Expect Marcus Coleman to contact the Dallas Cowboys
Walker, Coleman say farewell
Texans cut Banks, Hollings as Kubiak evaluates
By JOHN MCCLAIN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
Defensive lineman Gary Walker and free safety Marcus Coleman — original Texans who came to Houston in the 2002 expansion draft — have played their last game with the franchise.
Coleman, quarterback Tony Banks and running back Tony Hollings were released Tuesday. Walker, an 11-year veteran, was told he could look for a deal with another team because he will be released. The date of his release depends on the status of the collective bargaining agreement.
"After doing our player evaluations, we decided to go in another direction," coach Gary Kubiak said. "We have to make moves we believe are best for the team. Sometimes those moves require that tough decisions be made.
"We made decisions on guys with 10 years in the league. I think they deserve to find this out now so they can have more opportunities to get new jobs. I know if I had been a 10-year veteran, and my coach made this decision, I would have appreciated finding out now. I think they deserved that kind of respect."
The Texans didn't announce their decision on Walker, 33, who is on the roster because of the salary cap.
Waiving Walker before June 1 will cost them $1.5 million against the cap. If they wait until after June 1, the remainder of his prorated signing bonus would come out of the 2007 cap with a new collective bargaining agreement. Without an extension of the collective bargaining agreement, 2007 will be an uncapped year, and teams can spend whatever they want on players.
"Coach Kubiak informed me and my agent (Neil Conrich) that I could look for other deals," Walker said. "There's no hard feelings. My four years here have been great. I wouldn't trade them for anything. I just wish we had won more games."
Walker was selected in the fifth round of the 1995 draft by the Oilers. After four years, he signed with Jacksonville, where he remained until he returned to Houston in 2002.
"I enjoyed playing for Mr. McNair," Walker said about owner Bob McNair. "He's a great owner, and I appreciate playing for him. He wants to build a winner, and I'm confident that once the team starts to win, it's going to win big for a long time because he wants to win for this city."
The decision on Coleman wasn't a surprise. He didn't play well last season and lost his starting job to rookie C.C. Brown.
"I kind of expected it," Coleman said. "I understand that it's a business, and tough decisions have to be made. I respect that (Kubiak) did it now. I've had a great time in Houston. My home is here. I've made a lot of good friends. I know I can still play. I think I can play another three to five years."
Like Walker, Coleman, 31, will look back favorably on his four seasons with the Texans.
"We helped start a tradition here," Coleman said. "We helped a new organization gain some respect around the league. I just wish we had been able to win more games and make the playoffs."
Expect Coleman to contact the Dallas Cowboys to see if he can be reunited with Bill Parcells, who coached him with the New York Jets, and cornerback Aaron Glenn, his friend and former teammate with the Jets and Texans.
Letting Banks, 32, go means the Texans will be in the market for another veteran quarterback regardless of what happens with the top pick in the draft. Starter David Carr and reserve Dave Ragone are the only quarterbacks on the roster.
Hollings' career with the Texans ends as a bust. Highly coveted out of Georgia Tech in 2003, the Texans selected him in the second round of the supplemental draft. To get him, they forfeited a second-round pick in the regular draft.
Hollings, 24, never came close to living up to expectations. When he was healthy, he couldn't get on the field because Domanick Davis, Jonathan Wells and Vernand Morency were more productive.
Texans cut Banks, Hollings as Kubiak evaluates
By JOHN MCCLAIN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
Defensive lineman Gary Walker and free safety Marcus Coleman — original Texans who came to Houston in the 2002 expansion draft — have played their last game with the franchise.
Coleman, quarterback Tony Banks and running back Tony Hollings were released Tuesday. Walker, an 11-year veteran, was told he could look for a deal with another team because he will be released. The date of his release depends on the status of the collective bargaining agreement.
"After doing our player evaluations, we decided to go in another direction," coach Gary Kubiak said. "We have to make moves we believe are best for the team. Sometimes those moves require that tough decisions be made.
"We made decisions on guys with 10 years in the league. I think they deserve to find this out now so they can have more opportunities to get new jobs. I know if I had been a 10-year veteran, and my coach made this decision, I would have appreciated finding out now. I think they deserved that kind of respect."
The Texans didn't announce their decision on Walker, 33, who is on the roster because of the salary cap.
Waiving Walker before June 1 will cost them $1.5 million against the cap. If they wait until after June 1, the remainder of his prorated signing bonus would come out of the 2007 cap with a new collective bargaining agreement. Without an extension of the collective bargaining agreement, 2007 will be an uncapped year, and teams can spend whatever they want on players.
"Coach Kubiak informed me and my agent (Neil Conrich) that I could look for other deals," Walker said. "There's no hard feelings. My four years here have been great. I wouldn't trade them for anything. I just wish we had won more games."
Walker was selected in the fifth round of the 1995 draft by the Oilers. After four years, he signed with Jacksonville, where he remained until he returned to Houston in 2002.
"I enjoyed playing for Mr. McNair," Walker said about owner Bob McNair. "He's a great owner, and I appreciate playing for him. He wants to build a winner, and I'm confident that once the team starts to win, it's going to win big for a long time because he wants to win for this city."
The decision on Coleman wasn't a surprise. He didn't play well last season and lost his starting job to rookie C.C. Brown.
"I kind of expected it," Coleman said. "I understand that it's a business, and tough decisions have to be made. I respect that (Kubiak) did it now. I've had a great time in Houston. My home is here. I've made a lot of good friends. I know I can still play. I think I can play another three to five years."
Like Walker, Coleman, 31, will look back favorably on his four seasons with the Texans.
"We helped start a tradition here," Coleman said. "We helped a new organization gain some respect around the league. I just wish we had been able to win more games and make the playoffs."
Expect Coleman to contact the Dallas Cowboys to see if he can be reunited with Bill Parcells, who coached him with the New York Jets, and cornerback Aaron Glenn, his friend and former teammate with the Jets and Texans.
Letting Banks, 32, go means the Texans will be in the market for another veteran quarterback regardless of what happens with the top pick in the draft. Starter David Carr and reserve Dave Ragone are the only quarterbacks on the roster.
Hollings' career with the Texans ends as a bust. Highly coveted out of Georgia Tech in 2003, the Texans selected him in the second round of the supplemental draft. To get him, they forfeited a second-round pick in the regular draft.
Hollings, 24, never came close to living up to expectations. When he was healthy, he couldn't get on the field because Domanick Davis, Jonathan Wells and Vernand Morency were more productive.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:31 PM
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