Houston Texans Make Moves: Sign Ruud, Cut Holliday
The day started relatively quietly with the Texans placing Brian Cushing on the Injured Reserve thus opening up a roster spot.
December 12, 2010; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb (5) throws the ball as Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Barrett Ruud (51) chases in the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. The Buccaneers won 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE
The day became interesting a little later when they announced that they had signed inside linebacker Barrett Ruud. Ruud hasn’t done much recently after getting cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2011 and spending last season with the Tennessee Titans. With Tampa however, Ruud eclipsed the 100-tackle mark every year and had a very Cushing-like presence in that he was always around the ball.
Hopefully Ruud can come in and have an immediate impact, but don’t expect to see him on the field too soon as he has spent his entire career in a 4-3 and will not only have to learn a new system but a somewhat new position as well. Not only that, with Daryl Sharpton hopefully leaving the Physically Unable to Perform list soon the Texans will have inside linebackers that they feel very comfortable in starting with Sharpton, Bradie James and Tim Dobbins.
September 30, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Trindon Holliday (16) returns a kick during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-US PRESSWIRE
The day of moves didn’t end there however, as the Texans also released preseason standout Trindon Holliday. The fact that the 5-foot-5 receiver made the roster in the first place was a surprise, but with the show he put on in the preseason it was impossible not to give him a spot. Unfortunately it didn’t translate to the regular season and when the Texans have several guys who are proven returners either in college or professionally, it’s tough to hold on to a guy that isn’t meeting expectations and can’t do anything else.
Keyshawn Martin will take over in kick/punt return duties with Danieal Manning as a possible returner as well. Hopefully Martin can show the explosiveness in the return game that he had in college and that he has shown thus far this season running the ball.
We wish Trindon Holliday the best going forward and hope that he gets another chance somewhere else. Hopefully the Texans won’t have to kick to him because the coverage team has been almost as bad as some of the special teams that Holliday was seeing in the preseason and it would be fairly poetic if he returned one on his original team.
The Texans rounded out their busy day by calling up offensive guard, Cody White, from the practice squad as several teams had been inquiring about adding him to their active roster.
The Texans have persevered in the past and hopefully the new faces can come in and keep the winning attitude alive in Houston.