RB Derrick Ward Interested in Texans [Signs with Bucs]

[Keith]

From a RotoWorld report:

Derrick Ward-RB- Giants Feb. 18 - 5:05 pm et
Appearing on Rome is Burning Wednesday, free agent Derrick Ward mentioned the Browns, Texans, and Cardinals as potential landing spots.
Ward offers rare three-down ability, fresh legs, and is coming off a season in which he averaged 5.6 YPC. He talked about playing with Steve Slaton and would be a clear upgrade over Jamal Lewis or Edgerrin James. All three clubs have enough cap room to meet Ward's $4M-per-year asking price.

Ward 5'11" was a 7th round pick in 2004. Caught on with the Giants and played well in spurts the last two seasons. Had a monster game in Week 16 last year, 15-215, en route to a 1,000-yard season. While he hasn't been overloaded with carries (182 last year was a career high), he will turn 29 in August.

[Arky]

Sign him up! He's the perfect compliment to Slaton...

[gunslinger57]

But at $4 million a year?

[barrett]

what else are we going to spend it on? Free agents with a choice in where they go don't often want to come here. As long as it's not over 3 years I would be fine with it.

[nero THE zero]

Keith, as the capologist could you kind of put what Ward wants into some perspective?

He wants $4M per year; does that mean $4M total or $4M guaranteed? And who (RB or otherwise) is that kind of contract comparable to?

[nunusguy]

He's 29 at the kick-off of the 2009 season. Do we really want to get another guy who's less than 12 months from his 30th birthday at the beginning of the first season of a multi-year contract ? And as a well rewarded FA, he would be making a lot more money than our young star back Steve Slaton. Not good for family solidarity.
Running backs are a dime a dozen, just draft another in the 3rd round or later this April to pair with SS.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

He's 29 at the kick-off of the 2009 season. Do we really want to get another guy who's less than 12 months from his 30th birthday at the beginning of the first season of a multi-year contract ? And as a well rewarded FA, he would be making a lot more money than our young star back Steve Slaton. Not good for family solidarity.
Running backs are a dime a dozen, just draft another in the 3rd round or later this April to pair with SS.

I see your point and partially agree. But, let's not go overboard here with the generalizations.

A ~30 year old running back with 411 career touches is no Ahman Green (2390 touches, 1909 touches at age 29), Fred Taylor (2714 touches, 1862 at age 29), or Duece McAllister (1663 touches, 1538 at age 29).

[Keith]

Originally Posted by nero THE zero

Keith, as the capologist could you kind of put what Ward wants into some perspective?

He wants $4M per year; does that mean $4M total or $4M guaranteed? And who (RB or otherwise) is that kind of contract comparable to?

I think he means he wants a contract that averages $4M per year, i.e. 3 years, $12M total.

This is the sort of range that a high-end backup would get (outside of Darren Sproles' and his F-tag, of course). There's probably other examples, but Chester Taylor at around 26 in 2006 signed a 4-year, $14.1M contract. It averages less that what Ward is asking for, but considering the cap growth in the last three years, it probably compares. That sort of contract came with a $3M signing bonus and probably another $2M or so guaranteed somehow.

I think $4M/yr. is too high for Ward. Draft a complementary back for Slaton in the draft instead. Much more affordable, younger, etc.

The other problem yet unsaid with signing a backup at $4M/yr is that it really highlights for Slaton how underpaid he'll be this year. Second year player, comes with the territory, but Slaton is going to maybe be the best bargain going in 2009... tough to blame him if he wants more money now.

[TexanJedi]

There are plenty of good backs in this draft that won't cost as much, assuming we pick one on the second day that is.

[jppaul]

Yeah but everybody is kinda missing the point. A FREE AGENT ACTUALLY WANTS TO COME TO HOUSTON. A marked improvement over past years imo.

[Arky]

Looking at Ward's stats, he's low-mileage - a late bloomer.

The last two years of his 5 years in the league are really the only ones where he "worked". 307 carries, 1627 yards @ 5.3 yds/carry over the last two years. This, of course, is with the NYG offense....

From the little I've seen of him, he's not a one-cut-and-go back, he's just a "go" back - a tough north/south runner. He's "proven" which should count for something. Don't know if the Texans will go after him but I'd certainly like to see them work a deal with the guy. If they pass, it would be understandable...

[edo783]

His positives are: He is a fairly big back, He has some speed, he catches well, he blocks well, low milage experienced guy and can pick up the blitz.

Negatives: He will be 29, wants more than a draft pick would cost and would be making a lot more than Steve.

Looks like a guy that could help for 2-3 years and probably isn't that big of a cap issue, but the real issue may be how Steve would see it. If they can get a sense of how Steve would see it and if he wouldn't get in a snit over it (I don't see him as that type), so I think he (Ward) would be a nice fit.

[barrett]

Slaton made far less than his backup Ahman Green last year. Every contributing player on their first contract is underpaid other than the top half of the first round guys. 2nd contracts are where guys cash in.

I would imagine Slaton and his agent would see it as a plus if anything, since when it comes time for contract #2 they have a very clear point of reference to jump up from.

[dalemurphy]

Originally Posted by TexanJedi

There are plenty of good backs in this draft that won't cost as much, assuming we pick one on the second day that is.

We need a reliable veteran and a rookie as well. If we can get D.Ward for less than $10 million guaranteed and for a 3 maybe 4 year contract and his health checks out, then I think it's a good move. I'd still want a midround RB in the draft also. That would give us : Slaton, Ward, Moats, rookie... Then, we can cut CBrown and get $1 million in cap relief. RBs get hurt and we need depth there.

McClain thinks it wouldn't happen because he wouldn't be satisfied with 5-7 carries a game. I think our second RB would average more than 10 carrie per game. I really don't think we want Slaton carrying more than an average of 15 per game... 15 carries per game is about 250 over a season, which is plenty.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by barrett

Slaton made far less than his backup Ahman Green last year.

Slaton didn't enter the season as first string though. Big difference.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Keith

Slaton didn't enter the season as first string though. Big difference.

But my point is that you don't get paid on your first contract. You get paid on the 2nd. Guys understand this. And the Texans giving a backup 4 million means that Slaton's agent can jump off from there in contract negotiations.

A signing like this does not hurt Slaton now, and it helps his ability to get paid later.

[barrett]

and by the way, Chaun Thompson was paid more than Demeco last year (and that includes allocated bonuses).

It's facts of life in the NFL you don't get paid on your first deal unless you were a high 1st rounder. Slaton would have no issue with a backup making more than him.

[dalemurphy]

National Football Post reports that the Texans have expressed interest in Derrick Ward.... from rotoworld.com


http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/...rd-picking-up/

[popanot]

Ward would be a nice pickup for this team. He's a hard runner and would be a great compliment to Slaton. He could even carry the load if - heaven forbid - Slaton got hurt. I'm not sure I'd want to go into next year counting on a rookie RB as the primary backup. We hit gold with Slaton, but for every Slaton, there's a dozen Vernand Morency's, Chris Taylor's and Wali Lundy's. Ward proved he's a good, capable RB last year.

[cloudwasher]

Ward just signed a four year, $17 mil contract with the Buccaneers...