Call Dunta Robinson's Bluff, Texans Brass
by Tim on Apr 28, 2009 7:16 PM CDT
in News
46 comments
We interrupt our post-draft analysis for a word from BRB to unhappily franchised Dunta Robinson. Actually, I guess it's not a word. It's two words that Rick Smith has little choice but to utter in response to Dunta advising the Texans that he won't report unless the team agrees not to franchise him next year. The words Smith must use, you ask? Simple:
Get bent.
Now, don't get me wrong. I don't blame Dunta at all for trying to employ this tactic. It's worked for other players, albeit in slightly tweaked fashion (e.g., Albert Haynesworth convincing the Titans to incorporate relatively easily attainable incentive clauses into his last contract that would allow him to waltz into unrestricted free agency without getting tagged). Dunta's problem here is that he has little to no leverage. To reiterate a point that was discussed quite a bit back in February, why would Smith and/or the Texans handicap themselves? The franchise tag is a powerful weapon for management. Why give it up at all, much less when the other side isn't giving you anything?
It'd be one thing if Dunta said, "Look, I'll play for only $1,000,000.00 in 2009 instead of the nearly $10,000,000.00 I'm entitled to under the franchise tag IF you're willing to promise me that you won't tag me next season." That'd qualify as consideration, or some basis for the Texans to agree not to tag him in 2010. Of course, Dunta would never agree to leave nearly $9,000,000.00 on the table, especially not even a year and a half removed from a horrific, potentially career-ending injury. Indeed, this entire contractual dust-up has been about money (as 99.7% of contractual dust-ups are). Dunta wants more money; the Texans aren't willing to give it to him past a certain point (rumored to be $23,000,000.00 guaranteed, an amount I'm positive no other team would give him right now). It's absurd to think that Dunta would willingly give any money away.
Secure in the truth of that statement, what on Earth would make Dunta and/or his representatives think the Texans won't stick to their guns if a long-term deal isn't reached? Principled as he might be, there's no way that Dunta Robinson will sit out a single week of the regular season. If he sits out, he doesn't get paid the hundreds of thousands of dollars he'd have coming to him each week under the terms of the franchise tag. For all the talk from Dunta about how football is a business, does anyone believe that "Dunta The Businessman" is going to make a stand that would cost him millions?
I know I don't. And I can't imagine anyone else is buying it either. So, Dunta--show up, play hard, and collect your checks. It's really all you can do. Anything else would be bad business.
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LOL
We really should just syndicate our blogs on each others’ sites. Hahaha
Chris - www.HoustonDiehards.com
by HoustonDiehards on Apr 28, 2009 7:35 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Wow
That is eerie. Great job as always, Chris.
Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...
by Tim on Apr 28, 2009 8:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well said
I also believe when the dust settles Dunta will play not only a full season but the entire preseason. I just have a feeling.
However, I find it very disappointing how quickly many of the fans have turned on Dunta because of this incident. This is an employer/employee conflict and nothing more. Unfortunately, we the fans are going to suffer if he misses any time but it doesn’t make sense to judge a situation such as this with very little knowledge of the situation. Dunta has done nothing but play his heart out for this team and I think we owe him a little more credit than he’s been receiving.
www.torotimes.com
by tubbsmoya on Apr 28, 2009 7:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
A little more credit...
Perhaps… but not damn red cent more than the contract the FO offered him, which was WAY more “credit” than he deserves to begin with.
Just because you play hard doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be a cap to how much someone is willing to overpay you.
If i were Rick Smith i’d drop the offer to $18 Million, just out of spite (you know, what he’s worth).
by WhiskeyR on Apr 28, 2009 8:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fans Turning On Dunta
Any backlash he’s felt, I think, is purely the result of him allegedly turning down $23 mil guaranteed. The fan base, almost to a man, loves Dunta and doesn’t want him to leave. But when you read that he’s turning down top-five CB money, less than two years off a terrible injury, it’s only natural to wonder how much Dunta really wants to be in Houston.
