Houston Texans Saturday Roundup
Dec 22, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel (16) passes the ball over Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Wallace Gilberry (95) and defensive tackle Domata Peko (94) in the game at Paul Brown Stadium. Cincinnati Bengals beat the Minnesota Vikings by the score of 42-14. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowksi-USA TODAY Sports
Maybe the best news on Friday didn’t invoke the Houston Texans at all, but it still helped the team in the long term. The news, you ask … the Minnesota Vikings re-signing quarterback Matt Cassel.
ESPN.com wrote the following about Cassel Friday evening, as confirmed by Adam Schefter of ESPN:
"“Quarterback Matt Cassel will return to Minnesota next season, signing a two-year deal with the Vikings on Friday.”"
The article also stated CBS Sports said the deal is worth $10 million.
I know the Texans had some interest in Cassel, but as someone who watched both Cassel and the Texans last season, there was no need for even being interested in the veteran QB.
If that were the case, I would rather have the Texans go with Case Keenum in 2014 than Cassel.
I consider this another roadblock missed by the Texans and a win in the offseason.
In other news:
• Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle had an article on offensive tackle Duane Brown, quoting Brown as saying:
"“I thought I played OK. I set the bar for myself pretty high, and I don’t think I quite played up to my potential last year.”"
I agree with Brown … he did make the Pro Bowl and I thought he played well at times, but he wasn’t as good as he was the previous year, but I’ll also give him the Texans didn’t have many offensive weapons on the field together at times either.
I believe Brown will play up to his standards next season.
• Here is an article asking if Johnny Manziel is trending away from the Texans as posted on CSN Houston.
The article by Howard Chen says:
"“Noted draft gurus have stayed away from the former Aggie star quarterback as their top pick in recent drafts.”"
I agree and am pleased Manziel is hopefully trending away from the Texans.