Couldn't agree more, it is sad to see him leave but the going-price was ridiculous and I would have been upset with the Texans had the price they paid been anything like because he's just not worth it to us.
When Winston was cut I was for sure stunned, but it didn't occur to me that it was anything but an isolated situation. Then came Myers and Breisel, neither of whom were resigned and allowed to seek work else where, and that's when I became convinced that Smith and his cap guy Olsen have failed to understand and/or mismanaged the new CBA as it relates to player compensation.
This is a major breakdown and one of the few things that could sabotage Texans momentum going into the 2012 season.

OH NO. When did Breisel and Meyers leave? How did I miss that?

Look, it's obviously a huge gamble letting these guys hit the market, but it could actually payoff in that these guys dont get offered the $$ they thought they would. It's kind of hard to complain about being in cap hell and then on the other hand say we should have offered Myers/Brisiel contracts before allowing the market determine their value. What if we renegotiated, overpaid, and thus went even deeper into cap hell? What's worse? Maybe we end up re-signing these guy far cheaper than we originally thought? The Texans obliviously feel it's a gamble worth taking so I guess we need to trust their judgement for now.

OK that's fair, but you know as well as I do when these guys get the opportunity to go shopping it's often sayonara. Not always, but often they get sat down in another teams office and don't leave until they've inked a new deal.
I bet we lose Myers, and if I'm mistaken I'll acknowledge that I initially overreacted to his situation. I hope I get that chance to do so ?

Guys who sign early in FA get overpaid. Guys who sign a week in are paid about right. Guys who sign late get veteran minimum or little more. It is a good sign that Meyers and Breisel are still out there. We may still lose one or both, but the more time goes by the better our chances. I have to believe both know they are better here than they would be elsewhere. So if we can come close on the money we should have a good chance.

But either way I would not overpay for Meyers, Breisel, Winston, or Smith. Brown is the only guy with real talent. Meyers was looking at being replaced and hated by our fans 3 years ago before we got Foster. I remember him being placed into Slaton's lap by the opposing DT numerous times that year. I think he has improved, but even so, I won't declare the sky is falling if we lose him. Especially not until I see how we replace him if he goes.

We should get Breisel back cheap and we shouldn't lose much at RT with Butler (who filled in admirably for a better player at a tougher position). If we find a credible replacement in the draft/FA for Meyers or we bring him back, then I won't be concerned about our OL.

To me bringing back Foster was far more important than anything else this offseason.

The problem with letting the market determine their value is that all it take is one of the other 31 clubs to overvalue your player and you've lost him.

I do know this - there's no way in hell we're taking a WR now in the first round. We have too many other needs and we kept Jacoby and Walter which means Smith valued them more than he did the o-linemen and FB he released or didn't re-sign.

To all of you who whine about Jacoby and Walter (including me) , the Texans obviously don't agree with you.

I think jacoby still gets replaced in the end. It doesn't take a first rounder to catch punts properly and be within 3 yards of where the QB expects you to be.

I bet Walter survives for continuity's sake (especially if JJ goes). He lines up at all the wr spots and they love touse him as a blocker. He's honestly as big a part of the run game as OD. I'd dump him if he didn't take a pay cut, but Kubs has always loved him.

Or it could be a case of one will be replaced but they won't know which one until after the draft.

The Bills also signed Mark Anderson. Since they're apparently trying to reassemble the 2010 Texan defense, I wonder what they'd be willing to give up for Kareem?