What’s more, I don’t think the fans owe him anything except sincere appreciation for the time he’s put in here. He’s played his ass off for the Texans, and we’ve cheered our collective ass off for him. That shouldn’t translate into the fan base embracing what, if true, should be viewed as pretty unrealistic contract demands by Dunta.
Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...
by Tim on Apr 28, 2009 8:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How could you be disappointed?
most houston texan fans are old oiler fans…i’ve been watching football as an oilers fan (now a texans fan) for 30 years. and the football teams just never seem to get it done. granted the regime changes, and the crappy way the first regime set up this team should be taken into consideration, but most people think for as much money as these guys make, they should get some fucking results…i however have learned some patience…i won’t judge this years draft till next year, and so forth. but society has been sucked into the instant gratification movement, and when athletes make more in a game than most peoples entire years salary, i can’t blame them. i agree with the postings here…dunta should go out this year play his ass off, and then come back and show them why his contract needs to be renegotiated. not the other way around.
by turnip73 on Apr 29, 2009 9:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Could only hope
I just wish players like that read these blogs. . . and actually cared.
by sammocyr on Apr 30, 2009 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dunta...
is a player that I’m glad I have on my team. He was also on the wrong end of the most disappointing play( aside from VYGINA’s scamper in OT) in Texans history, on the comeback lead by Sage against the oilers in 2007, I think.
He has yet to make the probowl and this team is getting better with or without him. If I were Rick Smith I would say " Dunta, we love ya, but you got to prove your worth greater than your number times a million"
GO TEXANS!!!!
www.houstonsportsrule.blogspot.com
by Texanmaniac on Apr 28, 2009 8:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
From the day that Dunta arrived on the scene as a #1 draft pick he has been a leader
with his performance on game days. Is he a shut down CB; one of the best in the league? No. What he is though is a guy who fans can easily get behind, and from which his teammates can draw inspiration. He throws his not too large frame around with reckless abandon, and to me that is what football is all about. To paraphrase Rudy T, he has “the heart of a champion which cannot be underestimated”. He leads by example. Even though he was only at 80% last year, he elevated our defense just by stepping on the field. That is how big of a difference he makes. I (used to) LOVE Dunta Robinson.
I know that football is a business, and that careers are short, but if the rumored $23 mil guaranteed is anywhere close to accurate, then I am very disappointed with Dunta, because IMO that is a bigger offer than he would have received from any other team on the open market. When he refused, we F tagged him, which essentially insured that he would be a Texan for the ‘09 season at a MORE than fair $9.96 mil. For him to walk away from OTA’s, make unreasonable demands, and threaten to sit games out is not the Dunta that the Texans fans have grown to love. The emotion in the stadium when he made his return last season was off the chain. When I look at that clip it still gives me goose bumps.
I really hope that Dunta come to his senses and plays his ass off this season. Rick Smith cannot afford to cave into his demands. It would set a bad precedent, because Dunta is the first of several Texans that are due a huge payday. DeMeco did the right thing. He hired an new agent and returned to the team. Dunta please do the same.
by oiler-texan diehard on Apr 28, 2009 8:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Agree...
with all of this
GO TEXANS!!!!
www.houstonsportsrule.blogspot.com
by Texanmaniac on Apr 30, 2009 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
totally agree
The main thing these players need to also realize is that not only do they hurt the team by sitting out and causing drama, each team has a salary cap to worry about. You never see the team with an unreasonable contract hanging around hit the superbowl cause it takes 22+ quality players to make a great team. What he may lose in accepting $23 Mil guaranteed (cough) he could pick up in playoff, pro-bowl, etc bonuses that these teams and players make.
by sammocyr on Apr 30, 2009 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks guys
I still hold out a sliver of hope that Dunta wakes up one morning and realizes that he is not helping his chances for a huge payday down the road by pouting like a spoiled brat.
by oiler-texan diehard on Apr 30, 2009 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, the internet makes lots of money.
Give Dunta some of that money.
