Trade Dunta?

[Maninthebox]

I am not a rule book afficianado. I'm not even sure if I know how to spell afficianado. Is there some sort of trade deadline in the NFL and has that already passed? The question I have is would you be willing to trade DRob for the right price? In my book, the right price would be a 2010 1st round pick. I remember reading somewhere that the most we could hope for was a 2nd. I wouldn't trade him for that. But I would definitely consider a 1st rounder. The thought being that, although we have no elite DB talent, I think the talent is somewhat solid-probably the best we've had. And with an improved, aggressive front 7, solid could look pretty good. I don't like prima donnas. I've loved DRob up until this contract dispute. But now I question whether his loyalty lies more with his teammates or with his bank account. If the club is low-balling him, then I'd side with DRob. But if he turned down the money that has been reported, then he's simply greedy or his ego is larger than his brain.

So would you make the trade?

[Maninthebox]

PS Sorry if this has already been hashed and rehashed. I've been AWOL for a while.

It would be cool if we could dupe a crappy team into thinking they're a DB away from a playoff run and end up with a top 10 pick. Maybe then we could grab Taylor Mays and solve our safety problems that began with Matt Stevens and who was it? Kevin Williams?

[nero THE zero]

I wouldn't bat an eye.

[NBT]

Why not? Dunta has shown pretty much that he is not a team player but a guard house lawyer. He turned down a $23M bonus so he could get on his soapbox and cry about how he is being mistreated because the Texans put the F designator on him! He missed 6 games last year rehabbing the injury, and then when he did come back (albeit before he should have), he let 67% of the passes he defended to be completed.

[edo783]

As things currently stand we can't trade him. Until he signs his franchise offer there isn't a dang thing we can do with him, other than revoke the offer.....OR...someone signs him and pays us two first round picks (could be less if we want to negotiate it down). Once he signs it, then we can trade him if someone is willing to trade. However, IMO I doubt anyone would offer him a contract remotely like what we did (something north of 20 mill guaranteed and 5 years with a total of somewhere around 40 Mill) until they see that he can actually play a full season at the level he used to. Even then, I suspect the number is higher than his actual market worth.

[Joel]

more interesting might be whether the f-tag was a mistake. not because of his hurt feelings (bo hoo), but because it makes it less likely we can unload him, as edo (edit) just noted.

should we have t-tagged (yikes, one letter makes all the difference) him, instead?

[cland]

I'll say no. I think we're all a little ticked at Dunta for not being around this off-season, but let's not forget this dude is a leader for our team. I don't think he's a top-5 coverage corner by any means, but that attitude and competitiveness is contagious. There have definitely been times when a loud, aggressive Dunta tackle has fueled up our defense.

Dunta was drafted at #10 overall and is coming into the prime of his career. To trade him for a future 1st round pick, and the lower than 50/50 odds that guy will ever be as good as Dunta isn't great value.

He'll be expensive to sign, but unless he's waiting on an Asomugha type deal, I think he'll end up signing with us for a bit more guaranteed than 23 mil. I just don't know when that will be.

On a larger note, I'm hoping to see some contracts with key players worked out in July.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Joel

more interesting might be whether the f-tag was a mistake. not because of his hurt feelings (bo hoo), but because it makes it less likely we can unload him, as edo (edit) just noted.

should we have t-tagged (yikes, one letter makes all the difference) him, instead?

It's not less likely for us to unload him at all. When a guy is franchised but not in camp they regularly go shopping to other teams looking for the long term deal they seek. Then if a suitor is found, the franchise tag is removed, and a new contract is worked out as part of the trade.

As for trading him, why do it for a draft pick who cannot help us this year? Why give up a piece that can help you in 2009 for a draft pick that won't arrive until 2010. Keep him and the worst case scenario is he sits all year (which he won't do for financial reasons), and then we trade him after the season for a pick in that same 2010 draft.

We are firmly in control of the situation and it would be dumb to dump him for a future pick just because he doesn't feel like playing for us.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by edo783

As things currently stand we can't trade him. Until he signs his franchise offer there isn't a dang thing we can do with him, other than revoke the offer.....OR...someone signs him and pays us two first round picks (could be less if we want to negotiate it down). Once he signs it, then we can trade him if someone is willing to trade. However, IMO I doubt anyone would offer him a contract remotely like what we did (something north of 20 mill guaranteed and 5 years with a total of somewhere around 40 Mill) until they see that he can actually play a full season at the level he used to. Even then, I suspect the number is higher than his actual market worth.

I don't think it makes that big of difference in our ability to trade him. Any trade would require a new deal to be worked out with the other team before anything is finalized. Teams use the franchise tag as a way to buy more time to work out a trade. New England did it with Cassel if I'm not mistaken. Most teams know that no one is going to give up two first round picks. The F-Tag just keeps them in control of the player,whether they sign it or not, so they can see what teams will offer. The other team won't go through with the deal until a deal is in place with the player. I'm not sure if the player ever has to even sign the Franchise offer. If they do they can sign it, and send the trade paperwork to the league right after that.


