Chron: Pollard, 3 others get no tender love

[Arky]

Slightly old news by now - from the chron:

Unrestricted free agency awaits quartet; Daniels among Texans retained

Strong safety Bernard Pollard, the team’s leading tackler last season, was one of four players who did not receive a tender from the Texans on Wednesday.

When the NFL’s new collective bargaining agreement is signed, Pollard, linebacker Zac Diles, guard Kasey Studdard and defensive end Tim Bulman will be unrestricted free agents because they weren’t tendered.

Pollard had 112 tackles — second in the NFL for a non-linebacker — in his second season with the Texans. He was deemed expendable in new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ 3-4 setup.

“They told me I don’t fit in Wade’s scheme,” Pollard said. “It’s just the nature of the business. I understand. I wasn’t in their plans, and it’s time to move on. And that’s fine.

“My family and I were blessed and grateful to have played two seasons here. Now it’s time for me to find another team.”

Diles, Studdard and Bulman also will be free to sign with other teams. Diles was third on the Texans with 81 tackles in 2010. Studdard was a starter in 2009. Bulman spent last season on injured reserve.

The Texans did tender seven players.

They put a first-round tender on tight end Owen Daniels. Quarterback Matt Leinart received an original tender of a first-round pick because that’s where Arizona selected him.

The Texans placed second-round tenders on receiver Jacoby Jones, defensive end Mark Anderson and guard Mike Brisiel.

Offensive tackle Rashad Butler, who started four games last season, received a third-round tender.

Running back Arian Foster, an exclusive rights player, also was tendered. The league’s leading rusher will make a base salary of $480,000 next season unless the third-year minimum is increased in the new collective bargaining agreement.

More at the link....

[Arky]

Also:

Texans reach deals with three key players

Starting defensive tackle Shaun Cody is the third Texans player to re-sign with the team Thursday, a person familiar with the situation said Thursday.

Cody, who will move to nose tackle in new defensive coordinator Wade Phillip's 3-4 defense, follows starting tight end Owen Daniels and backup running back Derrick Ward as potential free agents who have returned to the team.

Cody signed a two-year, $5.75 million contract with $1.5 million guaranteed.

Daniels agreed to a four-year, $22 million contract that included $6 million guaranteed.

Daniels caught 38 passes for 471 yards and two touchdowns last season. The Texans had placed a first-round tender on Daniels on Wednesday.

Terms of Ward's one-year deal were not immediately available.

In his first season with the Texans, Ward averaged 6.3 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns behind starter Arian Foster, who led the NFL in rushing.

[Nconroe]

I sure hope they reward Foster fairly.

I thought Pollard was a big part of the defense when they did so well in second half of 2009, so , I am surprised by this move, now they are even more young in the secondary. Wish Pollard a good , successful NFL career in the future.

[NBT]

Pollard was a fine tackler (he should have been a LB), but as a safety, he couldn't cover his ass with a bull fiddle.

[Zac Attack]

Pollard did well for a while. But with last season injury bug, it exposed huge holes. Ryans, Barwin, Cushing (with the suspension).

Pollard did well, hopefully he gets picked up by some other team.