Something to the tune of 26 million theoretical dollars guaranteed. And some Bennigan’s coupons.
by Nashmeister on Apr 28, 2009 9:05 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs
Did he not go to the press first crying about RS "lying" to him
…& then did he not turn down a fair & generous (close to stupidly generous) offer that would have kept him and his family well-fed & where he “wanted” despite the team possessing the leverage of 2 franchise tags, a draft?
Consider me one of those folks who’s disappointed in his actions…Basically, he’s acting ridiculous…and as much as I like his play…he is overplaying his hand, distracting the team in the process, taking it to the media & fans (who cannot relate with his nobel plight) and seems unable to recognize or appreciate the team’s interests…
There are other ways he can go about a professional negotiation and recognizing this is a business…look at OD, DeMeco, Slaton etc. …they behave as though they are not going to get screwed…the team doesn’t have a reputation of being cheap or screwing folks…but he must also recognize his legitimate value & risk and chill out while they work it out…their job of making it work out best for the Texans is a hell of a lot harder than his job of wanting more $.
And I hate to take issue with the simplification of its just an employment dispute idea, b/c although I choose to support the team (no one is holding a gun to my head)…over half of the revenues we provide go into these negotitations…ticket prices continue to climb…yet we remain at 8-8, look to turn a corner, and need $ balance…plus, he is comng off injury and isn’t as good as he thinks he is…and lastly, but also imprtant to me, in this economy and for real people with real $ issues, reading this crap is kind of offensive.
Perhaps I’m old fashioned, but I want & expect millionaire players to be graceful about their fortunes…they may of course, quietly disagreeing with management…do what they have to do to “play through the pain” of earning $20 million in two years of “work” under the dreaded franchise tag and then “be free” on the market. The business doesn’t bother me at all; it the lack of grace that I have a problem with. He should be ashamed of his lack of grace.
by Smittybaby on Apr 28, 2009 9:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Agree
It is really his attitude that is the thing. Had he said nothing to the media, he would still be the fan favorite that he was up until a few months ago. OD and DeMeco are handling things the right way. They know that they will get paid. They will give the Texans every chance to do so, and we all hope that they do. But by leaving all of the business behind closed doors, they retain their cred with not only the fans but all other prospective employers. This does nothing but enhance their potential future earnings. It’s not too late for Dunta to mend fences, but his draft day “demands” unfortunately make that look less likely.
by oiler-texan diehard on Apr 28, 2009 9:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Couldn't agree more
This guy is in no position to demand anything. The fact that he thinks he is makes me question his intelligence. I have always like Dunta but this offseason has made me realize that he is more into himself than the team all of a sudden and that is a shame. I know the injury was horrible but we are giving him top money to prove himself, he needs to do just that and all of this will be resolved. If I were the Texans I wouldn’t promise the man anything, in fact if they feel like franchising him next year then that is exactly what they should do. Their is no “I” in team… Dunta seems to have forgotten that one.
by wasteph on Apr 28, 2009 9:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
trying for new angles
—I was going to write yesterday that maybe he was acting this way out of fear he would never be the same and trying to “get his”. Then I realized he would have then taking @# freaking million dollars.
—I don’t doubt the General at all on that. As much as we like to give him crap, as much as he gets surly and arrogant on the blog and chats, his reporting is solid, incredibly respected across the league, and he would never jeopardize that.
—I actually believe Dunta was a shut down corner, top 5. The non Pro-Bowl thing was more a slight to the Texans than him. How many times have we bitched about that? Only in the last two years of injured Dunta has that changed (w/ Mario, Meco,etc). But after the injury, Dunta c’mon! Is he getting bad advice like Meco did before the agent change?
—I’m sure it doesn’t have a baring, but let’s all remember the story where Dunta was tied up at gun point and told “I’m not gonna kill you because you’re such a good player.” Puts things in perspective. . . .
. . .but doesn’t excuse irrationality . . .
by JMay on Apr 29, 2009 12:39 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
correction
meant to say in point one “he would have then not rejected taking @# million dollars.”
by JMay on Apr 29, 2009 12:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Is it about the uncapped season?
