CNNSI.com's B. Duane Cross tackles three questions that matter to fans
1
How will the expansion Houston Texans build the roster?
The highlights of the NFL-approved plan will enable the Texans to:
Acquire via the Feb. 18 access draft 30-42 veteran players (or players with total 2002 salaries of at least 38 percent of the Texans' 2002 salary cap) from the rosters of the other NFL clubs.
Select a combined total of 14 extra rookie players in the next two college drafts (same as 1999 expansion Cleveland and 1995 expansion Carolina and Jacksonville in their first two drafts).
Sign veteran free agents between February and July 2002 under the same terms as the league's other 31 clubs and same terms as the expansion Cleveland club in 1999 and expansion Carolina and Jacksonville teams in 1995.
SI's Peter King
With the unprotected players list for the Feb. 18 expansion draft taking shape, CNNSI.com chatted with Sports Illustrated's Peter King about the Houston Texans' philosophy in building their team.
The access draft requires the existing 31 clubs to submit five veteran players for selection by the Texans. Each club can expose only one player who was placed on injured reserve after the start of the 2001 regular season, only one player who has 10 or more years of free agency experience, and no more than two players with "spiked contracts" in 2002.
A "spiked contract" is defined as:
The 2002 salary cap value is at least $1.2 million and represents an increase of at least 75 percent over the 2001 salary cap value.
and the 2002 cash value is at least $1.2 million and represents an increase of at least 75 percent over the 2001 cash value.
The Texans must select between 30 and 42 players in the veteran draft or a fewer number of players with total salaries of 38 percent of the cap. An existing club can recall one player from its list after one of its players is selected. After a second player is selected from a club, that club can pull back both of its remaining players.
Houston will have 14 choices in this year's draft. The Texans will receive the first pick in each of the seven rounds. They will also receive seven additional picks -- one selection in each of Rounds 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 after all teams with a 2001 regular-season winning percentage of less than .500. and the final selection in Round 7 (after all compensatory selections).
The Texans will be eligible to sign restricted and unrestricted free agents during the 2002 veteran free agency signing period, which begins March 1. They will have the same access to veteran free agents as the other 31 clubs.
During the period Feb. 18 through July 15, however, the Texans' roster must include at least 30 players acquired from the veteran access draft or a fewer number of players acquired in the veteran draft with total salaries of at least 38 percent of the 2002 salary cap. Any of these players who are released after June 1 are entitled to a supplemental expansion bonus equal to the player's minimum Collective Bargaining Agreement salary even if he subsequently signs with another team.
2
Is there a front-runner for the Texans' first draft choice?
David Carr Brian Bahr/Allsport
Team owner Bob McNair was in Mobile, Ala., this week for Senior Bowl workouts. When asked why, McNair was blunt: "I came to see the quarterbacks."
Specifically, McNair came to see David Carr.
McNair told the Houston Chronicle, "Our coaches and scouts have met with him [Carr], and our people came away very impressed. He's a pretty solid kid. It's nothing formal; I just wanted to meet with him. I wanted to see some other [position] players, but quarterback is the top-rated position. If we keep the No. 1 pick, we're probably going to use it on a quarterback."
While the Texans would be wise to look long and hard at New Orleans QB Jeff Blake, whom the Saints placed on their five-man veteran access list, Carr would fit nicely into the team's long-term plan. With the veteran Blake under center, Carr could learn the NFL ropes without taking an on-the-field beating.
"We know that quarterback is the toughest position, especially when you're talking about a rookie," McNair said. "That's why you go through all the preparation and do all the work. A lot has to go into if you're going to use the No. 1 pick and spend a lot of money.
"We go through this every day in horse racing. You might spend money on some horses, and some of them don't run a lick. They don't always work out favorably for you. I've always been a risk taker in all of my business, but it's not as big a risk when you have some familiarity. I don't take risks in areas where I have no knowledge."
It's a safe bet, then, that when commissioner Paul Tagliabue steps to the podium April 21 in New York City that we'll hear: With the first pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans select ... David Carr, quarterback, Fresno State.
3
Who are the most intriguing veterans available in the access draft?
Jamie Sharper Tom Hauck/Allsport
Twenty-seven teams -- all clubs except New England, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and St. Louis, who are still in the playoffs -- were required to submit their five-man unprotected lists to the NFL by noon Tuesday. After the management council reviews the lists, the names will be forwarded to the Texans on Friday.
And while Texans general manager Charley Casserly will have no official word until the teams' lists are final, there still are some familiar names to ponder. Among the players is Tennessee lineman Bruce Matthews, who began his career with the Houston Oilers in 1983. However, his retirement announcement is expected this offseason.
Other up-for-grabs players include:
WR Derrick Alexander, Chiefs -- signed in 1998 as a free agent after four seasons with Cleveland and Baltimore, was a four-year starter in Kansas City. His best season was in 2000, when he caught 78 passes and 10 touchdowns.
OL Tony Boselli, Jaguars -- Five-time Pro Bowl selection who has allowed only 14 1/2 sacks in six seasons. Jacksonville, caught up in salary cap hell, need to shed Boselli's $7.64 million cap figure.
The cap number includes a player's base salary and the prorated portion of any signing bonus spread over the length of his contract.
Boselli is coming off surgery on both shoulders, which limited him to just three games last season. However, it is believed he will be physically able to play by the start of the 2002 season.
CB Aaron Glenn, Jets -- Coming off his best season, some in the organization want Glenn to return, but it is believed there are doubts among others about how good a fit he is for Herman Edwards' defensive system. Glenn, who grew up in Houston and played at Texas A&M, has an $8 million salary cap figure.
OL Willie Roaf, Saints -- Seven-time Pro Bowler who missed the second half of the season after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery. He's due a $6.5 million bonus in March as part of a contract extension.
LB Jamie Sharper, Ravens -- A five-year veteran, Sharper was one of the Ravens' two second-round draft picks in 1997. He finished last season with with 134 tackles and six sacks. Baltimore is nearly $21 million over the salary cap with only 30 players under contract. Sharper's cap number is $3.8 million for next season.
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David Carr
Jamie Sharper
