MONEY TALKS
How latest report indicates Houston Texans have taken another step as a franchise
Apr 1, 2024, 4:37 pm
Danielle Hunter turned down more money from the Colts? Composite Getty Image.
The Houston Texans have received a lot of praise for their approach to free agency, especially the signing of Danielle Hunter, the best pass-rusher on the market.
But things could have gone very different. Just before the weekend, it was revealed that the Colts actually offered Hunter more money, but he opted to join the Texans instead.
While geography likely played a role in his decision, he grew up in Katy, the Texans' ability to quickly turn things around and become a legit contender had to be the deciding factor.
With DeMeco Ryans, CJ Stroud, and Will Anderson leading the team for the foreseeable future, Hunter must have liked his chances better in Houston.
Hunter will be thirty years old this season, so he's starting to run out of time if he wants to win a Super Bowl before he retires. Which explains why he would pick the Texans over the Colts.
The Colts weren't bad last season, and they do have a talented roster with a respected GM and head coach. But the quarterback situation is a bit of an unknown, with rookie Anthony Richardson missing most of the season with a shoulder injury.
In fact, the Colts took some heat for their approach to free agency. They re-signed a lot of their own players, but didn't make splashy moves like the Texans did. Clearly, they were hoping that Hunter would be their big free agent pickup, but he preferred joining the Texans, even if it was for less money.
As a Texans fan, this feels great. The organization was considered arguably the worst franchise in the NFL over the last several seasons. And, now, players not only want to join the team, but they're willing to take less money to come to Houston? Quite the turnaround DeMeco and GM Nick Caserio have pulled off.
A lot can happen in a year.
Be sure to check out the above below as Craig from Sports Talk Extra reacts to the news.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.