cph

Just wanted to add that in addition to Putzier and possibly Cowart, they did go out and get one of the top free agent defensive ends in Anthony Weaver as well as add Jameel Cook at FB and Kevin Walter at WR. Not lighting the world on fire by any means but slowly adding solid guys who they think will fit their new schemes. I will hold off on the OL issues until I see their draft and whether they can add a couple lower priced guys later in free agency or after some June cuts, but right now I think adding solid guys is better than desparate overspending considering they aren't on the verge of winning it all, they have plenty of talent (Carr, DD, Bush?, AJ, Putzier on offense and a defense including Robinson, Peek/Babin, Greenwood, etc that was pretty good until last year when the whole team underperformed). (That's my attempt to get this back on topic.)

Looks like the Jets really want Schaub (and a 2nd) but the Falcons don't want to give him up. Honestly don't know why Atlanta wouldn't make a trade along these lines if they truly believed in Vick, as Schaub will be a restrictred free agent after next season and will undoubtedly seek greener pastures and a starting job at that point. So why not get top dollar now by getting one of the best pash rushers out there without having to give up their first rounder or a starting player ... especially with potential backups such as Frerotte or even Aaron Brooks (reunited with his cousin) out there as suitable guys in case Vick goes down. LINK

I think they've seen too much of the following: http://img.photoamp.com/i/cgHCyJ.gif . He has made some spectacular catches over the last couple years but he doesn't make the small plays and that's ticked off some of the veterans and the coaching staff. A third and a 4th is more than I would have figured they could get, now here's hoping they actually add a couple decent targets through the draft this year for Smith to build some chemistry with. Maybe grab VD and use their 2nd to grab one of the WRs if they fall, or use the extra 3rd to move up to around 20th and grab Jackson ... I know as a homer that I would like to see some sort of intelligence like that, but hey at least they resigned Nedney. :

I believe the bonus is not due until June or July, so this way he can get out there before all the free agent dollars dry up ... assuming they aren't still negotiating the CBA at that point.

Yeah, I really just don't see them receiving a boatload of picks allowing them to fill any positions that they couldn't fill by other means, given the nature of the players in this draft (deep in OL and LB, devoid of offensive playmakers, especially at WR). Also, don't know too much about McNeil (I assume that's who you are talking about), haven't really heard him discussed as a franchise OL, but theres a whole group of them - Eric Winston, Winston Justice, McNeil, the Scott kid from Texas, Spencer from Ptt -- that seems to be graded around late first to early 2nd, at which point the Texans should be able to grab one of them with their 2.1 pick without too much of a dropfoff. If they get Bush and one of them and make a few savvy FA pickups (get an OL like Bentley there and they can have two franchise OL AND Bush), would be one great offseason IMO. Granted I'm a 49er fan, so everything else - actual options and hope - looks great to me.

Well, as far as the risk/reward ... I also think Bush will be a stud and is clearly the most dynamic threat coming out of the draft, especially since he is bulking up this offseason (has put on about 10 lbs muscle and is up to 207 I last heard) with alot to prove to doubters who say he might not be durable enough, which IMO only makes him more dangerous. Trading down just increases the risk to me, there's no guarantee any of the others guy pan out either ... and honestly there doesn't seem to be any real dynamic wide receivers in this draft, so I'm not sure they could trade down and get what they need in that regard. I think Bush serves them better in that capacity (plus again is marketable) than any of the incoming crop of WRs would - if there was some more dynamic options other than this draft loaded with OL and LB, then it would be more sensible but I don't see it. I don't see them getting a bevy of 1st and 2nd round picks either, but if someone offered them a Herschel Walker type deal then yeah I would listen, otherwise I don't see them gaining by trading down since Bush seems like the most dynamic playmaker and they can get OL in the ways already discussed and thus Bush is the safest pick and one with highest risk/reward payout all things considered. As far as having DD, yes, I would consider trading him next year if Bush proves capable. I do not think his value will necessarily take a hit unless he is injured (not too unlikely given his history, in which case its good they selected Bush). Even top notch RBs havent garnered that high a draft pick in recent years so I don't think his trade value will drop significantly by just splitting time with Bush. If they work well together you keep them both, they are in good cap shape (plus 2007 could be uncapped, in which case McNair has deep pockets), or you unload DD for a mid-round pick having served his purpose as a safety net (something they don't have for Ferguson). Seems kind of cold to DD, but again, it's a business.

