[bikerack]

Background info from my friend now that all is said and done.

The Texans and Clowney's agent, met at the end of the season in January at which time the Texans offered an initial 5 year deal worth $90 million dollar deal which a week later Clowney and his agent rejected.

The Texans felt that was a fair deal and the structure gave them some flexibility when it came to sign Watson and a future LT long term. Bus and Clowney felt it was to low.. They also wanted a 6 yr deal.

The Texans countered with a six year deal right around $110. Again, Bus and Clowney rejected. The Texans stewed over what to do and then decided to tag him.

Clowney and Bus were pissed... Bus made it very clear his client would never report or play under a tag. Things cooled off for awhile.

Clowney and OB spoke a couple times before camp but didn't talk contract. OB wanted to know how he was and how his training was going.

I would say second week of camp rumors started circling that D. Brown was helping Clowney try to figure away out of Houston.

The Texans made one more offer to Clowney which was a 6 yr deal right around $115 million. It wasn't Donald or Mack money but it was a fair offer.. Again, Clowney and Bus said no..

I don't know at this point of the last offer if Brown had gotten so far in Clowneys head he wanted out or if it was more Bus. Weird thing is, Clowney let his agent go a day or two later.

At that point, the Texans realized this wasn't going to work long term and instead of dealing with him sitting out and not plying, the decision was made to trade him.

Why the Texans picked up the $7 million, IMHO, right, wrong or indifferent, was partly to show Clowney the organization was committed to him.

That's the best summary of how it played. Now I know my numbers are right. The structure of the deals I had slight insight into. My time line might be off a tad in some spots.

From what I know now, Bus was looking for a 6 yr deal between $128-130 million.