Might Dunta’s reasoning be something like this:
He thinks he is fully recovered, and will have a pro-bowl caliber season next year
2010 will be an uncapped year
Some teams outside of the top 8 will be ones with deep pockets (Redskins?) that could afford to throw serious money at him that they might not be willing to in the absence of a cap.
So, some team will be able to (because of the uncapped year) put out serious money for him and will want to after next year (because he thinks he is fully recovered) as long as he doesn’t get franchised again. I dunno, that sounds fairly reasonable to me.
by killtacular on Apr 29, 2009 1:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
“they might not be willing to in the absence of a cap.”
by which I mean “they might not be willing to in the presence of a cap.”
by killtacular on Apr 29, 2009 1:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
just curious, is a trade possible with a franchised player?
by Smittybaby on Apr 29, 2009 7:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes, It's Possible
The Panthers were (and probably still are) trying to move Julius Peppers; he was also franchised. The problem, of course, is (1) figuring out compensation for the team losing a franchise player and (2) the new team getting said player signed to a suitable deal.
Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...
by Tim on Apr 29, 2009 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Matt Cassel
is the best example from this year
by Shake on Apr 29, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What happens to Dunta's compensation if he's inactive?
Let’s say Dunta doesn’t appear until the first week of the regular season. If he’s not ready to play, Gary Kubiak can choose to make him inactive for that week and probably more. Does Dunta get paid his prorated portion of his $9M salary if he’s inactive?
The true test in the life of a Texans fan is how gracefully you endure it.
by TexanKurt on Apr 29, 2009 10:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
that's where Dunta's leverage comes in
the moment he signs his tender, he’s guaranteed the money upon reporting to training camp or the field.
He can show up the day before Game 1 sign the tender, and Kubiak can play him or not, Dunta will get his full 9 million, regardless of whether he’s activated, injured or what have you
by math_geek on Apr 29, 2009 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
whatever happens (short of us giving him a long term deal)
when Dunta is on the field this year, he will play his ass off for us… he’s in a contract year again.
He won’t get $23 mil guaranteed, or even $9.9 mil for 2010 if he doesn’t play like he’s capable. We’d just let him go.
Smushiak will take us to the playoffs in 2009.
by texanphil on Apr 29, 2009 11:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Daunta
I REALLY DONT UNDERSTAND WHY DAUNTA IS MAKING A BIG DEAL ABOUT HIS CONTRACT, HE IS GOING TO MAKE ALMOST 10 MIL, HE IS NOT A SHUT DOWN CORNER, AND IF YOU LOOK AT HIS PLAY AFTER HE CAME BACK HE HAS LOST A STEP AND HE WAS GETTING BEAT BY OTHER RECIEVERS TIME AFTER TIME, HE LOOKS LIKE HE IS SCARED OF HURTING HE LEG AGAIN AND I THINK THAT HAS CHANGED THE PLAYER HE USED TO BE. I DONT THINK THERE IS ANOTHER TEAM THAT WOULD PAY HIM THE MONEY HE WANTS,THE TEXANS NEED TO LOCK UP DEMECO RYANS AND OWEN DANIELS WHO ARE PROVEN PLAYERS, IF DAUNTA WANTS THAT BIG CONTRACT HE NEEDS TO PROVE IT THIS YEAR, THE TEXANS CAN AND WILL WIN WITHOUT DAUNTA, WHEN HE CAME BACK LAST YEAR THEY WON BECAUSE THEY PLAYED ALOT OF BAD TEAMS NOT BECAUSE OF HIM. HE NEEDS TO SHUT UP AND LET HIS PLAY DO THE TALKING
by texans77 on Apr 29, 2009 4:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Next time you comment
please remember to take Caps Lock off. Thanks. Also, I’m no english major, but I’m fairly certain that commas are not designed to denote the end of a thought or sentence.
As to the actual point of your comment, Dunta is mad because he was lied to, not because he’s only making $10 Million this year.
