TEXANS TALK
How the least popular QB move still might be Houston Texans' best chance
Jun 6, 2022, 2:07 pm
Let's examine in what capacity Davis Mills will be a part of the Texans future
Let's examine in what capacity Davis Mills will be a part of the Texans future
After nearly six years of effectively being banned from the NFL for his social and political stance (actually kneeling), Colin Kaepernick finally got a legit tryout with the Las Vegas Raiders recently. He threw bullets. Now suddenly there is interest in Kaepernick. Reportedly two more NFL teams would like his agent’s phone number.
The Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings are mentioned as possible suitors in need of a quarterback.
Of course it’d be a longshot gamble signing Kaepernick. He’s 34 years old and hasn’t thrown an NFL pass in anger since 2016. Those are difficult numbers to get beyond. But the biggest risk for a team would be public relations – how would its fans react to signing a player that the president of the United States called a “son of a bitch” for kneeling during the national anthem.
Kaepernick took a knee for the anthem in 2016 to protest police actions against people of color. Critics interpreted his kneeling as disrespectful of the flag and U.S. military. By the end of the 2016 season, Kaepernick was toxic, unable to find a job in the NFL.
Six years is proving to be a long time ago. Incidents have happened. The world of sports has changed. People think differently. The manager of the San Francisco Giants, in response to gun violence in America, now refuses to be on the field during the national anthem – and there’s hardly a peep.
Still, how would fans react to an NFL team signing Kaepernick? Would fans villainize the owner? Would fans stop coming to games?
That’s why the Houston Texans are precisely the right team to step up and sign Colin Kaepernick.
Would fans villainize the owner? Already done. Would fans stop coming to games? Already done. When attendance at NRG Stadium for Texans games is announced at 68,000 it has fans wondering “are we in Orlando?” Because that’s where Fantasyland is.
The team is coming off back-to-back seasons with four wins and a recent history of multiple coaching changes, new team president, new general manager, an executive v.p. who’s despised by fans for his TV preacher bullcrap, exiling popular players for little in return, and a gifted quarterback accused of serial sexual misconduct who’s now gone for pennies on his talent.
The Texans are making changes hoping to regain its fans’ faith. The current general manager seems to know his business. The new team president is well-liked and respected. There is reborn spirit in office morale.
The Texans need Kaepernick. We have a second-year quarterback who could gain from Kaepernick’s experience and willingness to take a backup role.
And if Davis Mills falters, you just wait for fans to start shouting Kaepernick’s name. Nothing would get Houston talking more about the Texans than a good old-fashioned quarterback controversy.
Yes he’s been out of the game for nearly six seasons, but let’s not forget that Kaepernick is one hell of a dedicated physical specimen. In college, he was the first Division 1 quarterback to pass for 10,000 yards and run for 4,000 yards. In the NFL, he started all 16 games and led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2013. Over his career, from 2011-2016, in 58 starts he threw 72 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. He has a winning career record. In his last season, starting about half the games, he threw 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He’s 6 ft. 4 and has stayed in shape.
Did you know that he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs after his senior year of high school? In 2013, seven years removed from baseball, he threw out the first pitch at a San Francisco Giants game and fired an 87 mph fastball right over the plate.
He wasn’t banished from the NFL because of his skill. He was a political exile and perhaps it’s time to get past his past. Muhammad Ali, John Lennon, Jane Fonda and others, once despised for their beliefs, now embraced as beloved icons.
Who do the Texans have backing up Mills? Kevin Hogan, “the Gunslinger,” has started one game since entering the league in 2016. He hasn’t appeared in a game since 2017. He has a career mark of four touchdowns and seven completions to the other team. Kyle Allen has a career 7-10 record as a starter with 24 TDs and 17 interceptions. Jeff Driskel is listed as a quarterback on the Texans’ current roster but really isn’t.
I don’t care if Kaepernick spent the last six years eating cheeseburgers and getting fat on the couch watching TV (he hasn’t). You think he couldn’t beat out those other backups?
Above anything else, Houston fans are Texans in their soul – we love winning. It's been a while. Signing Kaepernick gives us the best, at least better, chance of getting there.
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With the Astros now officially ten games under .500 for the season, manager Joe Espada is taking a lot of heat from the fanbase for the team's struggles.
While we don't agree with the sentiment, we even hear fans clamoring for the return of Dusty Baker and Martin Maldonado, thinking the Astros wouldn't be in this mess if they were still here.
Which is ridiculous. First of all, Maldonado has been awful for the White Sox, hitting .048 (even worse than Jose Abreu's .065). And for those of you that think his work with the pitching staff justifies his pathetic offense. Let me say this: Where was Maldy's game calling genius for Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and Framber Valdez last year? All of them regressed significantly.
And as far as Baker is concerned, we have no idea how much a difference he would make, we can only speculate. Baker would also be dealing with a pitching staff ravaged with injuries. And let's not forget, Baker was the guy that refused to move Jose Abreu down in the batting order, even though he would finish the regular season with the ninth-worst OPS in baseball.
The reality of the situation is managers can only do so much in baseball. Which leads us to something else that needs to be considered. Is Espada being handcuffed by the front office? Espada and GM Dana Brown both said recently that Jon Singleton was going to get more at-bats while they give Abreu time off to try to figure things out. Yet, there Abreu was in the lineup again in the opening game of the Cubs series.
It makes us wonder how much power does Espada truly have? The Astros have some other options at first base. Yainer Diaz may only have eight games played at the position, but how much worse could he be than Abreu defensively? Abreu already has four errors, and Diaz is obviously a way better hitter. Victor Caratini isn't considered a plus offensive player, but his .276 batting average makes him look like Babe Ruth compared to Abreu. Let him catch more often and play Diaz at first. Starting Diaz at first more often could also lengthen his career long-term.
Maybe that's too wild of a move. Okay, fine. How about playing Mauricio Dubon at first base? I understand he doesn't have much experience at that position, but what's the downside of trying him there? If he can play shortstop, he can play first base. He's driving in runs at a higher rate (11 RBIs) than everyone on the team outside of Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez. And he's producing like that as part-time player right now.
The other criticism we see of Espada is his use of Jon Singleton to pinch hit late in games. Let's be real, though, who else does Espada have on the roster to go to? Batting Abreu late in games in which you're trailing should be considered malpractice. Espada can only use who he has to work with. This all really stems from the Astros poor farm system.
They don't have anyone else to turn to. The draft picks the club lost from the sign-stealing scandal are really hurting them right now. First and second rounders from 2020 and 2021 should be helping you in 2024 at the big league level.
Maybe they go to Astros prospect Joey Loperfido soon, but after a hot start he has only two hits in his last six games.
Finally, we have to talk about what seems like a committee making baseball decisions. Lost in a committee is accountability. Who gets the blame for making poor decisions?
As time continues to pass it looks like moving on from former GM James Click was a massive mistake. He's the guy that didn't sign Abreu, but did trade Myles Straw (recently DFA'd) for Yainer Diaz and Phil Maton. He also built an elite bullpen without breaking the bank, and helped the club win a World Series in 2022.
The reality of the situation is Dusty Baker and James Click are not walking back through that door. And all good runs come to an end at some point. Is this what we're witnessing?
Don't miss the video above as we hit on all the points discussed and much more!
Catch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) with Charlie Pallilo, Brandon Strange, and Josh Jordan. We drop two episodes every week on SportsMapHouston's YouTube channel. You can also listen on Apple Podcast, Spotifyor wherever you get your podcasts.