Houston Texans: Andre Johnson Angry?
We know this: the Texans are likely to release (or maybe trade) Andre Johnson soon.
It happens to every player, one way or another, eventually they are going to leave. Rarely do we see one player stick with one team throughout his entire career. Retirement, injury, trade, released, free agency, or “mutually parting ways” the end is inevitable. Everyone is going to go through it. So, why does this one hurt so much more?
For 12 years, Andre Johnson has been Mr. Houston Texan. He has given everything he has to this city, not only on the field but off of it too – his toy run during Christmas is always one of my favorite things to read about and watch on the news during that time of year. From all accounts – well maybe not Cortland Finnegan’s – he is class in every sense of the word.
We all have our favorite Andre moments and we all have those feeling of sadness when we think about the dreadful QB play he has had his entire career, but today I want to talk about something I don’t think he gets enough credit for; his desire to win. That guy wants to be great, he wants to win and he lays everything on the line to do it.
My favorite play from Johnson’s career was the three broken tackles in Arizona just to score a game tying touchdown. Wow that was special.
I also have a bit of personal experience with Andre’s desire. In 2012, I got the opportunity to go to the away playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens, the first divisional playoff game in franchise history. My seats were amazing we sat 1st row, 50-yard line directly behind the Texans sideline. I got to watch so many things happen on the sideline that I don’t think the cameras showed at home. Like when the defense all huddled around DeMeco Ryans in the middle of the second quarter and he rallied them together and they started making stops.
But the biggest thing I noticed was Andre. After the final interception T.J. Yates threw, Andre came off the field as pissed as if Finnegan had jammed him at the line in his face again. He tore his helmet off and literally beat the bench with it. It was so out of character and raw I thought for sure that the television cameras would have caught it, but I asked everyone at home and no one had seen it. Most people think of Andre as a soft spoken, easy going guy, but to this day when I think of Andre I see a nearly minute long explosion of anger.
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When I read the accounts of how Andre’s meeting with Bill O’Brien went, I can easily see how Andre would have balked at the idea of a reduced role. The Texans botched this entire thing. I don’t know if the accounts are fully accurate or not, but the front office’s quiet since the meeting is telling. He has given the best part of his career to this team and just like that he is on his way out.
Now, Johnson will get to pick his quarterback and if I were going to bet I would say he is going to a place where he will win. I just hope he gets his championship in the NFC, but based on my limited experience seeing Andre angry I think he is going somewhere he can show the Texans his anger.