Posted on 02/10/2006 12:02:42 PM PST by Cyclopean Squid
HONOLULU -- In a move that could augur the selection of Southern California tailback Reggie Bush as the first overall pick in the 2006 draft, league sources here for the Pro Bowl confirmed late Thursday that the Houston Texans have exercised a "buy back" clause in quarterback David Carr's contract, paying him an $8 million bonus to secure his services for three more seasons.
The Texans, who announced the extension Friday in a news release, did not provide details, but called a 2 p.m. news conference to discuss the deal.
Retaining the four-year veteran quarterback, who would have become eligible for unrestricted free agency had the Texans not exercised the option, makes it highly unlikely that Houston will choose Texas quarterback Vince Young with the top pick in the draft April 29.
Some fans have urged the Texans to choose Young, a Houston native. But Chris Mortensen of ESPN reported weeks ago that Houston officials are locked in on Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner.
There is still some chance that Houston could choose Young or perhaps Southern California quarterback Matt Leinart. But doing so would mean keeping a young quarterback on the bench for a few seasons, or trading Carr.
The Texans' confidence has wavered only slightly in Carr in four seasons. Every indication in recent weeks was that the Texans would pay the "buy back" bonus to keep Carr.
Former NFL head coach Dan Reeves, who served as a consultant to Texans owner Bob McNair, recommended keeping Carr, the top overall choice in the 2002 draft. First-year head coach Gary Kubiak, who has a strong reputation around the league for developing quarterbacks and whose presence could enhance Carr's performance, apparently gave him a strong endorsement, too.
Carr, 26, has appeared in 60 games, starting 59. He has completed 941 of 1,628 passes for 10,624 yards, with 48 touchdowns passes, 53 interceptions and a passer rating of 73.7. But the former Fresno State star has suffered from a lack of support, particularly on the offensive line.
He has been sacked an amazing 208 times in his career, including a league-record 76 times in 2002 and 68 times during the 2005 campaign. Carr has a 16-43 record as a starter.
Under the terms of the complicated seven-year, $46.75 million contract Carr signed as a rookie, the final three seasons of the deal were voidable. Early in his career, Carr reached sufficient performance levels to cancel those three years, and technically, his contract would have expired on March 3, the first day of free agency.
But the Texans had the right to "buy back" the voidable years and had two options for doing so. The first would have involved paying Carr a bonus of $5.5 million to buy back two seasons, at base salaries of $5 million for 2006 and $5.25 million for 2007. The second, the deal for which Houston opted, included the $8 million bonus, which bought back three seasons, at base salaries of $5.25 million each in 2006 and 2007 and of $6 million in 2008.
At one point during the season, Houston officials considered the possibility of exercising the two-year option. The Texans also reviewed which NFL franchises might need a quarterback of starting caliber in the next few years, in the event they decided to trade Carr.
They have never come close, however, to putting Carr on the market.
2005 SEASON STATISTICS Att Comp Yds TD Int Rat 423 256 2064 14 11 77.2
Honestly, they could have just about ANYONE as their QB, be it MOntana or Young or Kelly or Vick, and they would ALL get killed behind that offensive line.
IF the Texans were smart, they'd trade down, try to sign LeCharles Bentley, and pick up another good offensive lineman in the draft.
They have a RB in Domanick Davis. I think Carr hasn't had a chance to show what he can do since he's running for his life practically all the time.
They have decent WRs. But if that O-line remains the seive that it has been, it won't matter.
They have so many need, especially on offensive line, Bush is not going to help them. I don't fault Carr for not developing because its hard to learn and grow when every snap you are running for your life.
Carr's a good QB when he gets time to throw the ball. They should shop the first pick to get on offensive line, no QB and no RB will ever succeed behind the OL. Ploys like grabbing Young only keep the seats filled for a year or two, eventually the local fans get tired of watching your team destroy this hometown favorite's career.
I think replacing Palmer could also make a big difference. He got Couch killed in Cleveland with his offense (his pass plays seem to take forever to develop, magnifying the problem when his teams did not have good lines) and I think he was doing the same thing to Palmer.
The Texans should draft De'Brickshaw Fergeson with the first pick. They need lineman and Bush is destined to be nothing more than a third down back unless he can learn to run inside. Cutting outside on every play won't work against NFL linebackers.
Bush is good for Texas.
Him, plus their additional draft picks.
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