pakowitz

May 02, 2006 | 9:19AM | report this


No football agent would ever admit this on the record, but wouldn't most players take less money to live in Houston over New Orleans? Think about it.


Yes, the Texans haven't won anything yet, but their organization is considered much sounder than the Saints, particularly from the ownership angle. Houston, from its stadium to its practice facility, is considered a first-class operation. Saints and first class ... well, that's a misnomer.

I mean what's the difference between earning $54 million over six years compared to earning $50 million over six years? We can all do the math, but what about the quality of life? Then there's home values and business opportunities and nightlife?

Reggie Bush is a walking endorsement and no one can deny that his off-the-field value wouldn't be greater in Houston, America's fourth largest city, compared to gritty New Orleans, a city desperately trying to recover from the worst national disaster in years. Even before Katrina, most Americans probably would choose to live in Houston over New Orleans. It's simply a fact of life.

Plenty of negotiating mistakes were made by Team Bush and the Texans in the pursuit of becoming the NFL's first overall draft choice. After dumping on local favorite, Texas quarterback Vince Young, the Texans' only rational approach was to tab Bush, whether he was signed or not. Houston owner Bob McNair didn't have to insist on his top pick being signed prior to being announced by Paul Tagliabue.

Neither the Texans nor Bush used much common sense in this matter.

A glorious opportunity was lost by both. The team and Bush's agents both made critical mistakes and misjudgments.

More Houston blunders

There is one thought circling the NFL that Texans coach Gary Kubiak's thinking is much like his mentor, Denver's Mike Shanahan. That Kubiak doesn't need a Clinton Portis or an Edgerrin James, basically a high-priced runner, to make his offense function at a high level and that's why Bush wasn't selected. Sounds crazy, doesn't it? Just give me a Tatum Bell look-alike!

The other blunder is that Houston never tried to talk trade with New Orleans, Tennessee or even the Jets about any of them trading up to select Bush. This maneuver would have allowed Houston to collect some extra draft picks. Bush in the Big Apple would have been sexy, plus Curtis Martin turned 33 on Monday.

Had Houston done a trade, we're sure the Texans could have made sure that North Carolina State's Mario Williams was still available for them.

Playing hardball

Can you really blame the Tennessee Titans for not bending over backwards for Steve McNair and their old rivals, the Baltimore Ravens?

McNair has refused to rework his $9 million contract in order to play for the Titans this season. He wants out and has been demanding a trade to the Ravens.

The Titans are holding out for a fourth-round draft choice, which doesn't sound like very much for a NFL starting quarterback.

Consequently, the Titans plan on holding onto McNair simply to prevent him from joining the Ravens until July, when they will need his $24 million salary-cap allocation for this season to sign rookies like Vince Young. What the Titans are saying is that they'd rather sit on McNair and mess with the Ravens unless they get what they want.

Did Fisher get his man?

Speaking of the Titans, coach Jeff Fisher told his good friend Mike Shanahan that Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler really had no negatives about him. It almost sounds like Fisher's quarterback draft board read: 1. Matt Leinart, 2. Cutler and 3. Vince Young.


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