By no means am I saying selecting Bush is a foolproof plan, risk is always present. I am saying selecting him seems to be a very good selection all things considered (fans/business side, their cap room and the available OL in free agency, plus the depth of draft at OL) and seems to accomplish the most (opens things open on offense) with the LEAST risk. Really, when considering all aspects, I just don't see a better risk/reward payoff than they get by selecting Bush.

I outlined the ways it could help the team as a whole in my first post (keep him and DD fresh, open things up and take pressure off Carr and take away some of the double teams on AJ) IN ADDITION to justifying the pick as a business decision. I don't think any other moves accomplishes all those tasks, it really just comes down to your opinion of how you want to build your team. Considering the current circumstances, if I were GM I think I would take my chances with a proven veteran like Bentley than gambling in the draft considering I could ALSO add an offensive weapon that opens things up and appeases the fans. Bust with Ferguson and fans will rip them a new one. Now IF there wasn't some good OL out there this year like Bentley and IF there wasnt supposedly a deep draft and IF I had a guarantee that Ferguson wouldn't be a Gallery, Mike Williams, Leonard Davis etc and IF I knew the problem wasn't the old schemes ... well that's just too many if's for me, I'll take Bush and address the OL thru free agency and later in the draft, and I think I've more than at least justified why Bush is a good option for them.

No confusion here, they clearly need better pass blocking schemes and players ... however, this can be done with their cap room and later picks while also making the pick that gives them a weapon on offense that doesn't come along too often AND appeases their fan base. Seems good to me when considering all aspects of it. As far as godtomsatan's comments, yes they have won only 4, 5, 7, and 2 games the last four years. However, in each of those years they lost a number of close games at the end and were a sneaky pick for playoff contender last year before backtracking bigtime. I don't think they are as far off as some people think considering they have some solid players and should be able to attract some good free agents with their cap room and their facilities, their biggest obstacle in turning things around IMO is the division they play in.

It's quite simple really - the NFL is not only a sport but also business. From that perspective the Texans will need to draft Bush or Young to put a face on the franchise and appease the fans. Ferguson may be as good as advertised but is undoubtedly less marketable than Bush/Young and what if he turns out to be, say, Robert Gallery, who was very highly touted just a couple years ago as just a notch below a Boseli (and may still turn out to be an All-Pro, but I wanted to give a recent example). That will not sit well with fans. I think the best way to go for them in this predicament when considering everything is to select Bush - not only can he team with DD and keep them both fresh and healthy, but he can also line up or roll out as a receiver and take a defender with him there and relieve some of the pressure on either Carr or on Andre Johnson, which Corey Bradford and Jabar Gaffney clearly have never nor never will accomplish. This gives them alot more flexibility and gives them that extra weapon on offense that they clearly lack, appeases the fans (and makes more sense than Vince Young unless someone offers up a boatload for Carr), and they can address their offensive line issues through some new schemes with their new staff and by signing some solid, PROVEN veterans with their cap room or also with later picks considering this is supposedly a deep draft for OL. That's my two cents.

Winslow was put on the non-football injury list on July 29th (http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/teams/report/CLE), so he could still theoretically come back this year and the Browns are allowing themselves the opportunity to wait until October to put him on IR and officially ending his season... that and the Browns don't owe him any compensation while he is on this list. So doesn't look like he will be placed on IR for a little while, sorry Huskers.