Dunta Watch 2009

[dadmg]

Originally Posted by NBT

No, smart aleck, not because I say so, because a lot of us are tired of his one-sidedness. Sure it's a business, but at some point you have to believe you have made your point and get down to the business of winning this year.

I think Mike's point was more than fair. The franchise tag is a useful tool, but any GM that uses it has to be wary of a holdout. I don't think either side (management or Dunta) is being unreasonable, but the vehement reaction from fans surprises me. Dunta has certainly not worn out his welcome with me and likely not with his teammates or management. When I see bluster about how we should not try to bring him back or that he's worn out his welcome, the same thing Mike said goes through my mind.

[popanot]

I like Dunta and hope we can work out a long-term deal next year, but the man is absolutely delusional if he thinks the Texans will waive the tag option for next year. The guy apparently is getting horrible advice from his agent.

[cloudwasher]

I know he's pissed about not getting a contract or being able to test the free agency market, but here's what it comes down to: Either out of greed or respect, he wants a big contract. If it were a matter of just getting out of Houston, he'd probably have demanded a trade by now. He is only shooting himself in the foot by not being out there for training camp. There's a new defensive coordinator and new secondary coach and assuming he sits all of training camp, he's going to come back week 1 and not be on the same page as everyone else. Its then going to take him several games, if not half the season, to get himself back up where he could've been starting the season at. He's then going to bring up questions about whether he has fully recovered and whether he is truly consistent (never really got back up to his full potential last year either) and end up lowering his market value.... and all thats assuming he doesnt get injured in the first half of the season before he gets back up to full speed and REALLY screw his value.

The bottom line is the guy is getting some really bad advice. I know he's worried about getting injured in training camp, but you're a lot less likely to get injured by teammates than opposing players that don't give a damn about preserving you for the season and are coming straight at you. That likelihood is amplified if you're not going full speed because you've sat out training camp and aren't as prepared.

That's my two cents.

[NBT]

Originally Posted by dadmg

I think Mike's point was more than fair. The franchise tag is a useful tool, but any GM that uses it has to be wary of a holdout. I don't think either side (management or Dunta) is being unreasonable, but the vehement reaction from fans surprises me. Dunta has certainly not worn out his welcome with me and likely not with his teammates or management. When I see bluster about how we should not try to bring him back or that he's worn out his welcome, the same thing Mike said goes through my mind.

Everbody is entitled to their own opinion, and we all know that's all it is. What I didn't like was Mike getting personal, so I replied in the same vein.

What exactly is Dunta's problem? He was offered a contract which would pay him in the top 2 to 3% of the league, and a $23M guarantee. Then when that wasn't acceptable the Texans put the F-tag on him for $9.7M big ones. Nothing wrong there. NO, what Dunta doesn't like is the F-tag thing. Nothing personal in that, the Texans just protecting their investment until Dunta figures out what he really does want. So he flies off the handle at that. He can't have it both ways. He is hurting himself and the team because he doesn't want to be F-tagged next year too. Now he gets unreasonable. And that is what bothers me.