Dear J.J.,
I come to you as a loyal fan and advocate for all Houston Texans success. I, as many other writers on this website, do attach our hopes for this franchise to the handful of draft picks we select every year. As you experienced nine years ago, the NFL Draft does not treat everyone equally. Neither do the fans as they react to a player’s selection. I am among those fans who were displeased by the organization’s selection of you in the first round back in 2011.
About a year and a half into my presence on social media, which to this day carries little to no relevance, I decided that the mixed emotions I was feeling about the Texans selecting you were enough to vent on social media. In my nativity about how the internet works (it lasts forever and certainly can come back to haunt you), I took to Facebook to voice my displeasure.
In my defense and typos aside, the three players that I named were some of the most highly touted athletes coming out of college that year. The Texans did have the worst secondary in the league in 2010, and Prince Amukamara was far-and-away the best defensive back in the class. Nick Fairley was an All-American defensive tackle who led a stout Auburn defense to a BCS National Title. Robert Quinn was a physical specimen, and although he was injured his last year, he was set to be a plug-and-play NFL star.
All I have to say is that I apologize for ever doubting you. You’ve taught this city to never take for granted the heart of a champion. My friend once said that I am more of a Mel Kiper Jr. and less of a Matthew Berry. I’m a much better analyzer of performance than a predictor of the future.
Obviously a lot of fans must fall into that category, because no one expected you to have the career you’ve had. 9 years and almost 100 sacks later, we can't thank you enough for willing this team to greatness.
It was not your fault a team you were not a part of went 6-10 following its first winning season in franchise history. This disgruntled fan base, I among them, was desperate for a player who would elevate the play of a terrible defense. Though at the time we were convinced they were the light at the end of the tunnel, Mario Williams and Amobi Okoye were mere crossing guards for your entrance into the NFL.
From every armchair quarterback and social media pundit, thank you for proving us wrong and becoming the city’s greatest athlete of all time.
Humbly Yours,
Kenneth