NFL.Com Dead Wrong Calling Houston Texans Free Agency Losers
By Randy Gurzi
Dec 21, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) with defensive Jeremy Mincey (92) dunk head coach Jason Garrett with Gatorade after the game against the Indianapolis Colts at AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys beat the Colts 42-7. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
In this same article one of the “losers” in free agency was the Dallas Cowboys, mostly for “losing” the same guy who didn’t help Denver improve, DeMarcus Ware.
"“Dallas did a nice job adding Jeremy Mincey and signing fellow defensive lineman Henry Melton to a cap-friendly deal, but there’s no way to replace the loss of the franchise’s best player, DeMarcus Ware. Seeing Jason Hatcher sign with an NFC East rival was another bitter pill to swallow and a reminder of how the cap situation in Big D has prevented the Cowboys from getting better in a division that saw every other team make strides. Jerry Jones is under plenty of pressure to nail the draft, but history suggests that isn’t his specialty, either.”– Marc Sessler"
Again, the errors are almost laughable. Jason Hatcher was a complete non-factor in Washington, as he was for all but one season in Dallas. One good year for an over 30 player led to an overpaying by the Redskins, and he returned to his original non-effective self tallying 25.5 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Decent numbers for what he was making in Dallas, but not on a contract averaging around $7 million a year.
Also, the Cowboys did replace Ware, contrary to what Sessler says. In fact, they did with Mincey who recorded the same amount of sacks (six) in his first year with Dallas as Ware did in his final season with the Cowboys.
the Texans have a legitimate shot of winning their division and the Colts should start studying top five draft talents
Dallas went from 8-8 in 2013 to 12-4 after “losing” free agency. They came within one score of getting into the NFC championship game, a far cry from such “winners” as Oakland an Tampa Bay.
Another loser they mentioned was the Carolina Panthers. While their season started out slow they finished strong and won their division (yes, the same division Tampa was supposed to control). They hosted a playoff game and were able to do so with a young cast of players who will only improve in future years.
This brings us full circle to the 2015 offseason and the Houston Texans. Rosenthal insults the Mallett and Hoyer competition, yet his same website lauded the McCown and Schaub moves. They are also talking about Johnson leaving in the same breath as Dallas letting DeMarcus Ware go.
History has proven a team willing to move on from a player a year or two too early is much better than those who hang on a year or two too long. The Texans understand this which gives me great hope for their future.
So to Greg Rosenthal I say thank you. Thank you for calling the Texans losers in free agency. Also, thank you for calling the Indianapolis Colts winners.
Based on Around The NFL’s history this should mean the Texans have a legitimate shot of winning their division and the Colts should start studying top five draft talents.