Quinn Gray

HPF Bob · #1 06-10-2008, 05:00 PM

This is shocking. A lot doesn't add up here. The most compelling scenario is that Quinn was told he'd be the backup as soon as they traded Sage. But then they didn't trade Sage. So either a) Gray made himself look bad so he could get cut b) went to the Texans and demanded to be let out of his contract or c) the Texans saw no need to pay him that sort of coin to be the third-stringer and the "fit" they are referring to is their salary structure, not his on-field abilities.

There is one way it makes sense. I've often wondered whether Jacksonville's offense just isn't very sophisticated and perhaps Gray was overwhelmed by the playbook when he got here and just couldn't adjust to it. J-Ville's playbook has often struck me as being rather basic and they just expect the talent to make it work. It might explain why they have so many players who don't live up to their potential (see their #1 receivers) while others come from nowhere and play great.

painekiller · #2 06-10-2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

There is one way it makes sense. I've often wondered whether Jacksonville's offense just isn't very sophisticated and perhaps Gray was overwhelmed by the playbook when he got here and just couldn't adjust to it. J-Ville's playbook has often struck me as being rather basic and they just expect the talent to make it work. It might explain why they have so many players who don't live up to their potential (see their #1 receivers) while others come from nowhere and play great.

I thought he signed for veteran minimum? #3 type money, not even close to #2 money. But I've been wrong before...

HPF Bob · #3 06-10-2008, 08:36 PM

Yes, you are right but the vet minimum may be tied into years with the league so a guy with less years might have a lower vet minimum. I don't know.

That's another reason I find this so curious. He wasn't costing them much many.

papabear · #4 06-10-2008, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

\I've often wondered whether Jacksonville's offense just isn't very sophisticated and perhaps Gray was overwhelmed by the playbook when he got here and just couldn't adjust to it. J-Ville's playbook has often struck me as being rather basic and they just expect the talent to make it work. It might explain why they have so many players who don't live up to their potential (see their #1 receivers) while others come from nowhere and play great.

That's an interesting theory. J-ville has always seemed to me a pretty basic offene in the sense that they wanted to run the ball, run it some more, and then run it again. I don't know that I have ever really paid attention to the sophistication of their passing game. I've always attributed it to just bad picks at the WR spot. Let's face it Matt Jones wasn't the safest pick in the book. It does make sense that they have a fairly basic passing attack. A helathy Fred Taylor and Jones-Drew can definitely open up the passing game.

Much like anything else I'm sure it was a combination of things. I still think that high on the list was the idea of trading Rosey not working out, next was probably an unhappy Grey. He went into this offseason thinking that he would have the chance to possibly compete for a starting gig. When that didn't happen, and he couldn't even lock down a relatively lucrative backup spot, I have to think the decision for Houston was made because he assumed he would be the de facto back up once Rosey was traded.....and playing behind a guy who had problems staying on the field last year. Guys like Boyd and Brink are cheaper, but in the grand scheme of things Gray wasn't expensive...I'm sure that played a part, but if I was to take a guess I would say that was down towards the bottom of the list.

You do have me thinking about what type of offense is j-ville really running....there must be a reason someone who was as succesfull as Gray was filling in last year didn't generate more interest. Robb Johnson and our own Matt Schaub come to mind as QB's who were able to turn a few standout games into huge deals/contracts....maybe you are on to something Bob.

Arky · #5 06-10-2008, 11:24 PM

According to McClain, it only cost them the $40k signing bonus to let him (Gray) go...

KJ3 · #6 06-11-2008, 07:20 AM

hey bob, kubiak was quoted saying something to the extent of "i don't like keeping vets who have a shot elsewhere and no shot here" so i don't think gray had to make himself look bad. maybe Q did talk to kubiak about letting him go...but...kubiak was certainly willing to oblige.

i think he had to have been the backup plan for the backup plan.

NBT · #7 06-12-2008, 01:29 PM

All I can think of is, somewhere in that fertile mind of Rick Smith, there is a plan. We will know in due time.

Bigtinylittle · #8 06-12-2008, 06:09 PM

I think that behind this whole Gray episode there's a fascinating story, but i really doubt if it will ever be told. The only people who may know the truth are Gray, his agent, Kubiak, Smith, Shannahan, and possibly McNair.

From what I saw from Gray in the Texans game last year, he has a very strong arm, seems to have at least average accuracy, and is very tough to bring down. Those are normally the ingredients for a good NFL QB. Which means something else must be missing: either on-field judgement or off-the-field attitude. Coming into OTA's overweight and out of shape points toward the latter being at least part of the problem, but I guess we'll never know. All in all, a strange story.

edo783 · #9 06-12-2008, 08:57 PM

The take on Grey from J-vill fans is that he is arrogant, hard to teach and a putz in the locker room. Any one of those things probably wouldn't set very well with Kubes. I suspect that Grey was the plan "B" fall back if they got the offer for Sage that they would have to take. They didn't, the young kids look fairly good, so he is gone.