Texans to cut Arian Foster

AP

Arian Foster’s tenure in Houston is coming to an end.

The Texans have informed Foster they are going to release him, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The Texans apparently don’t think Foster can stay healthy and be as effective as he once was. General Manager Rick Smith has said Foster’s $6.5 million salary wouldn’t be the reason to release him, but it’s hard to believe that’s not a factor.

The 29-year-old Foster had his worst season in 2015, playing in just four games and gaining just 163 yards on 63 carries, an average of 2.6 yards a carry. He will likely draw some interest in free agency, but that interest won’t be anything like what it once would have been. It appears that Foster’s best days are behind him.

65 responses to “Texans to cut Arian Foster

  1. Best of luck to him moving forward. Probably one of my favorite personalities in the NFL. Hope he gets passed the injuries.

    From a Dolphins fan.

  2. It’s amazing to me how running backs these days just can’t seem to have long careers. There are so many guys that put together 2-4 great years before getting hurt or just fizzling out. How is it that guys like Jim Brown, Emmit Smith, or Jerome Bettis were able to consistently put up great seasons year after year? My guess is that the way new athletes train has something to do with it. I don’t know if they train so hard that their bodies just wear down faster or they are training in a way that is not good for their bodies. I think some of these old guys need to put together some sort of school that trains the young kids coming up the way they were trained. It’s a shame that these running backs careers just can’t seem to make it beyond their 30th birthday anymore if they are lucky.

  3. I agree with the above vegan comment. But I really wish he had a chance to play out a non-injury plagued career. He could have been a HOF. One of the best runners I’ve ever seen. So smooth. Shame

  4. He was an exciting, dynamic and supremely talented player in his prime. Plus, he seems like he’s got twice the brain of roughly 75% of the dumb jocks in the NFL.
    Wish him luck with whatever’s next.

  5. Not a surprise – someone will scoop him up & give him an incentive laden contract (playing time, game day roster, & production)

  6. He will definately have plenty of interest, but at league minimum contract or incentive based.

  7. Sorry to pile on, but I wonder if the notion of a Higher Power intervening into his now defunct NFL life and career would be welcome by this so called Atheist.

  8. The fact that LBs were 215 lbs 20 years ago and now most are over 250 and a lot faster is one reason an NFL RB career is so much shorter. The body can’t take that pounding year after year and not lose a step (or five).

  9. It is unbelievable what 30 means for an NFL running back – my first taste was watching Shawn Alexander. Arian Foster led the NFL in rushing 2010 and by 2013 the tires fell off.

    His injuries are all soft tissue, I did see a video where he and his brother are his own trainer. I think its time he changes it up if he wants a shot at anything other than vet minimum with a team.

  10. That last paragraph sure is misleading! First, let’s leave out Foster’s 227(!) receiving yards in just 4 games. Also, lets leave out that Foster was clearly getting his feet back under him in his first game or two on the way back from injury, and was looking MUCH better in the third and fourth games.

    In just 4 games, Foster was on pace for 1560 yards, despite 3 of the 4 games being on the road, and despite Foster being stuck on a mediocre offense with a poor QB at the helm.

    If you just remove the first game (10 yards rushing on 8 rushes) as a rust removal game, Foster put up a pace of 816 yards rushing, 1077 yards receiving, 1893 total yards, and 16 TDs. Again, for a struggling team that had limited QB play. Sure, that still isn’t Foster in his prime, but that’s pretty remarkable given team context and that Foster was only just getting going.

  11. Don’t bother with the vegan comments – he stopped being a vegan almost 4 years ago.

    Good luck Arian wherever you end up.

  12. Teams will bring him in to see what he can do but he has been hurt so often during his career I don’t think he can be the main feature back. Although look what Darren McFadden did for Dallas last year.

  13. Good point 1969mojo but all players are bigger and faster now and it just seems to me that the RB position is the one that has dropped off the most. Sure they are the ones getting hit the most but the rules these days certainly protect them more than they used to. Those old guys got the snot kicked out of them and were piled up on and dragged down from behind where now that just doesn’t happen as often.

  14. They should have tried to renegotiate his contract, then cut him if he can’t preform. Texans have no one else on the roster even close to this skill level. Big mistake.

  15. agape56 says: Mar 3, 2016 10:21 AM
    Sorry to pile on, but I wonder if the notion of a Higher Power intervening into his now defunct NFL life and career would be welcome by this so called Atheist.

    Right because invoking Jesus and and God in every interview and thinking he’s the Messiah has helped the religious zealot Tebow in his very long NFL career, right?

  16. It’s the right move. Dude can’t stay healthy to save his life. Now, if Rick Smith can cut himself, we’ll be okay…

  17. .
    He’s like a high milage BMW. Yes, it’s a great car but you don’t know when it’s going to break down.
    .

