ON THE WAY OUT
Dynamo sell “Cubo” Torres to Pumas UNAM for reported $2 million transfer fee
Jan 25, 2018, 8:47 am
Cubo Torres' time with the Dynamo is at an end. Victor Araiza/SportsMap
Erick “ Cubo” Torres’ time in Houston is up.
The Houston Dynamo have parted ways with the 25-year-old Mexican forward after Liga MX side Pumas UNAM completed his purchase for a reported $2 million fee on Wednesday night. Torres was at Houston Sports Park Wednesday morning but by nightfall he was in Mexico City to be announced as a new signing on a national broadcast of his new club’s 3-0 win over Club Juarez in Copa MX.
"It's the best moment of my career and personal life,” said Torres to Televisa Deportes. "I've just turned 25 and have experience in the national team, youth national teams and in important clubs. I'm coming at an age at which, without doubt, I will do big things."
The Dynamo signed Torres to a five-year deal after purchasing him from Liga MX side Club Guadalajara for a reported $7 million in December of 2014. He played the first six months of his deal in Mexico as part of a loan and did not debut in Houston until July 27, 2015 in a 3-0 home win vs. LA Galaxy.
Torres broke out for the Dynamo in 2017 with 14 goals - surpassing Brian Ching’s club record for most MLS goals in a season - after failing to find the back of the net in his first two years. Eight of those goals came in the first 10 matches of the season with his last goal coming as part of a double that rescued a 3-3 draw on August 23 at rival FC Dallas.
“My mind right now is on making a great preseason,” said Torres on Tuesday morning after the Dynamo opened their preseason. “There’s a World Cup coming, I don’t know what could happen. I’m preparing myself for that, to apply pressure, to be in the sight of [Mexican National Team Manager] Juan Carlos Osorio.”
Torres was the highest paid player on the Dynamo in 2017 with a base salary of $650,000, according to the Major League Soccer Players Association website. Houston fielded the team with the lowest team salary in the league as they made a run to the Western Conference final.
Major League Soccer, like several other pro leagues in the United States, operates with a salary cap. The Dynamo had shopped Torres previously in an effort to clear up cap space.
Dynamo GM Matt Jordan will be on Soccer Matters Thursday night with Glenn Davis at 7 p.m. on ESPN 97.5.
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NFL insiders hint at eye-opening future for Houston Texans offense
Dec 7, 2024, 2:38 pm
C.J. Stroud faced criticism in Houston's last few games as the Texans hit a rough patch after losing just two of their first eight games.
But the second-year quarterback remained confident and his strong performance last Sunday helped the Texans (8-5) to a 23-20 win over the Jaguars to enter their bye with a two-game lead atop the AFC South.
“When he is leading and playing the way he is playing, our entire team feeds off of him,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “I am excited for his second year. I think he is showing a ton of growth, he is in a really great spot for us physically, mentally. I really love where he is and I am excited to see how he comes back after the break.”
Stroud threw for 242 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville to leave him ranked fourth in the NFL with 3,117 yards passing this season. That game came after he threw two interceptions in a 32-27 loss to Tennessee a week before for the team’s third loss in four games.
Those two interceptions brought his season total to nine, which are four more than he threw in 15 games a rookie. But the Texans aren’t worried about that statistic and believe he has grown in his second year.
“He’s made a lot of progress,” general manager Nick Caserio said. “There are some plays, like all of our players, that we probably wish he could have back, but happy he’s our quarterback, happy with what he brings to the table. ... Wouldn’t want anyone else leading this team.”
The Texans are in position to win their division for a second straight season despite dealing with several significant injuries on offense. Running back Joe Mixon missed three games early with an ankle injury and leading receiver Nico Collins was sidelined for five games with a hamstring injury.
They also lost four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs for the season when tore an ACL in Week 8.
Mixon leads the team with 887 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns and has added four touchdown receptions. His work in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati has helped the team deal with those significant injuries to the receiving corps.
Mixon ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game and has had at least 100 yards rushing in seven games.
Stroud has continually raved about Mixon’s contributions on and off the field.
“He’s a servant, a helper,” Stroud said. “That’s ultimately what I want to be as well. Who can I serve and how can I help? That’s ultimately what the game of football is.”
While Mixon has been the team’s most important new acquisition on offense, Danielle Hunter has been Houston’s new defensive star. The defensive end spent his first eight seasons in Minnesota before joining the Texans this year.
He has helped Houston lead the NFL with 84 tackles for loss after piling up 15 this season, which is tied for third most in the league. He also leads the Texans with 10½ sacks to help them rank second with 42.
Hunter been a great addition to a team that already had defensive end Will Anderson Jr., last year’s AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Anderson ranks second to Hunter on the team with 13 tackles for loss and 9½ sacks.
Ryans said this week’s break is much needed for a team that opened the preseason on Aug. 1 in the Hall of Fame game.
“It’s here and we’re going to take advantage of it,” he said. “We’ve been going at it for a long time.”
The Texans need to recharge this week with a brutal stretch of three games in 10 days when they return from their bye. Houston hosts Miami on Dec. 15 before a trip to Kansas City on Dec. 21 and a visit from the Ravens on Christmas Day.
“It’s Christmas and all that, but we can’t worry about that. All we can do is focus on Miami,” Caserio said. “And then when we get through the Miami game, then we kind of turn the page to the next. ... We’re either going to earn it or we’re not. Not to oversimplify it, but that’s the truth.”
The Texans will play those game without starting linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after he received a three-game suspension for his violent hit to the head of Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, which led to a concussion.
Al-Shaair will be eligible to return for Houston’s regular-season finale against Tennessee.