BREAKING NEWS: Ahman Green And Morlon Greenwood Waived!

by Tim on Feb 10, 2009 3:50 PM CST in News Comment 45 comments

According to the Chronicle, your Houston Texans cut ties with Ahman Green and Morlon Greenwood this afternoon. While this was certainly a likely scenario given the performances of Steve Slaton and Xavier Adibi, I can't shake the feeling of sweeping relief.

Under any analysis, the Ahman Green Era in H-Town has to be considered a spectactular failure. He was here less than two (2) years and contributed a whopping 709 total yards and 5 TD during his time in Houston. The only thing that makes the bitter pill of abject failure slightly more tolerable is the knowledge that Smithiak wised up and forced him to renegotiate his contract prior to this past season, so the damage was somewhat mitigated. Still, Ahman Green joins such luminaries as Todd Wade and The Corpse Formerly Known As Anthony Weaver on the Council of Freaking Terrible Free Agent Contracts Bestowed by Texans Management.

Morlon Greenwood, on the other hand, inexplicably went from tremendously underrated to tremendously bad, all seemingly overnight/in one season. What happened? Age? Injury? I sobered up? In any event, Adibi's emergence made Greenwood's departure a foregone conclusion. God speed, Morlon. May your future away from Houston be jiggy, dope, or whatever the kids are saying these days.

0 recs | Comment 45 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Whew

This was the best way to start the offseason player moves. Hopefully Riott can tell us exactly how much cap space this will free up. This hould mark the end of Ahman’s career, as no one in the league seems to have the afinity for injury prone, veteran RB’s like we do (see also Chris Brown).

Also, the Texans promoted assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Ray Wrigh to be the head S&C Coach. Here’s the link:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/6255123.html

Let's get the Texans a better fight song.

by Jake on Feb 10, 2009 4:01 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

Think Dickie has something to say?

Only time will tell, of course, but I’m doubting he touches this one.

by Leein3D on Feb 10, 2009 4:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I looked it up. Here's what Dickie had to say:

I love Flintstones vitamins. They’re chewy, and they taste like candy, but they’re good for you.

Sometimes, Mommy lets me eat them for breakfast and dessert! That’s so awesome! Hmm… dessert…

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

by tehGrindCrusher on Feb 10, 2009 4:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I sense a theme

We’re going to start paraphrasing him now, aren’t we?

by Leein3D on Feb 10, 2009 4:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm pretty sure it's past "start"

Let's get the Texans a better fight song.

by Jake on Feb 10, 2009 6:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Good news is good news

Now if they’d wisen up and release Petey Faggins and Weaver things will be even more on the up and up.

The true test in the life of a Texans fan is how gracefully you endure it.

by TexanKurt on Feb 10, 2009 4:11 PM CST reply actions 2 recs

From Your Keyboard

To Smithiak’s ears. Or eyes, as it were.

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

by Tim on Feb 10, 2009 4:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Faggins is a free agent

So they just have to do nothing, and all is fine.

I think they’re waiting to see how things play out with the draft before they make a decision on Weaver.

That said – I think you guys are being harsh on him – I mean, he has TWO INTERCEPTIONS as a Texan!

Chris - www.HoustonDiehards.com

by HoustonDiehards on Feb 10, 2009 4:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He could transform

Into a better player. He’s decent against the run, and maybe without a read and react scheme, he’ll be more disruptive.

by Leein3D on Feb 10, 2009 4:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

No. He sucks. He’s going to be 30 in June. I’m pretty sure we’ve seen the best years of DeMarcus. Which is depressing.

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Feb 11, 2009 10:35 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Faggins or Weaver?

Faggins should’ve been cut YEARS ago. I was referring to Weaver.

by Leein3D on Feb 11, 2009 10:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Horray!

I felt that with the news of Tejada likely to plead guilty that today would be a dismal day in Houston sports, this new changes everything! Well done smithiak.

by schillingb on Feb 10, 2009 6:45 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Do we still have to pay Miggy?

It would be the absolute best-case scenario for the Astros if Miggy went away and his contract was voided. But that might not be how baseball actually works..

by Nashmeister on Feb 10, 2009 10:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He's only getting probation...

he coped a plea deal.

