Houston Texans come to contract agreement with Mario Williams

[Citizen-Y]

And Mel Kiper just had a seizure.

[BizzyR.I.P.]

HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans have signed North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams to a six-year, $54 million deal, making him the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft Saturday.

Of the $54 million, Williams is guaranteed $26.5 million.

Texans general manager Charley Casserly had cautioned earlier in the week that anyone concluding the team had decided on Southern California tailback and Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush and was only using Williams as leverage was mistaken.

The choice of Williams by the Texans could dramatically alter the landscape of the early segment of the first round. The New Orleans Saints, with the second choice, have indicated they would snap up Bush if he fell to their slot. But the Saints had hinted, in general, that they might entertain trade offers for their pick.

The availability of Bush at the No. 2 spot would almost certainly elicit trade offers.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft06/news/story?id=2426003

[Javier]

They will either look like geniuses or complete fucking idiots. 

[herpes]

   thats a shock and a half.  Do you think any of the recent trouble bush has gotten into had anything to do with it.  Or you think they just couldnt agree on terms.  Either way this huge.  You think the jets and saints swap pick?

[I Am The Anton]

  thats a shock and a half.  Do you think any of the recent trouble bush has gotten into had anything to do with it.  Or you think they just couldnt agree on terms.  Either way this huge.  You think the jets and saints swap pick?

I think they just decided to draft for need instead of going for the best player. They have big problems at every position other than RB and QB, so I really can't say this is a bad move.

[hisairness]

The Texans are going to experience some huge backlash from the fans.

Newspapers have been carrying full page ads saying "Draft Vince" and things like that.  Taking Williams, granted, he's a great player, is really going to piss the fans off.

[Javier]

Fuck what the fans want right now.  The GM should make decisions based on how the team is not what the fans want because in the end the fans just want a winning team. 

[hisairness]

Fuck what the fans want right now.  The GM should make decisions based on how the team is not what the fans want because in the end the fans just want a winning team. 

Well, being a fan of the Texans, I would have rather them taken Young, Bush, or an OL.  The main reason being that Carr has been sacked an uncountable number of times since the teams inception.  At least with Young or Bush you would have one player in the backfield with some mobility. 

[Javier]

Didn't the Texans have the worst defense in the NFL last year?

[BizzyR.I.P.]

But there isn't really any next great OL in this draft like an Orlando Pace or Walter Jones. Why waste the #1 pick on a OL that isn't that much more talented than one's in the 2nd RD?

[hisairness]

Didn't the Texans have the worst defense in the NFL last year?

LOL.  They had damn near the worst everything last year!

But there isn't really any next great OL in this draft like an Orlando Pace or Walter Jones. Why waste the #1 pick on a OL that isn't that much more talented than one's in the 2nd RD?

Agreed.  I don't think DeBrickashaw is going to be a franchise OL like Pace and Jones.  But I personally would've liked for them to have picked up some offensive firepower. 

[R-Tistic]

................[prays that dumb ass Al Davis can become a genius overnight and make a trade for Reggie Bush]...........................
................[remembers Al Davis is a dumb ass who would probably trade up and pick a kicker]...........................

Nevermind.

[eS El Duque]

Drafting for the best player around works out more times than drafting for need. Unless both players are equal. Here's a good lesson.

Everyone remember Harry Glickman?

Twenty-two years ago, Glickman assessed his roster, reviewed trusted feedback from his scouting and personnel staffs, and came to a highly logical conclusion. The team had an obvious void in the middle of its lineup. Plus, it already had all-stars at the position in which the best player available happened to play. So, with the No. 2 overall pick, Glickman drafted for need.

He drafted Sam Bowie and passed on Michael Jordan.

[BizzyR.I.P.]

Or the Bengals passing up on Marshal Faulk who ended up at #2 for Dan Wilkinson, a DT

[africas seed]

  thats a shock and a half.  Do you think any of the recent trouble bush has gotten into had anything to do with it.  Or you think they just couldnt agree on terms.  Either way this huge.  You think the jets and saints swap pick?

doubt that the recent controversy surrounding the bush family had anything to do with the pick. if anyone has seen bush he's a very humble dude with great work ethic, he was just trying to help his family out and he didnt hurt anyone except for maybe USC but i doubt it.
great pick by the texans though. they have DD and i dont think they needed another rb even if it was bush. williams has amazing upside and is very similar in comparison with julius peppers. carr is still going to need some offensive line help though.