Andre contemplating his future- please stay

[chuck]

Originally Posted by barrett

I don't blame him at all. We have not shown any real intention to win this year, and the truth is it will probably be 2016 at the earliest before we are serious contenders (and that is assuming we get a QB in 2015). I have no idea why Andre or Foster are here with that being the case. I would have thought they'd be off the books already.

I imagine that they couldn't get anything of any real value for them in a trade and if the defense is as good as it could potentially be they think that they might luck into a 9-7, 10-6 even and sneak into the playoffs. Hell, they could win the division at 10-6.

This is not my thinking of course, but you'll recall that McNair thinks they are a playoff team.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by chuck

I imagine that they couldn't get anything of any real value for them in a trade and if the defense is as good as it could potentially be they think that they might luck into a 9-7, 10-6 even and sneak into the playoffs. Hell, they could win the division at 10-6.

This is not my thinking of course, but you'll recall that McNair thinks they are a playoff team.

I guess O'Brien has to half play along with McNair's playoff dreams even as he willfully goes into a season with no QB. I would rather we lose and solve the QB position early in next year's draft than go 10-6 because our division and conference are terrible.

Either way I wish AJ and Foster were off the books before 2015, a season we could conceivably contend in. Even if it meant no compensation. And I say that even though they are two of my favorite players and very likable humans (not always the same).

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by barrett

I guess O'Brien has to half play along with McNair's playoff dreams even as he willfully goes into a season with no QB. I would rather we lose and solve the QB position early in next year's draft than go 10-6 because our division and conference are terrible.

Either way I wish AJ and Foster were off the books before 2015, a season we could conceivably contend in. Even if it meant no compensation. And I say that even though they are two of my favorite players and very likable humans (not always the same).

But realistically what are the Texans (and Andre's) options if he were willing to be traded ? Obviously nobody would be interested in him with his giant contract,
and there's no way around it is there even if AJ were to agree to a massive restructuring ? Of course he could retire, but I suspect he's not frustrated enough with the plight of the Texans to forgo all of that money.

[WMH]

I'll preface this rant by saying that AJ always has been, and probably always will be one of my favorite players to watch. Dude can ball.

HOWEVER.....

The Texans don't owe him $hit. He's been very well compensated during his time here, and has been treated very well. We sucked last year, and will probably not be great this year. But he's got a job to do, and he's paid well to do it. Drives me nuts when pro athletes talk about "wanting to win", "looking for a ring", then as soon as they are able to hit FA, they grab the cash and run. AJ never hit FA because the Texans ponied up and gave him a more than generous deal that is neither team nor cap friendly. If he truly wanted to be a "team" guy, he would have taken a pay cut to help us get out of cap hell the last 2 years and maybe they could have been more active in FA. Doubt he'll bring that up to the media.

He's untradeable, with a $12MM cap acceleration that we can't absorb.

He plays for us, he sits unpaid, or he retires. Period, exclamation mark.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by WMH

I'll preface this rant by saying that AJ always has been, and probably always will be one of my favorite players to watch. Dude can ball.

HOWEVER.....

The Texans don't owe him $hit. He's been very well compensated during his time here, and has been treated very well. We sucked last year, and will probably not be great this year. But he's got a job to do, and he's paid well to do it. Drives me nuts when pro athletes talk about "wanting to win", "looking for a ring", then as soon as they are able to hit FA, they grab the cash and run. AJ never hit FA because the Texans ponied up and gave him a more than generous deal that is neither team nor cap friendly. If he truly wanted to be a "team" guy, he would have taken a pay cut to help us get out of cap hell the last 2 years and maybe they could have been more active in FA. Doubt he'll bring that up to the media.

He's untradeable, with a $12MM cap acceleration that we can't absorb.

He plays for us, he sits unpaid, or he retires. Period, exclamation mark.

This. I have always felt this way and have taken flak for it. I like AJ and I hope he returns but I have a hard time being sympathetic to any unhappy pro-athlete that makes more in a handful of games than I will make in my lifetime.

On the radio, he (AJ) said he will make his decision soon. The radio guys are saying there is no decision - he needs to get to camp. So, I'm thinking his decision comes down to either a) he comes back or b) he retires....

[HPF Bob]

I'd love to see him on a team with a legit chance to win a Super Bowl. I just hope it isn't something like a Steeler or a Raven or a Patriot and we get pennies on the dollar.

[bono]

what happens to his cap number if he somehow decided to retire?

[barrett]

His choice is how much money he's willing to give back. If he's willing to sign a totally new deal with his new team, than we can get something for him. If his agent goes shopping and says "Dre will take 2 years and less than $10 milion," then somebody will give up a pick for him. If not then he can try to make us cut him, but we have no incentive and I am not sure he is capable of playing the bad guy.

As for the idea that anyone who makes lots of money for sports is beyond sympathy, that is a viewpoint that some of you have, and I am cool with that. I know plenty of unhappy rich people, and plenty of well paid people who hate their job/employer. I feel bad for them on the same level I'd feel bad for a poor person or a poorly paid person in the same situation. I feel bad that AJ has gone to work and been excellent for the last decade and his bosses have made that mostly irrelevant. How much he does or doesn't make has nothing to do with it in my mind, but I get those who think it does.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by bono

what happens to his cap number if he somehow decided to retire?

Same as if he were cut. If it didn't work this way, then this would be a serious loophole in the salary cap system.

Andre has a nice chunk on guaranteed money in this deal. I don't question he's frustrated and has no real options, I just question his timing to speak out now. Maybe he expected more from the team this offseason to address the QB position?

Short of retiring though, not sure what Andre expects to get out of this. He doesn't speak often like this to the media, which is why this is as big a story it is. Seems like he basically paid a $30k check out of his charity to create a media opportunity to air his grievances.

And I wouldn't call it mostly harmless... he is already questioning his new QB (Fitzpatrick) before he even hits mini-camp. That's not really how a good teammate and leader acts, which again, knowing how little Andre speaks, really says a lot about his frustration.