- tyler

by bullpen116 on Feb 11, 2009 1:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes he's agreed to accept a misdemeanor conviction and will serve no jail time BUT

because he is not a US citizen, his work visa must be renewed annually by the Dept of Immigration and Naturalization. Any criminal offense can be used as grounds for non-renewal. This is not to say that this will happen, but it is a legal possibility. Should that happen, then the Astros can void his contract and save $13 million. It is unfortunate that this did not transpire in November. Randy Wolf recently signed a 1 year deal with the Dodgers for $5 mil, and Wiggington signed with Baltimore for 2 years at $3 million per year. The Astros had made an offer to Wolf, but then withdrew it citing the poor economy as the main reason. Had they known about the Tejada situation then, they could have retained both players.

by oiler-texan diehard on Feb 11, 2009 2:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Won't happen

If he committed a crime of moral turpitude and was sentenced to a year or more of prison, there might be a case, but neither of those two conditions has been met. He’d get a waiver anyway.

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

by tehGrindCrusher on Feb 12, 2009 8:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This is definitely jiggydope news.

I like that. Jiggydope.

Chris - www.HoustonDiehards.com

by HoustonDiehards on Feb 10, 2009 7:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Hallelujah, now we know that Smithiak knows how to cut the cord.

They were both due to make ~$4.8 million each in base this year, and we all know what a ridiculous waste that would be. We eat $3.5 million in bonuses, and it is a good move. Adibi is so much better than Morlon, and Green was just an injury waiting to happen.

TJ’s base is only $1 mil vs $1.2 mil bonus so he is probably safe for now. Weaver’s salary is $3.5 mil vs $2.7 mil bonus, so we take a hit 80% as big as cutting Green & Greenwood if we cut him. Certainly not a no brainer, as was the move made today.

by oiler-texan diehard on Feb 10, 2009 8:58 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

weaver

i agree…i think they will wait till after the draft just in case they for some reason dont take a DE…as for TJ…he might go now or after…

i dont know…i do know they texans have started off great so far…i also heard that they are preparing to give robinson a big contract!

by EveryHoustonTeamRox! on Feb 10, 2009 9:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Oops I hit the post button too soon

In response to TT’s question about the cap. Here is a link to salary info.

We save the salary, but have to pay all remaining bonus money on this years cap. If Green & Greenwood’s contracts were due to end with the 2009 season, then we would have saved roughly a shade over $6 million on the cap. Green signed a 4 year contract worth $23 million in March, 2007. John Clayton reported that $6-7 million was guaranteed. If his bonus was $2 mil a year for 3 years then that would be $6 million, so maybe his TOTAL outstanding bonus money is the $2,037,500 reported on In The Bullseye. Greenwood signed a 5 year $22.5 mil contract in ’05 so this is his last year.

I am guessing that we save ~$6 milion in cap space, but that may be only ~$4 million if I have misinterpreted Green’s contract. I thought that most contracts split the signing bonus equally over the term of the contract, and if that is the case the savings is only ~$4 mil. At any rate it is a step in the right direction.

by oiler-texan diehard on Feb 10, 2009 9:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

If those wind up being the two biggest caps hit...

we can retroactively make them “June 1” cuts and spread them over two years if we want.

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Feb 11, 2009 10:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

In the last capped year

i think a team is unable to spread it out. It all counts against the 2009 cap. This would not be the first, nor the last, time I am wrong. Carry on.

by ~Buck on Feb 11, 2009 11:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ah

Totally forgot about the clusterfug that 2010 is shaping up to be. Then again, if that’s the case, cap hits won’t matter because we’ll have more money than Jesus next year. Thanks, Papa Bob!

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Feb 12, 2009 3:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

A little more

John McClain is reporting we will save 8.5 million dollars in cap space between the two cuts.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6257344.html

As of January 20, we had 23.5 million worth of room, so this should bring us to 32 million dollars to deal with. The Texans with salary cap space… I don’t understand.

Let's get the Texans a better fight song.

by Jake on Feb 11, 2009 12:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Clearly I do not have a full understanding of the cap

It would have been nice for pancakes to explain where the $8.5 million comes from. If the “In the Bullseye” figures are correct, the combined salaries are $9.558 million. Greenwood’s bonus is $1.5 million. Green’s bonus is $2.0375 million for 2009, not sure if he has any more due for 2010. If we spread the bonus payments over 2 years (and assume no 2010 bonus money for Green) as MDC has suggested, that would be $1.76875 million per year. That subtracted from the salaries would be a savings of $7.78925 million. Obviously there is a discrepancy somewhere.

I have to give pancakes only partial credit for his answer of $8.5 million. Failure to show your work when solving a word problem is a no-no. Maybe he doesn’t remember math class.

by oiler-texan diehard on Feb 11, 2009 2:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Understandable

I think the issue is that he was due to make more in 2010, so that’s what screwed up your numbers. I would have imagined they structured his contract that way as an incentive to actually stick around that long. And by stick around, I mean not be injured every two seconds.

