What options are left for the Texans?
Texans halt pursuit of Nick Caserio
Jun 14, 2019, 7:05 pm
What options are left for the Texans?
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.
Statement from #Texans Chairman and CEO Cal McNair: pic.twitter.com/SRqedL5yfp
— Texans PR (@TexansPR) June 14, 2019
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.
My understanding is the call between Cal McNair and Robert Kraft was very cordial. Language at issue in Nick Caserio’s contract had been there awhile. Once #Texans were aware, they asked what a trade would cost. No deal, so they move on and #Patriots drop tampering charge.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 14, 2019
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.
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.
Jacob deGrom went eight innings to win his fourth consecutive start for the Texas Rangers, who got Jake Burger's solo home run off Hunter Brown in a 1-0 win over the Houston Astros on Thursday night in an anticipated pitchers' duel that certainly lived up to expectations.
Two-time Cy Young Award winner deGrom (4-1) is having quite a comeback after missing most of the last two seasons following Tommy John surgery. The 36-year-old right-hander struck out seven, two of those to end innings with two runners on base, while walking one and giving up five hits.
Brown (6-2), who is 10 years younger that deGrom, struck out nine without a walk while scattering three hits in his first career complete game. The righty was tied for the major league lead in wins and retired the first 12 batters he faced before Adolis García lined a double to left to start the fifth.
Shawn Armstrong worked around a two-out walk in the ninth for his second save.
Burger went deep leading off the sixth, a 394-foot drive into the Texas bullpen in right-center for his fourth homer of the season.
Rangers right fielder García made a sliding catch of a sinking liner by Mauricio Dubón for the final out of the seventh when Houston had a runner at second base. García had several nice plays, including a sliding catch near the line after running a long way to open the fourth.
Bruce Bochy got his 2,195th career win to break a tie with Sparky Anderson for the sixth-most by an MLB manager. Bochy, who turned 70 last month, is in his 28th season as a manager, his third in Texas.
Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (4-2, 1.78 ERA) goes into Friday night having allowed only two earned runs over 25 innings in his last four starts (3-0). Right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (0-1, 15.75) makes only his third start for Houston since the 2022 World Series.