If no other team was going to pay him $23 Million, then why did we franchise him? If no other team was going to pay him that amount, we could have let him go visit other teams secure in the knowledge that he would follow the money back to us.
That said, he metaphorically slapped us in the face by refusing to take $23 Million guaranteed contract he was offered. If he was really interested in staying in Houston, a $23 Million guaranteed contract is more than enough. This is the reason most Texans fans want him to stfu and get back on the field.
by Tailgate Andy on Apr 29, 2009 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
With all due respect I think we franchised him because we wanted compensation over
what they would have been awarded had they not tagged him. The F tag almost assured that he would not be able to leave because of the outrageous 2 #1 picks as compensation. If a team was still interested, however, I’m fairly certain the Texans would have let Dunta walk. Without taging him, there was no guarantee that we would have received any compensation.
From a kffl blog:
“As the NFL explains, compensatory picks are awarded to teams that lose more or better compensatory free agents than they acquire. The number of picks a team can receive equals the net loss of compensatory free agents, up to a maximum of four. Compensatory free agents are determined by a secret formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors. Not every free agent lost or signed is covered by the formula.”
by oiler-texan diehard on Apr 29, 2009 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Leverage
The franchise tag is great for leverage, but leverage doesn’t mean anything if you don’t do anything with it.
I think an incentive-based agreement to not tag him is appropriate. Appear in 16 games; allow fewer than X amount of yards per reception, make 40 tackles, etc.
I don’t thin an interception benchmark is a good idea because it would just encourage him to chase interceptions without regard for the consequences. Gotta run to class, will read the other comments when I get back.
by socctty on Apr 29, 2009 7:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Why Such Easily Attainable Incentives?
Assuming you want to give him that sort of deal (which I wouldn’t), why wouldn’t you make the incentives as hard to attain as possible? Something along the lines of “be named All-Pro, etc.”?
Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...
by Tim on Apr 30, 2009 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The reason for relatively easy goals
Because the point is to sign him at fair market value, not to franchise him again.
Right now, Dunta and his agent see his career with the Texans, a pretty darn good one up until the injury, and they feel like they have a certain value. The Texans see that same pretty good career, but they also see a late-20s guy who tore all sorts of shit up in his legs, and they really can’t see what his true value is.
I would imagine that if Dunta had played a full healthy year at the level we’d grown accustomed to in 2006 and 2007, we’d be more than happy to pay his market value. Remember, the reason he was franchised was because we couldn’t accurately assess what his value is, and we wanted to kick the tires on this thing a little bit and get some more information on him before signing him.
A full season of Dunta playing will give us the opportunity to see what he’s worth. If he plays well, we’ll be more than happy to pay him $26 million guaranteed or so and have him retire as a Texan. If he gets injured again, we’re back to where we are now: we can pass on signing him, or franchise him, or try to lowball him. And if he’s ruined for good, then we can say “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Again, the goal isn’t to franchise him for another year. Frankly, that would be a pretty ridiculous price. The cost of franchising him for a second year would be close to what signing him for whatever he’s asking for right now is, as far as guaranteed money goes (this year is $9.xxx mil; next year would be the avg of the top 5 salaries in the league regardless of position, which would be over $14 mil.). The goal is to see what he’s truly worth, and sign him for that (if we’re comfortable with that). That’s why you make the goals easily attainable, such as games played. It’s easily achievable, and it’s also what you really want: a full, healthy season to accurately gauge where his health and performance is.
The problem is that the player and his agent are trying to leverage the lack of information against the team. Unfortunately, the team holds all the chips right now.
Another thing we’re forgetting about here: if we just franchise Dunta again, not only will we end up having paid him $23 million + for just two years of service, we’ll also forfeit the right to franchise someone else – named, DeMeco Ryans or Owen Daniels. DeMeco is worth more to us, I think. And it’s probably a push between OD and Dunta.
by socctty on May 1, 2009 8:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The reason for relatively easy goals
Because the point is to sign him at fair market value, not to franchise him again.
