The Texans have opted to not franchise CB Dunta Robinson and allow him to become a free agent on March 5th. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/6882589.html
That in and of itself is not super surprising. Dunta Robinson is not a CB worth $11.2 million dollars. However, in an uncapped year and as a 1 year investment, this kind of expenditure is hardly crippling to a franchise that is close to $40 million under its own self-imposed cap.
In theory, if the Texans were going to reinvest the $10 million they sent on Robinson in 2009 on a defensive line upgrade and draft Robinson's replacement, I would say "Thumbs up." However, that's unlikely to happen.
The Texans could also use these savings to enter into long term agreements with Pro Bowl LB Demeco Ryans and TE Owen Daniels. They are under no obligation to do so. By rule, the Texans can simply make a restricted free agent tender and dare other teams to make lucrative offers to the players. Under that scenario, Owen Daniels is only looking at a $300K raise and Demeco around 500K. The Texans could also decide that Jacoby Jones is ready to take over as the #2 WR and let free agent Kevin Walter walk. In essence, the Texans could do NOTHING in free agency, add a draft class, and save around $30 million to their bottom line.
What Bob McNair doesn't want you to know is that he is one of the owners at the forefront of SIGNIFICANTLY decreasing player salaries. How is an owner supposed to argue to the NFLPA that salaries need to decrease, if he is spending $25 million in free agency? That's the goal of the owners this 2010 campaign. They want very little activity on the open market to try and indicate to the NFLPA that the current system will be as "hurtful" to the players as it is to some owners. The owners help that the players will concede $$$ more player freedom and lower rookie contracts. In reality, no owner is losing money, though Buffalo certainly is not making Dallas Cowboy profit.
What I ask are McNair's liabilities? He has a sold out stadium for 2010 before he lifts one finger this off season. Do you really think people who have invested 8 years worth of coin into this team are about to cancel their season tickets? He has a lucrative television contract, and the richest radio rights fees in the NFL.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not calling Bob McNair cheap. Anyone who spends $700 million on ANYTHING is hardly cheap. All he is trying to do is create even more cost certainty and maximize his profit margins. Just know that he does this at the expense of winning football games.
Email me your thoughts on this topic to mattandadam@sports790.com
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