What options are left for the Texans?

Texans halt pursuit of Nick Caserio

Texans halt pursuit of Nick Caserio

The Texans announced Friday they would halt their pursuit of Patriots Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio. Earlier this week the Patriots filed tampering charges against the Texans in their pursuit of Caserio.

The Statement

The tampering charges will be dropped with the Texans stopping their pursuit of Caserio. If there was indeed language where the Texans couldn't claim Caserio was getting a better job the Patriots could further deny permission for the Texans to interview and then hire Caserio.

Other Candidates

Dallas Cowboys Vice President of Player Personnel Will McClay is one of the best in the business but he is with a pseudo-rival and the Jones family loves him. I don't see how he gets away.

Browns assistant general manager Eliot Wolf just got to Cleveland but is blocked by John Dorsey. He was well respected in the Packers organization before leaving for Cleveland when he didn't get the Packers general manager job.

Scott Pioli was with the Atlanta Falcons as recently as last month before he resigned his post of the assistant general manager. He was the general manager in Kansas City when Romeo Crennel was the head coach and was with the Patriots going as high as the vice president of player personnel.

The Texans have already reportedly interviewed Ray Farmer and San Francisco 49ers vice president of player personnel Martin Mayhew. I would guess Farmer is not an option after his tough tenure in Cleveland. Mayhew is an interesting name as he has a lot of general manager experience as he was the Lions GM from 2008 - 2015.

Outside of these candidates I'm not sure there is someone that would really knock your socks off. I would also guess the Texans won't speak to the Patriots director of college scouting Monti Ossenfort after what just went down but who knows.


Two Job Bill?

I don't think it is out of the question Bill O'Brien ends up with the power and the Texans don't hire a general manager this offseason. There are rumors Caserio's contract could be up next offseason and if those are true he could leave New England of his own accord.

O'Brien calling the shots for one year would be dangerous. Yes, he could have people take care of a lot the day-to-day duties while he coaches. No, I don't believe he is ready for this dual role. With someone who has little experience in that world taking over there are sure to be areas of neglect and it stresses how important other doing their job to near perfection would be.

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The Astros beat the Phillies, 2-1. Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images.

Cam Smith hit an RBI single in the eighth inning to give the Houston Astros a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

The rookie's second hit of the game came off Orion Kerkering (5-3) and gave the Astros their fourth straight win.

Brandon Marsh tied the game on a sacrifice fly in the top of the inning to end the Phillies' 26-inning scoreless streak.

The Astros took a 1-0 lead on Yainer Diaz’s RBI single in the second inning. They only managed three more hits off Phillies starter Christopher Sanchez, who struck out 11 with zero walks over six innings. Sanchez has not issued a walk in three straight starts.

Hunter Brown lowered his league best ERA to 1.74 by scattering three singles over seven shutout innings, with nine strikeouts. He did not allow a runner to reach second base.

Bryan Abreu (3-3) struck out Trea Turner to end the eighth, and then struck out Kyle Schwarber, Alec Bohm, and Nick Castellanos in the ninth.

Abreu joined Julia Morales after the game and talked about his impressive performance!

Rafael Marchán had two of the Phillies' four hits. Bryson Stott reached base twice and scored the Phillies' lone run.

Key moment

Smith’s RBI.

Key stat

Brown’s 1.74 ERA is the fourth best in Astros history through 16 starts and the best since Justin Verlander posted a 1.60 ERA through 16 starts in 2018.

Up next

The Astros open a three-game series against the Cubs on Friday with LHP Brandon Walter (0-1 3.80 ERA) on the mound.

The Phillies open a three-game series at the Braves on Friday with RHP Mick Abel (2-1 3.47 ERA) against Atlanta RHP Bryce Elder (2-4 4.77).

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