Right now, Dunta and his agent see his career with the Texans, a pretty darn good one up until the injury, and they feel like they have a certain value. The Texans see that same pretty good career, but they also see a late-20s guy who tore all sorts of shit up in his legs, and they really can’t see what his true value is.
I would imagine that if Dunta had played a full healthy year at the level we’d grown accustomed to in 2006 and 2007, we’d be more than happy to pay his market value. Remember, the reason he was franchised was because we couldn’t accurately assess what his value is, and we wanted to kick the tires on this thing a little bit and get some more information on him before signing him.
A full season of Dunta playing will give us the opportunity to see what he’s worth. If he plays well, we’ll be more than happy to pay him $26 million guaranteed or so and have him retire as a Texan. If he gets injured again, we’re back to where we are now: we can pass on signing him, or franchise him, or try to lowball him. And if he’s ruined for good, then we can say “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Again, the goal isn’t to franchise him for another year. Frankly, that would be a pretty ridiculous price. The cost of franchising him for a second year would be close to what signing him for whatever he’s asking for right now is, as far as guaranteed money goes (this year is $9.xxx mil; next year would be the avg of the top 5 salaries in the league regardless of position, which would be over $14 mil.). The goal is to see what he’s truly worth, and sign him for that (if we’re comfortable with that). That’s why you make the goals easily attainable, such as games played. It’s easily achievable, and it’s also what you really want: a full, healthy season to accurately gauge where his health and performance is.
The problem is that the player and his agent are trying to leverage the lack of information against the team. Unfortunately, the team holds all the chips right now.
Another thing we’re forgetting about here: if we just franchise Dunta again, not only will we end up having paid him $23 million + for just two years of service, we’ll also forfeit the right to franchise someone else – named, DeMeco Ryans or Owen Daniels. DeMeco is worth more to us, I think. And it’s probably a push between OD and Dunta.
by socctty on May 1, 2009 8:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The reason for relatively easy goals
Because the point is to sign him at fair market value, not to franchise him again.
Right now, Dunta and his agent see his career with the Texans, a pretty darn good one up until the injury, and they feel like they have a certain value. The Texans see that same pretty good career, but they also see a late-20s guy who tore all sorts of shit up in his legs, and they really can’t see what his true value is.
I would imagine that if Dunta had played a full healthy year at the level we’d grown accustomed to in 2006 and 2007, we’d be more than happy to pay his market value. Remember, the reason he was franchised was because we couldn’t accurately assess what his value is, and we wanted to kick the tires on this thing a little bit and get some more information on him before signing him.
A full season of Dunta playing will give us the opportunity to see what he’s worth. If he plays well, we’ll be more than happy to pay him $26 million guaranteed or so and have him retire as a Texan. If he gets injured again, we’re back to where we are now: we can pass on signing him, or franchise him, or try to lowball him. And if he’s ruined for good, then we can say “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Again, the goal isn’t to franchise him for another year. Frankly, that would be a pretty ridiculous price. The cost of franchising him for a second year would be close to what signing him for whatever he’s asking for right now is, as far as guaranteed money goes (this year is $9.xxx mil; next year would be the avg of the top 5 salaries in the league regardless of position, which would be over $14 mil.). The goal is to see what he’s truly worth, and sign him for that (if we’re comfortable with that). That’s why you make the goals easily attainable, such as games played. It’s easily achievable, and it’s also what you really want: a full, healthy season to accurately gauge where his health and performance is.
The problem is that the player and his agent are trying to leverage the lack of information against the team. Unfortunately, the team holds all the chips right now.
Another thing we’re forgetting about here: if we just franchise Dunta again, not only will we end up having paid him $23 million + for just two years of service, we’ll also forfeit the right to franchise someone else – named, DeMeco Ryans or Owen Daniels. DeMeco is worth more to us, I think. And it’s probably a push between OD and Dunta.
by socctty on May 1, 2009 8:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The reason for relatively easy goals
Because the point is to sign him at fair market value, not to franchise him again.
Right now, Dunta and his agent see his career with the Texans, a pretty darn good one up until the injury, and they feel like they have a certain value. The Texans see that same pretty good career, but they also see a late-20s guy who tore all sorts of shit up in his legs, and they really can’t see what his true value is.
