Buyer beware. When we last left off with the Matt Schaub-to-Houston trade, the Texans were giving up a second-rounder and perhaps "other compensation." That other compensation turned out to be a lot: another second-rounder in 2008 and a flip-flop of first round picks this year. The Texans give up their eighth overall selection and for the Falcons' pick at 10.That's a lot to give up for an unproven quarterback with mediocre career stats. As Richard Justice points out, David Carr is not the only reason the Texans have, I'll try to put it delicately, sucked.
If only the Texans had done right by him. If only they'd given him a chance.Whether Justice is exaggerating at the end there, the point is taken: with such a myriad of issues plaguing the Texans, is Schaub so much better than Carr that he can overcome them? Yes, the Texans have appeared to be moving in the right direction this offseason, but is the cost of Schaub worth it, hoping that all of these "possiblies" turn into success stories? Why not keep the picks and give Carr one more shot?
All we know for sure is that for the first four of Carr's five seasons, the Texans never gave him the coaching or protection he should have had. They never surrounded him with enough talent to succeed. It's unlikely any quarterback - Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees - could have looked good in the circumstances in which Carr was placed.
You've also got to beware of A.J. Feeley, who started five games stepping in for Donovan McNabb in 2002, throwing 86-for-154 for 1,011 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions -- remarkably similar numbers to Schaub's career totals. Feeley went to Miami to start in exchange for one second-rounder, and tanked. Of course the situations come in different contexts, but the truth is that NFL teams are quick to make the bold move without objectively viewing the risks involved.
The Texans took a big risk with this trade. At the cost Schaub comes with (he also signed a six-year, $48 million contract with $7 million guaranteed), expectations in Houston are high. If he fails, Texans fans will make the Branch Davidians look like the Mouseketeers.
Previously at the FanHouse:
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I'd like to thank Richard Justice for the classy article he wrote about Carr in the Chronicle. I've listened to people criticize and insult Carr enough. I have nothing against any qb who wants to play for the Texans, but Carr did the best he could with a bad situation. I hope he prospers wherever he goes. I just wish the Texans could've got it together for him instead of failing him miserably.
I second the first responders comments.
Are they serious? Do they expect Schaub to overcome the glaring weaknesses of an offensive line that has proven time again they can't pass-block to save their own lives? First it was the fiasco known as the Oilers, now it's another sub-par sports franchise in the Texans. Houston...we are a joke! Famous misses in the Texans era...02'Julius Pepper they took David Carr instead, Clinton Portis they took Jabar Gaffney, instead, in 03' Jason Witten/Anquan Boldin they took Bennie Joppru instead, 04' Ben Roethlisberger they took Duta Robinson unstead, 05' Aaron Rodgers, Heath Miller, Matt Jones but they took Travis Johnson instead...I know...who is Travis Johnson? My point exactly, so now Bob McNair in all of his infinite stupidity is going to mortgage the immediate future for a question mark in the form of a Matt Schaub...uh, okay...I'll definitely tune in for that Booby. Yeah, a feew points of interest, when Schaub did look mediocre playing for the fake-cons they had a decent o-line and a running game...what's the plan now? Uh, do they really think Ahman Green is going to get it done? Do the really think the defensives in our division can't stop him? After all emotional and finacial investment we fans have pumped into the myth that was David Carr we're supposed to hope Matt Schaub erases the blunder that was passing on VY? Are you kidding me? Mario Williams could be Mean Joe Greene and it still won't help the scoreboard. I buy into the melarkey that Schaub is another mistake by the frownkins either, a Brett Favre? No way my man, Arthur "Blind Faith" Blankcheck may be bind but he isn't stupid, no that moniker belongs to Boob McNair. When Texan fan is watching their hopes and dreams evaporate in front of their eyes in September I'll be goin' fishing. Adios amigos!
What can a Texans fan say, other than adios ocho!!! Getting a replacement for Carr is a good thing. His can't look off the primary receiver blank stare; and holding on to the ball too long and taking the sack because he can't make up his mind are probably a result of letting him get pummelled during those early years, but last year's performance was mostly his own fault.
But paying such a price for Matt Schaub who is still unproven himself, is pathetic. I'm a businessman and a negotiator. The Texans' GM is just a kid who's been given a rich man's money to play with.
Let Me be your GM Mr. McNair, I will work for half the money you're paying your current GM and I guarantee you that I will put a better team on the field than you have now.
You see sir, somewhere along the way, someone forgot that getting paid a king's ransom to play a kid's game is a priviledge, not an entitlement.
As a Bills fan, I offer two words that will absolutely scare all Texans fans to death:
ROB JOHNSON!
I honestly hope trading for a backup quarterback goes better for you than it did for us.
I must say that I was a big critique of David Carr all season long, however, in his defense, he did not have a large amount of talent surrounding him. I really hope that he can go to another team and succeed. Basically, that is what happens to teams in Houston, we have players that go to other teams and become stars.
Also, I remember about a year ago we were in the running for obtaining a player by the name of Reggie Bush and not until close to the draft did we start to hear about drafting Vince Young. Well, as you know, we did not acquire either player and now we have signed Ahman Green and Matt Schaub (running back/quarterback respectively). After witnessing these acquisitions, I am convinced that the Texans are really crazy. I am not the type of person to talk about anyone's talent or abilities, but when are we going to start getting big time players that can really transform our team? I really do not care if we get Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, Dan Marino, and Peyton Manning wrapped into one person, if we do not beef up our offensive line, we will witness the same thing next season, unless our quarterback can scramble really, really well.