodson, Cromartie, Rolle, etc., etc., etc...when they were all available (most at a reasonable price) despite the fact CB/S has been a major weakness since franchise inception.

In addition, McNair already laid the foundation of basically doing nothing defensively in FA by stating (to the effect); "Wade studied film of our Defensive personnel and feels good about it and can work with it". This is the same guy who took heart when owners told him how great his team was for making a comeback after getting destroyed in the first 3 quarters while still ultimately losing the game with the same numbskullery play and playcalling that did them in all season. Those comments by Phillips more than likely convinced him they have all the defensive talent they need and only need to augment it with a draft pick or two.