I would imagine that if Dunta had played a full healthy year at the level we’d grown accustomed to in 2006 and 2007, we’d be more than happy to pay his market value. Remember, the reason he was franchised was because we couldn’t accurately assess what his value is, and we wanted to kick the tires on this thing a little bit and get some more information on him before signing him.
A full season of Dunta playing will give us the opportunity to see what he’s worth. If he plays well, we’ll be more than happy to pay him $26 million guaranteed or so and have him retire as a Texan. If he gets injured again, we’re back to where we are now: we can pass on signing him, or franchise him, or try to lowball him. And if he’s ruined for good, then we can say “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Again, the goal isn’t to franchise him for another year. Frankly, that would be a pretty ridiculous price. The cost of franchising him for a second year would be close to what signing him for whatever he’s asking for right now is, as far as guaranteed money goes (this year is $9.xxx mil; next year would be the avg of the top 5 salaries in the league regardless of position, which would be over $14 mil.). The goal is to see what he’s truly worth, and sign him for that (if we’re comfortable with that). That’s why you make the goals easily attainable, such as games played. It’s easily achievable, and it’s also what you really want: a full, healthy season to accurately gauge where his health and performance is.
The problem is that the player and his agent are trying to leverage the lack of information against the team. Unfortunately, the team holds all the chips right now.
Another thing we’re forgetting about here: if we just franchise Dunta again, not only will we end up having paid him $23 million + for just two years of service, we’ll also forfeit the right to franchise someone else – named, DeMeco Ryans or Owen Daniels. DeMeco is worth more to us, I think. And it’s probably a push between OD and Dunta.
by socctty on May 1, 2009 8:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The reason for relatively easy goals
Because the point is to sign him at fair market value, not to franchise him again.
Right now, Dunta and his agent see his career with the Texans, a pretty darn good one up until the injury, and they feel like they have a certain value. The Texans see that same pretty good career, but they also see a late-20s guy who tore all sorts of shit up in his legs, and they really can’t see what his true value is.
I would imagine that if Dunta had played a full healthy year at the level we’d grown accustomed to in 2006 and 2007, we’d be more than happy to pay his market value. Remember, the reason he was franchised was because we couldn’t accurately assess what his value is, and we wanted to kick the tires on this thing a little bit and get some more information on him before signing him.
A full season of Dunta playing will give us the opportunity to see what he’s worth. If he plays well, we’ll be more than happy to pay him $26 million guaranteed or so and have him retire as a Texan. If he gets injured again, we’re back to where we are now: we can pass on signing him, or franchise him, or try to lowball him. And if he’s ruined for good, then we can say “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Again, the goal isn’t to franchise him for another year. Frankly, that would be a pretty ridiculous price. The cost of franchising him for a second year would be close to what signing him for whatever he’s asking for right now is, as far as guaranteed money goes (this year is $9.xxx mil; next year would be the avg of the top 5 salaries in the league regardless of position, which would be over $14 mil.). The goal is to see what he’s truly worth, and sign him for that (if we’re comfortable with that). That’s why you make the goals easily attainable, such as games played. It’s easily achievable, and it’s also what you really want: a full, healthy season to accurately gauge where his health and performance is.
The problem is that the player and his agent are trying to leverage the lack of information against the team. Unfortunately, the team holds all the chips right now.
Another thing we’re forgetting about here: if we just franchise Dunta again, not only will we end up having paid him $23 million + for just two years of service, we’ll also forfeit the right to franchise someone else – named, DeMeco Ryans or Owen Daniels. DeMeco is worth more to us, I think. And it’s probably a push between OD and Dunta.
by socctty on May 1, 2009 8:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The reason for relatively easy goals
Because the point is to sign him at fair market value, not to franchise him again.
Right now, Dunta and his agent see his career with the Texans, a pretty darn good one up until the injury, and they feel like they have a certain value. The Texans see that same pretty good career, but they also see a late-20s guy who tore all sorts of shit up in his legs, and they really can’t see what his true value is.