I could be wrong, but that's my understanding.

[Nconroe]

If Dunta shows up in next week, good for him. otherwise he better be talking real nice to Smith and Kubiak or I guess he'll be gone. you can't be a team leader and be absent, they don't go together.

[cadams]

You don't trade him right now. I have no problem trading him for the right price, and at the right time, but this isn't it. If you were going to trade him before this season it should have been done before the draft so they could pick up anothe rplayer for this year. At this point, there is really no upside to trading him until after the season (unless he isn't the guy he used to be). After the season, if it still looks like it won't work out, then you tag him and tell him he is free to see if his agent can get a trade suitor lined up.

[TexicanMexican]

I agree with cadams. You try and trade when you can get best value for a player. I don't think the timing is right.

If it's true that he turned down the multi year contract, I'm scratching my head why?

[NBT]

When does leadership become a locker room cancer? Dunta is an out front type of guy yes, but could he be getting some bad advice?

[barrett]

I really doubt we see problems out of him in the locker room. After all the holdout is done and he reports (may not be until the start of the regular season), then he will be spending the rest of the year auditioning for a new job and a new team. Any bad press that comes out of Houston about him causing trouble will hit him where it apparently matters most to him (in the wallet).

Most likely nobody budges on the contract. He reports only when he has to in order to avoid missing game checks. He plays hard to look good for future employers. He is generally aloof towards teammates and coaches. He leaves next year via trade, after the season but before the draft.

[dadmg]

I voted "I wouldn't trade him for anything" although that's technically not true. If I could get a cornerback of the same age and caliber as Dunta who was under contract for a few more years, then obviously I would. Corner's a valuable position and I can't imagine trying to trade a good one coming into his prime. I don't think Dunta's holdout's unreasonable, nor do I think the Texans are being unreasonable in wanting to see a year of him healthy. Truthfully, we should have locked Dunta up a few years ago. That said, I think the Texans need to bite the bullet on this one. Good cornerbacks don't come cheap, but there's a reason for that. If you've got one, you don't let him go; doubly so if you're in a division with Peyton Manning.

[Rum Runner]

Originally Posted by dadmg

...If you've got one, you don't let him go...

I don't know that this is an accurate statement. Not really sure why, aside from the obvious monetary reasons, but it's not uncommon at all for a good to even great cornerback to switch teams. It's not like great quarterbacks or left tackles that normally stick with their teams until the twilight of their careers.

Just off the top of my head:
D. Sanders
C. Bailey
T. Law
A. Woodson
A. Samuel

D. Robinson had an above average rookie season and I would argue that his rookie year was his best; those flashes we saw gave us hope for more but the greatnest never materialized . I will no be surprised at all if he is wearing another uniform next year but I don't think it will be because of a trade... I think we let him walk.

[Big Texas]

Unless I have missed something, why are we willing to give up so soon on Dunta. I am not saying at all that he is back up to his normal self. But that was only half a season that he played. I think he deserves at least a full season to really assess his status. However I have been reading that Glover Quinn is doing great in OTA's. Let this guy get some more reps in the league and training camp. If turns out to be more than a nickel or dimer then lets start discussing trade rumors. Like so many others have said whats the use of giving up a starting corner for a draft pick next year. Then your back to square one.
Jacque Reeves and a whole hell of lot of maybes. At this moment with Dunta playing we are a better team.

Here's a thought. If dunta's speed is not where it needs to be, why are we not considering working him out a safety like was previously discussed?

[Big Texas]

DRob has played in 63 games. Equivalent of 4 seasons.
1st four seasons in the league.

DRob 329 Tackles 45 Pass Dfl 13 int. 1 TD
Champ ? Tackles ? Pass Dfl 16 int. 1 TD
A.Sam. 188 Tackles 43 Pass Dfl 16 int. 2 TD

I'm not saying that DRob is better than these guys at this point in his career. Im just saying he deserves at least one full season to see if he's back to normal.

[bckey]

Originally Posted by Big Texas

Unless I have missed something, why are we willing to give up so soon on Dunta.

It doesn't really come down to how DRob compares to the elite cb's of the NFL. It comes down to his unwillingness to sign what was reported to be a Chris Gamble type contract. The Texans offered him elite money even with the unsurety of him ever being what he was pre-injury. Instead the Texans had to franchise him so that he couldn't just walk. Dunta has made it pretty clear he doesn't want to play in Houston with his actions not necessarily his words. He said he would report to camp if the Texans would promise not to franchise him next year. He wants to play somewhere else. He has alienated himself from most Texan fans that used to be behind him 100%. I'm worried he will be a cancer in the lockeroom this year because he feels he has been disrespected by Rick Smith and the fans are really getting tired of all his whining. I say get rid of him now and be done with him.

[NBT]

I hear all this crap about what Dunta deserves, but what about what the team deserves? The Texans weren't exactly putting DRob on bread and water when they offered $23M in guaranteed money! Come on people, he is looking out for himself to get the fattest contract he can get before the league starts capping these humongous bonuses.