Ryans and Drob Skipping Workouts

[popanot]

It doesn't surprise me DRob is boycotting, but I'm a little surprised Ryans has decided to go this route. It doesn't seem to be in his nature to do that sort of thing. I understand he's upset and don't really blame him. I probably would be too if I was in his situation. However, the Texans have been burned in the past giving a young player big money based on production and before their first contract expires, so I understand why they may be a little reluctant to re-do these contracts now. Anyone remember Domanick Davis-Williams?

That late surge to end the 2008 season served only to increase expectations for 2009 in Houston, placing coach Gary Kubiak and G.M. Rick Smith in danger of adding “former” to their titles if the Texans don’t make it to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

And to the extent that organized offseason weightlifting sessions have an impact on a team’s fortunes several months later, Kubiak and Smith might be feeling a little more heat given the news that cornerback Dunta Robinson and linebacker DeMeco Ryans won’t be in attendance when the offseason program launches on Monday.

“I’ve talked to both of them,” coach Gary Kubiak told John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. “I understand the issue. The offseason program is voluntary. I’d love to have them here. Their teammates would love to have them here. We’ll work through it.”

Ryans is under contract for 2009; Robinson isn’t. The five-year veteran cornerback is the team’s franchise player for 2009, but until he signs the tender he is not obligated to attend any offseason or preseason or in-season activities. Instead, Robinson remains a free agent, and as many franchise players have done in the past he can skip all of the offseason workouts, all of training camp, and all of the preseason, and then he can sign his franchise tender on the eve of the regular-season opener and earn the full amount of his $9.957 million salary.

For Ryans, who wants a new contract, any failure to participate in mandatory offseason activities or training camp could trigger a daily five-figure fine and, possibly, an attempt to recover a portion of his 2006 signing bonus.

“I’m counting on those two players to help us win,” Kubiak said. “They’ve told me I can count on them, but as far as when, we’ll see how that works out. Hopefully, it’ll be sooner [than] later.”

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