I would imagine that if Dunta had played a full healthy year at the level we’d grown accustomed to in 2006 and 2007, we’d be more than happy to pay his market value. Remember, the reason he was franchised was because we couldn’t accurately assess what his value is, and we wanted to kick the tires on this thing a little bit and get some more information on him before signing him.
A full season of Dunta playing will give us the opportunity to see what he’s worth. If he plays well, we’ll be more than happy to pay him $26 million guaranteed or so and have him retire as a Texan. If he gets injured again, we’re back to where we are now: we can pass on signing him, or franchise him, or try to lowball him. And if he’s ruined for good, then we can say “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Again, the goal isn’t to franchise him for another year. Frankly, that would be a pretty ridiculous price. The cost of franchising him for a second year would be close to what signing him for whatever he’s asking for right now is, as far as guaranteed money goes (this year is $9.xxx mil; next year would be the avg of the top 5 salaries in the league regardless of position, which would be over $14 mil.). The goal is to see what he’s truly worth, and sign him for that (if we’re comfortable with that). That’s why you make the goals easily attainable, such as games played. It’s easily achievable, and it’s also what you really want: a full, healthy season to accurately gauge where his health and performance is.
The problem is that the player and his agent are trying to leverage the lack of information against the team. Unfortunately, the team holds all the chips right now.
Another thing we’re forgetting about here: if we just franchise Dunta again, not only will we end up having paid him $23 million + for just two years of service, we’ll also forfeit the right to franchise someone else – named, DeMeco Ryans or Owen Daniels. DeMeco is worth more to us, I think. And it’s probably a push between OD and Dunta.
by socctty on May 1, 2009 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The reason for relatively easy goals
Because the point is to sign him at fair market value, not to franchise him again.
Right now, Dunta and his agent see his career with the Texans, a pretty darn good one up until the injury, and they feel like they have a certain value. The Texans see that same pretty good career, but they also see a late-20s guy who tore all sorts of shit up in his legs, and they really can’t see what his true value is.
I would imagine that if Dunta had played a full healthy year at the level we’d grown accustomed to in 2006 and 2007, we’d be more than happy to pay his market value. Remember, the reason he was franchised was because we couldn’t accurately assess what his value is, and we wanted to kick the tires on this thing a little bit and get some more information on him before signing him.
A full season of Dunta playing will give us the opportunity to see what he’s worth. If he plays well, we’ll be more than happy to pay him $26 million guaranteed or so and have him retire as a Texan. If he gets injured again, we’re back to where we are now: we can pass on signing him, or franchise him, or try to lowball him. And if he’s ruined for good, then we can say “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Again, the goal isn’t to franchise him for another year. Frankly, that would be a pretty ridiculous price. The cost of franchising him for a second year would be close to what signing him for whatever he’s asking for right now is, as far as guaranteed money goes (this year is $9.xxx mil; next year would be the avg of the top 5 salaries in the league regardless of position, which would be over $14 mil.). The goal is to see what he’s truly worth, and sign him for that (if we’re comfortable with that). That’s why you make the goals easily attainable, such as games played. It’s easily achievable, and it’s also what you really want: a full, healthy season to accurately gauge where his health and performance is.
The problem is that the player and his agent are trying to leverage the lack of information against the team. Unfortunately, the team holds all the chips right now.
Another thing we’re forgetting about here: if we just franchise Dunta again, not only will we end up having paid him $23 million + for just two years of service, we’ll also forfeit the right to franchise someone else – named, DeMeco Ryans or Owen Daniels. DeMeco is worth more to us, I think. And it’s probably a push between OD and Dunta.
by socctty on May 1, 2009 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You've definitely made your point
When I'm on the mic, I'm like global warming, you can't ignore me.
by tehGrindCrusher on May 1, 2009 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
haha, sorry!
The site was telling me that it couldn’t process the post. And then the site went down for maintenance…
by socctty on May 1, 2009 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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