Let's get the Texans a better fight song.

by Jake on Feb 11, 2009 2:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If he were due more bonus in 2010, that would drive my figure even lower

and I am already about $700,000 below pancakes’ number. Maybe someone else can explain the cap and/or math.

by oiler-texan diehard on Feb 11, 2009 8:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It may be to do with Green renegotiating his contract last year?

I remember that Green redid his contract and got a play bonus.

http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2008/08/28/ahman-green-restuctures-his-contract-continues-his-nfl-career/

by shgall on Feb 13, 2009 10:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Good find

That helps explain why the cap savings are higher. Alan Burge at the examiner reported that the savings are $8.8 million, and that the Texans are approximately $32 million under the cap. Taking into account that 2010 MAY be uncapped, I am now wondering if Smithiak are contemplating making a serious run at a top shelf defensive free agent. Would the Texans consider making a serious run at Nnamdi Asomugha if the Raiders do not tag him? I think he will get franchised, but Al Davis is, to say the least, unpredictable. Is it inconceivable that te Texans will invest heavily in Dunta AND try to sign Asomugha? That’s a ton of money, but if doing OD’s and DeMeco’s deals can be done next year then I don’t see what’s wrong with going “all in” for 2009. If we can upgrade the pass rush with the draft AND improve the secondary, then we are talking well above average defense.

by oiler-texan diehard on Feb 14, 2009 6:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

since its not my money

that sounds awesome.

Give scrabble a marginal salary for ‘09 and a huge base in 2010 when it doesn’t matter against the cap.

I’m fired up now.

Please draft some defensive stars for the next DC.

by texanphil on Feb 16, 2009 9:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Asomugha

gets the tag. No doubt.

by Riott on Feb 16, 2009 10:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Next up - Weaver, Demps, Chris Brown, Stevenson

Did anyone even realize Chris Brown was still on the freaking payroll?

I concur Weaver gets to hold on by a thread till draft day.. I’ll even project he sticks around until camps, when they see if their rookie/FA DE’s pan out. If they do, he’s gone.

But definitely Demps, Chris Brown, Dan Stevenson.

The other thing that makes me worry is Chester Pitts – he is due 6.19 mil in 2009. That’s a lot for a guard. I’d keep my eye on that situation as well.

by Riott on Feb 11, 2009 8:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Pitts may not be Pro Bowl material, but he has been a rock since day one

Dude does not miss any games, hardly any snaps. He has decreased his penalties. He is a much better player today than in 2002. He seems like a team first guy and may be agreeable to restructure to help the team and cap, but it would get touchy if he isn’t and the Texans try to force him. Baseball guys (Berkman, Bagwell and Oswalt) frequently offer to defer money, but that is easier for them because all the cash is GUARANTEED. Football is a different game and careers are shorter. Texans have nothing to lose by diplomatically opening the discussion. I don’t think we want to lose Pitts just yet.

Demps, Chris Brown and whistle blower are gone.

by oiler-texan diehard on Feb 11, 2009 9:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I wasn't condemning Pitts

by any means, and I agree with you about the short careers. With 30 mil of cap room, I don’t see them necesarily having to restructure Pitts’ deal, I was just pointing it out.

by Riott on Feb 11, 2009 10:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Greenwood as Underrated

You’re not the only one who’s not buying what I’m selling, Buck. Lance Zierlein has repeatedly proclaimed that Greenwood as “just a guy,” and that dude is far more knowledgeable about football than I am. While I still think Morlon was incredible during the 2007 season, I’m willing to listen to opposing argument.

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

by Tim on Feb 12, 2009 7:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

See?

I couldn’t even reply right.

by ~Buck on Feb 12, 2009 9:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Honestly...

could Morlon have shit on us (meaning you and me) any worse with his play in 2008?

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Feb 12, 2009 10:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hard to Imagine That He Could Have

The silver lining, however, is that both of us were high on Adibi when he was drafted. If you look at it that way, we’re not nearly as stupid as we looked concerning LB play.

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

by Tim on Feb 12, 2009 2:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Are you talking Cleveland or Boston?

‘Cuz there’s a difference, you know.

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

by tehGrindCrusher on Feb 12, 2009 3:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking

Glass Bottom Boat, but that might be too tidy.

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Feb 12, 2009 3:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think you get the full experience with one of those

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

by tehGrindCrusher on Feb 13, 2009 7:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Before I debate anyone

I probably need to get a handle on the basics of comment posting. Plus, I didn’t really want to re-hash the arguments, I just wanted to poke a little fun.

by ~Buck on Feb 12, 2009 9:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs