Texans G.M. Rick Smith said he spoke with wide receiver Kevin Walter’s agent Thursday night, but he didn’t sound overly optimistic about retaining him.
“Kevin is a big part of our team. We would like to have Kevin back. We have articulated that to him as recently as last night,” Smith said.
We asked about Walter because he’s one of the better young (29) starters about to hit free agency. He provides an alternative to teams that don’t want Terrell Owens or Antonio Bryant.
“We’re trying to see if we can retain him, but the unfortunate part of free agency is you can’t keep everybody,” Smith said. “When you talk about putting your team together, you have to make tough decisions, and sometimes you have to let players go you otherwise wouldn’t want to.”
Our G.M. Translator says: “The guy is a week away from free agency. We like him, but not enough. It’s going to be almost impossible to keep him at a reasonable price and we have Jacoby Jones behind him ready to become a starter.”
yeah! welcome to washington
They should take a salt pill.
… we have Jacoby Jones behind him ready to become a starter.
I was really jazzed when Houston drafted Jones – and he has shown some flashes – but this statement makes me really nervous. The guy just hasn’t ever come around like I thought he would. Walter has been an excellent #2 in Houston and would/will leave some unexpectedly large shoes to fill.
Good news for the Bengals. He’s coming back to Cincinnati–book it. They didn’t want him to leave in the first place, he’s good buddies with Carson, the Bengals need a WR, he’s improved since he began starting and he’s a younger, cheaper alternative to others out there.
Is it just me, or are the Texans not having an off season reflective of the fact that they are in the same division as the Colts?
Texans have too many others due for pay raises – Owen Daniels, Demeco Ryans, Bernard Pollard – to be giving a contract to a guy who has a viable replacement behind him.
That said I love Walter and he’ll make some other team really happy.
Come to Buffalo….the Bills could use a #2 receiver that is actually productive
I think Texans are gonna try to save some money and bring in L.T.
L.T’s a Texas boy and Texans need a RB…
Come back to the Bengals
Man, would hate to see Walters leave but it’s time for Jacoby to step it up along with the disappearing act of Andre Davis.
Shoot, throw 5 foot 10 little David Anderson out there, he’ll get it done for sure!
Best of luck for Kevin…still hope he comes back. Guy can go across the middle and take it, great hands.
Bringing in LT here would make little to no sense. He’s essentially the same type of runner as Slaton (think rookie year Slaton, not fumblitis sophomore Slaton), but just a bit bigger with more talent and 8 years more wear on the treads. Someone correct me if I am wrong here.
Even as the TCU grad that I am, Houston does not need LT – particularly if he’s going to demand a high price.
I’d much rather see the Texans go get LenWhale to be the smashing RB to Slaton’s slashing style.