  18. Did Arian Foster play at the university of Tennesee with a rapist drug lord?

  19. If there’s ever a question on whether you spend big money or a high draft pick out a running back, this may be the perfect example of why you don’t…

  20. agape56 says:
    Mar 3, 2016 10:21 AM

    Sorry to pile on, but I wonder if the notion of a Higher Power intervening into his now defunct NFL life and career would be welcome by this so called Atheist.
    ————————–

    Roger Godell has better things to worry about.

  21. Rick Smith – oh yeah, I’m a liar. I did cut his made of glass ass because he’s owed too much money for someone that won’t play more than 10 games.

    Draft a QB…draft a RB.

  22. If you just remove the first game (10 yards rushing on 8 rushes) as a rust removal game, Foster put up a pace of 816 yards rushing, 1077 yards receiving, 1893 total yards, and 16 TDs. Again, for a struggling team that had limited QB play. Sure, that still isn’t Foster in his prime, but that’s pretty remarkable given team context and that Foster was only just getting going.

    __________________

    Ok this logic couldn’t be more flawed. First of all every RB in the league has a few dud games because that is the nature of the league. So by removing 1 of 4 games that is the equivalent of taking away the 4 worst games of an RB who goes 16. Doing this and even an average RBs averages/projections would sky rocket. Also every year there are tons of players to go down with injury, it’s worthless to sit around and guess what they might have done. Atleast 50% of the teams in the league could say “well they would have done more but our offense stinks.” And lastly Foster has been injured for years now so if he didn’t get hurt when he did it probably was going to happen regardless.

  23. vonmillertime says:

    Keep speaking your mind Arian. We need a voice to balance out all the religious zeal in the NFL.
    ====================================

    I thought your kind preached tolerance.

  24. @agape56: Yeah, because “the higher power” gives two squirts about Foster getting released.

    All religion is based on the fear of the unknown, no matter the origin.

    “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
    ~Mahatma Gandhi~

  25. Texans can afford to cut a star running back (when healthy) because we have such a high powered offense. Oh wait . . . . .

    I wish we would cut Rick Smith. The man has no sense.

  26. ctiggs says:
    Mar 3, 2016 10:04 AM

    love this guy, id like to have him on my niners, but I could see him going to NE

    ——————————

    I agree but we have a pretty solid backfield with Hyde and now with Draughn back.

  27. Too bad. A great back and a quality person who just could not stay healthy throughout his career. Best wishes to you Mr. Foster.

  28. Not too many running backs are worth 6.5 a year anymore, even when healthy. Use the savings to shore up the O-Line that benefits pass and run.

  29. I don’t know, agape, but let’s compare St Tebow to the sinner Foster.

    In years…
    In money…
    In talent…

    Even God decrees you as dumb.

  30. This man, when healthy, playing behind a competent Oline has been one of the most solid all around backs in the NFL….I believe with a lessened workload, and a cap friendly contract, he would offer up quite a bargain compliment back for a contending team…Jerrah Jones should be on the phone asap…

  31. He’d be a good fit with the Vikings. Change of pace guy to compliment Peterson and play passing downs. Maybe a little less work would keep him healthy and a guy like him could really help Bridgewater in the check down game.

    Packers, Seahawks, Dolphins, Patriots and Cowboys would all be good landing spots too. Places with a starting back where he could just compliment.

    Texans should be calling up KC to see if Charles is available after they proved they can win without him.

  32. They should play Soft Cell and have sacks of McDonald’s while serving him his papers.

  33. Loved having this guy on the Texans, the guy was almost always a good sport that spoke his mind.

    For all the people bringing up the Vegan thing, he did that for only half a season, he started eating meat half way into the season that year and never went back full Vegan.

    Don’t forget he is coming off a major injury this pass year (Achilles tear), so he may not be that easy to find a job. Any team that likes to use a catching RB out of the backfield might get the best that he has left.

  34. This guy always yapped like he was a HOF-caliber player. Waaaay too much arrogance for his production, which overall has been good but not great. 6,472 yards rushing and 54 TDs is not enough to even sniff the HOF. I don’t think he’ll even be in consideration when his career ends, which I think will be after this upcoming season.

    Predicted landing spot: Patriots or Jets.

  35. I never could relate to the Houston Texans. Why can’t they change their name to the Oilers? I miss the oil Derrick helmets, the fight song, and the powder blue uniforms. I miss the LUV YA BLUE signs in the stands. Nobody is currently using the OILER name. McNair should buy the name and change the team’s name to the Oilers. I am sure most fans in Houston and southern Texas would be very happy.

    BRING BACK THE HOUSTON OILERS!!!!!! It is Houston’s true NFL team.

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