Only way Brown walks is if the Big Guy above drops an All-Pro LT at the doorstep of Reliant Stadium. They have what appears to be a capable replacement for Mario. Brown, not so much...

The difference is Mario was already over the tag and required the %25 bump to $22 million.

There was talk about this move during the season coming out of Philly, so I am not surprised.

This is a good move for all involved.

Good Luck to Demeco and thank you for the class you brought to this organization, you will be missed.

For this to be a good move for all involved, Sharpton will have to prove he can be an every down, all game player. OR we draft a phenom like Perry in the Draft, which may or may not be likely.

Demeco didn't play every down. Why would Sharpton need to?

agreed. sharpton only needs to be a two down player, and i would be pissed if they spent a high draft choice on a replacement.

Because it would be nice to have an ILB who CAN play every down, including passing ones. And it just might open up another spot for another player.

One of the ILB's don't play every down in a 3-4. He is subbed for another CB/DB when in nickle/dime.

Where is that engraved in stone?

Really?

OK, what spot would you pull from in order to get another DB on the field?

we have one . . .cushing

What I meant was, do you have to bring in the DB if the ILB (assuming it is Perry playing ) has the backpedal, and hip turn to stay in?

There is no such thing as LBs with the hip swivel, speed, and DB skills to play DB. That is why they are two different positions. That is why they are coached to do two different things. That is why there are 45 roster spots and different players filling each of them.

You might as well ask why we don't get a QB who can catch his own passes so we don't have to waste a spot with a WR.

Whatever, you are saying there has never been a LB who started out as a safety, or a LB that turned into a safety. Ridiculous!

I never said that. But if there was a LB or S that changed positions, it was at least in part because they were not cut out (or weren't any longer) for the postions they were playing before the change. There is a reason DBs play DB and LBs play LB. And humans just aren't cut out for both.

Either way we don't need an ILB that can play on passing downs.

I think part of the concern with DB's is that WR and TE seem to be getting bigger and harder to defend on height and harder to tackle on weight.

And more teams are going to 3 or 4 WR plus 1 or 2 TE sets all the time, so you have to keep 5 DB types on the field a lot to cover these guys, limiting the number of LB's who can stay on the field. So defenses stuck in some type of nickel quite a bit.

If you could find a LB who could stop the run , and blitz, their main jobs I think, but also cover atleast a big TE closely that would be a bonus.

Interesting Bleacher report ranked top 100 CB
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...00-cornerbacks

and they have three Texans CB's on our roster in top 50, which is pretty good.
Karrem Jackson at 48 ( this is ahead of some big names like Patrick Paterson)
Brice McCain at 22 ( very high at the slot CB)
Jonathan Joseph at 5 (obviiously top tier)

I guess bigger DB's to help defend bigger receivers will likely become a trend of sorts, but speed needs to be there and tackling ability.

Actually, there is a player coming out in the draft this year that would fit the DB/LB hybrid type of player you speak of, his name is Lavante David, OLB, out of Nebraska. He's a tackling machine as his 285 tackles the last two seasons proved.

From Dane Bruglar NFLdarftscout: "He flies around the field with controlled aggression, looking natural bursting in any direction with very good first-step quickness. David doesn't have ideal strength to tear through blocks, but where he separates himself from the pack is his ability to find the ball and finish with a competitive drive. Also rare is his ability in reverse with smooth hip action and fluid footwork to drop and cover."

He would be an ideal replacement IMO.

Actually he would be a terrible replacement. We are not looking for a coverage LB. We do not need a coverage LB. We also don't need a LB who can't beat a block.

In our version of the 34 the ILBs are unprotected. There is not huge NT to keep the OL off of them. So our ILBs have to be able to take on blocks first and foremost. This is why Demeco did not fit. I would not even consider an undersized ILB who can't get off of blocks. Those guys belong in the 43 with two big DTs in front of them so they can take advantage of their strengths flowing to the ball and diagnosing plays (and that is why Demeco went to the Eagles).

Not to mention our 2nd ILB DOES NOT PLAY ON PASSING DOWNS. So his coverage ability is almost useless. Cushing plays every down, and no matter how talented a LB is in coverage, they are not a better pass defender than Nolan or McCain.

I'm saying you're WRONG.

There are players that do posses the DB/LB you say can't be....

Don't believe me, read his scouting report, phrases being thrown around like the BEST COVER LB in the draft, could play SS or LB, FLUID HIPS and EXCELLENT NICKEL LB.

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings...012&genpos=OLB

I think a smart DC like Wade could find a way to play him, possibly at SS, or move him around a bit to keep the offense's guessing, even at ILB at times..:eek:

I know that sounds extreme to you, or probably impossible in your eyes since: " There is a reason DBs play DB and LBs play LB. And humans just aren't cut out for both."

First, You would have to be able to think outside the box and admit there are players that are LB and DB versitle.

He got to play in the Big 12(pass heavy) his Jr season and Big 10 (run heavy) his senior so he's been exposed to alot of different offenses.

L. David also excels at avoiding blocks and disengaging well off linemen, his burst, explosiveness downhill, and closing speed is all great, which allow him to slip by linemen to get to the ball. Check out this video of him avoiding linemen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CYjR...ayer_embedded#!

But what I'm most impressed with are his instincts for the ball and his motor. I'll take his speed and desire over typical girth.

As for Ryans, the main reason he was let go was $$, The Texans weren't gonna pay him 6+million this season for a 1 or two down LB. The main reason he wasn't playing the three downs wasn't for him not getting off blocks, he was alwasys more instinctive than physical....it was because he wasn't the same player after coming back from his achilles tear, he was slower, slower to the ball, and had considerably less tackles. 64 combined, 44 solo last year to be exact, compared to 123 combined, 93 solo the year prior to his injury (2009)......so roughly 50%. He almost had the same stats in 2010 playing only 6 than all of last year.

One could argue well thats because he didn't play in nickel situations, but then it goes back to being slower now post injury and more expensive to keep.

Do you think if we get a 'better' ILB he would be an every down player?