Smith and Kubes HAD to move on it—at the time. Landing a talented QB was just too important, the O had to get established; Kubes had to build his platform fast; something positive had to get moving. Schaub, for all intent and purpose was it.

Hindsight is always a better way to see things, but in the heat of negotiations coupled with the desperation we were under at the time, what happened to bring Schaub this way was the best deal that could be put together.

Other deals have been done with other teams under different circumstances and they just look better when compared without the circumstances being fully considered.

However, all that said, with Schaub we have a talent that passed for over 3k last season in only nine games. The math on that alone says he’s due for over 45 hundred this year. He took a couple of bad hits that would have taken out anybody (yeah, even Peyton wouldn’t have withstood those hits) and has come back.

The question about his health isn’t about how he can stay healthy, it’s how much abuse will his protection allow him to take. Brady would tell you the same, I think.

Yeah, the deal for Matt was as good a deal as it could be at the time.

but I wouldn’t trade him off for 2 second round picks today, even if (especially if?) we still had Rosenfels.

I like Schaub. I think he’ll be our QB for many years to come and I think he’ll silence all doubts this year.

Then again, I have a lot of confidence in Smithiak. So far I don’t think its misplaced.

A big reason the Patriots sent Cassell away (with Vrabel) for only a 2nd was to unload about $14million (and that was just Cassell’s salary—I don’t know how much Vrabel’s deal is for). They had franchised Cassell because at the time a decision had to be made they couldn’t be certain how soon and how healthy Brady could return. When they saw the extent and speed of Brady’s recovery, they knew they’d overreached to retain Cassell.

I’m convinced Pioli screwed up on that deal. And I mean in a really, really big way. Croyle and Thigpen, I truly believe, are both talented QBs. What they needed in order to better realize their potential was a better coaching staff and for the younger guys on the KC O-line (and in the WR corps) to gain a bit more experience.

To everyone for your nice comments about my first post, I appreciate it.

I think the additional point you missed was this – a player’s trade value is not just their talent and production – but their salary is a huge part of it. The Texans gave up 2 spots in the first round and (2) 2nd round picks. However, the first 2nd round pick was #11 or so in the 2nd round, and the 2nd of those picks was unknown, since it wasn’t for another year. The Cassel trade was for the 1st pick in the 2nd round – albeit significantly more valuable b/c it was higher in the round.

So the Chiefs gave up a 2nd round pick, and got their QB – but one that was guaranteed at least $14 MM that year. Schaub got a big contract, but it wasn’t as much as Cassel was due.

So, looking at the trade, you have to take all that into account. If Cassel was under contract for $1MM, his trade value would have been far higher, since the team acquiring him wouldn’t have to break the bank for him.

That’s another reason Dunta’s trade value isn’t as high as we would like – b/c anyone acquiring him would have to give him $50+ MM.

Strictly looking at it objectively, the only thing in question is two second round picks. So if we assume one second round pick would be a steal (or even for both teams) for our argument, then all we’re really asking is is Matt Schaub worth the “extra” second round pick?

In the 2007 and 2008 drafts between the 2nd round pick we traded and our next pick in the third round (the only realistic hypothetical players we could have had, because a. they were on the board, and b. if we realistically COULD have taken a guy who turned out to be a stud LATER in the draft, we WOULD have taken them with our third round pick) I don’t see anyone in either draft that I’d rather have than Matt. This is assuming everyone here agrees Matt was worth the one 2nd we woulda given up. Ray Rice? Tony Ugoh?

So with hindsight, its a good deal. Now if the second rounds of those drafts turn out a superstar that hasn’t blossomed yet, then with even further hindsight maybe I could be convinced otherwise.

But realistically the “is it a good deal” question can only be asked at the time of the offer. And in this case, with our situation at the time, we made a good deal.

yet another way to look at this issue starts with these questions:

1) How high a draftspot could you buy/trade up in the draft for 2nd rdrs and a 2 spot flip? I mean to say, as a package, what draft pick slot would that buy you?

2) Whatever draft spot that would buy, (say a early-mid 1st round pick), Would you have drafted Schuab with that # pick in that draft if he were available (given his potential, reduced risk, age, salary, talent, character, hairline and position)?

Seeing as how I really wanted to trade out of the first round this year (as I am prone to every year)…I would have considered a trade for this year’s 1st rnd draft spot for 2-2nd rdrs & a 2-spot flip….so while the talent was a little different between the drafts, I’d venture a guess that we essentially traded value for and drafted Schaub with lets say the 15th pick in the draft……..through that lense…especially considering the shitty leverage we had and the time and pressure this management was under to get the ball rolling, I’d say it was the right move. As we continue to add quality depth (and the versatility route is letting us get there even more quickly than I expected) we hopefully will get ourselves into a position (with so much leverage) that we can afford to walk away when the cost of a free agent gets too steep.

how much better off are we now than if we had Sage still starting and fans clammoring for Brady Quinn to come off the bench?! Ugggh! If Schaub plays a full season this year, it will have officially been a steal of a deal for the Texans.

That said, I don’t want to trade away any more sencond round picks! I think for the chip on their shoulder, their vastly reduced negotiating leverage and high quality, they are the best draft value and a team should acquire as many as they can (including by trading out of the first)…But then I am a believer in the (Pats-like) formula of stacking a team with high second and third rounders as the best way to build a dynastic franchise.

Of course Matt Schaub was worth it all. He has never not produced and his biggest problem has been getting hurt on cheap shots. That is not a fault thing it is an unlucky thing and in this league a Qb has to have good luck to get trhu a season intact. He led the offenst to a ranking of third in offensive production and if not for Sage trying fly like Superman would have won two more games and beenn the playoffs. Some of Kubiaks redzone play calling contributed to a lack of scoring but thats life in the NFL. This will be a different year for us in that department if only because of the experience factor. GO Texans!!!!!