BREAKING NEWS: Ahman Green To Be Placed On Injured Reserve

by Tim on Nov 25, 2008 12:41 PM CST in News Comment 9 comments

I admit it. I was kind of snookered by Ahman Green this season. Never really trusted he would stay healthy, of course; last season's constant will-he-play-oh-who-are-we-kidding-of-course-he-won't game was never that far from my mind.

Yet this season, I occasionally found myself impressed by Ahman Green's performance on the field. He couldn't really be counted on to suit up most weeks. When he did grace us with his presence on Sundays, however, Ahman proved to be a capable backup/change-of-pace back from Steve Slaton. He even showed an aptitude for picking up tough first downs in third-and-short and/or goal line situations. I stopped hating him like I did last season.

What's my reward for softening on Ahman Green? This. Well played, Ahman. You got me. Sort of, anyway. In fact, one day, I want to be like you: Earning $11,000,000.00 for the equivalent of far less than one season of work. You're an inspiration to us all, and I hope you enjoyed ~~stealing~~ earning money in Houston the past two (2) years.

What this means in the short-term is likely not positive for your Houston Texans. Slaton's banged up. Ryan Moats is banged up and has not proven to be anything approaching a solution at back-up. Is a Darius Walker return imminent? Who knows? Personally, I'd prefer Ron Dayne, if for nothing else than short yardage situations. Assuming, you know, that he hasn't turned into Gilbert Grape's mother.

Houston's running attack may well be running on fumes when the Jags come to town on Monday night. I'll close with the ultimate silver lining: Smithiak sure got that renegotiated contract right.

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This is no great surprise to any serious Texan fan

The real shame is exactly what you stated “I occasionally found myself impressed by Ahman Green’s performance on the field”. He will not be back and his cap figure next year will be empty money, but at least it will be less than if he suited up and pretended to be ready to play. Hopefully this, and the failed Chris Brown experiment, will sour Smithiak on previously owned, er used, running backs. Use a 2nd or 3rd rounder on a bigger RB in the ‘09 draft. If Super Steve is not overused, he will be good for years to come. Use the money saved on Green & Frenchy (please cut him too) to extend Dunta so he won’t have to test the free agent market.

by oiler-texan diehard on Nov 25, 2008 2:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Renegotiation

Rick Smith earned HIS paycheck with that contract renegotiation.

by DisplacedTexan on Nov 25, 2008 2:25 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah but

That renegotiation in NO WAY makes up for what a terrible signing it was… and I think I speak for a LOT of Texans fans when I say – that is not hindsight. I thought it was a bad move when we made it, and so did a lot of other people.

Rick Smith has been great with the draft, but horrible with free agent signings.

Also – Darius Walker is back. He’s signed to the practice squad.

www.HoustonDiehards.com

by HoustonDiehards on Nov 25, 2008 3:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Calculated Risk

Back when the Texans signed Ahman, it seemed clear that it was a calculated risk. If the Texans had featured anything approaching a reliable option at RB before the 2007 season, there’s no way they would’ve signed him. But they didn’t, so they rolled the dice that Green could give them a couple of productive seasons. While it didn’t pan out, I don’t think it was a terrible move at the time.

And it could have been far worse…Travis Henry, anyone?

Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...

by Tim on Nov 25, 2008 8:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree/Disagree

I think Rick’s two biggest albatrosses (Frenchy & Green) were in part due to weak free-agent classes at a position of great need. Like Tim said above, Green was a calculated risk, and Rick stepped up and remedied the situation once it became clear it had backfired. Part of being a good GM is fixing your own mistakes – and I think he demonstrated that with the renegotiation. I’m willing to give him a pass because I think overall he’s been a huge asset to the franchise.

by DisplacedTexan on Nov 26, 2008 8:02 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree with this

Smith has been average-to-poor in free agency and A+ in the draft, imo. But the reason he hasn’t done better in free agency is a function of the scarcity in the free agent market and the Texans’ cap situation.

I’m sure we would rather have Nnamdi Asanotgonnaworkhereanymore than Jacques Reeves, but we couldn’t afford him.

If I had to choose between a gm who is good in the draft or one who is good in free agency, I’ll take the one who is good in the draft. But I suspect that in the end, Rick Smith will also have his share of wins in free agency.

When I'm on the mic, I'm like global warming, you can't ignore me.

by tehGrindCrusher on Nov 26, 2008 9:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Shaun Alexander

Just released by the Redskins. What would ya’ll think if he were signed for the remaining few weeks?

by Only_A_Lad on Nov 25, 2008 7:27 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Alexander

No, thank you. Shaun Alexander has a well-deserved rep as someone who can’t get the tough yards, and that’s precisely what the Texans don’t need. Believe it or not, a three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust RB like Ron Dayne would be a better fit in my opinion.

Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...

by Tim on Nov 25, 2008 8:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I’m with Tim. Big no thanks on Alexander. If he was even 50% of the runner he was a few years ago, he wouldn’t be getting released by the Redskins.

www.HoustonDiehards.com

by HoustonDiehards on Nov 25, 2008 10:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs