Time to Look Back at the Rick Smith Drafts

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

So you would blame the Texas for drafting someone who's career might be ruined because of injuries ? What was your thoughts about Clowney at the time of the Draft and the Texans decision to draft him back in May ?
As far as Mario goes, I'm pretty sure we just couldn't afford him.

I was desperate to trade down and would have taken less than the trade chart. I said that before the draft. Then in the preseason I fell in love with Clowney off of that one great series against Atlanta. So what do I know. Either way we are talking about a guy whose success is built on explosiveness who has work ethic issues, and now he faces maybe the toughest injury to recover from and the likely loss of some of that explosion. I am in the end of an ACL rehab with Methodist at their main facility. Half of the guys in there are pro athletes and half are out of shape weekend warriors like me. The head PT guy said it is likely 2 years before he is %100 (if ever).

As for Mario, he could have been kept. Cap space is finite and we chose to keep other high priced players rather than Mario. Mario's cap number in 2012 (first year of his contract) was $9 million. In 2013 it was $12.4 million. This year it jumped to $19 where it stays until 2017. Andre's is $15 million. Joseph is almost $12 million. Matt Schaub counts nearly $11 to NOT PLAY FOR US this year. Fitzpatrick is almost $4 million more. Ed Reed counts $3 million more. Danieal Manning actually has dead money this year from the last time he played with us.

For perspective, we pay Matt Schaub, Ed Reed, Owen Daniels, and Danieal Manning more in dead money than Mario makes this year.

Who and how we extend has always been the biggest problem for Rick Smith.