Houston Texans: Take The Pay Cut, Andre Johnson

Andre Johnson and the Houston Texans.

Two nouns that are synonymous with each other since both began writing some of their first chapters of NFL existence in 2003.

It’s the end of the season and Texans fans will be wondering if last season’s appearance will be his 12th and last.

It’s one that there’s a real possibility that he’ll be seeking greener pastures.

As if the pasture wasn’t starting to turn green here already…

The Texans are fresh off a completing a 9-7 season as a result of them overachieving and the spectacular play of one J.J. Watt.

But the event that transpired over this past summer can’t be ignored.

The event I’m talking about?

His holdout through OTAs.

He knew that the 2015 season was on the horizon and since he’s due nearly 10.5 million plus bonuses, he wanted to have it guaranteed.

Dec 21, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver

Andre Johnson

(80) makes a reception during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

His frustrations even fueled his request to be traded this summer but that was denied by the Texans.

In order to find a truce and solution to the dilemma, Texans’ owner Bob McNair supposedly made an unofficial reassurance that he’ll be taken care of but what does that exactly mean?

With a lot of player’s contracts going into flux at the start of next season, there will be a lot of shuffling the Texans’ front office will have to do to remain competitive.

Arian Foster must be retained even with his cap hit of $9 million, Kareem Jackson needs to be re-signed and then there will be some tough decisions in regard to retaining other players such as Jonathan Joseph with a $12.25 million cap hit. Joseph will likely be cut.

Ultimately, running an NFL franchise is a business to its utmost and sometimes those cringing decisions have to be made in order for the greater good.

Johnson is currently working on a seven-year, $67 million contract that includes $20.5 million guaranteed.

His base salary figure for 2015 is 10.5 million but it counts 16.1 million toward the salary cap because of the bonuses that he is owed that have been spread out over the duration of his restructured contract that he signed in 2010.

With that much money obligated to one player, it’s not an easy move for the Texans to make.

I want Dre here and I want him to retire only as a Houston Texan with his No. 80 jersey being the first of many to raise to the rafters of NRG Stadium.

Oct 20, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson (80) is defended by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback

Cortez Allen

(28) in the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

But $16.1 million is a lot of money.

I’m not saying that he deserves it because he does but that figure would definitely inhibit the Texans from working aggressively to make the team better. It would be nearly handcuff status, get the ball-and-chain out.

He’s has been such a fixture of this team for so long that it’s hard to ignore the fact that he’s 33-years-old.

What if he gets injured? Then what?

All of that money for naught.

Johnson has been asked to restructure his deal many times throughout his career and he’ll be likely asked to do so again.

His numbers weren’t so hot this season — he had 85 catches for 936 yards, tied for 13th in the league in receptions. He appeared in 15 games this season.

He also averaged 11.0 yards per catch, his worst since 2006.

That’s incredibly down from the 2012 season — one of his best of his career, catching 112 balls for 1,598 yards (14.3 yards per catch) in all 16 games.

It goes to show that he is still capable of putting up those numbers but if he was attempting to make a case to get paid, he has fallen short in doing so after not reaching 1,000 yards for the first time in career even after playing for the majority of the season.

Now we can partly attribute that to the team being lackluster in quarterback play for the majority of the season but I do recall many passes that seemed not too hard to catch that were dropped.

Andre’s uncle, Andre Melton and unofficial public relations spokesman has said that he’d be willing to take a pay cut.

But when ESPN’s Tania Ganguli asked him about it a couple of weeks ago, he denied the whole idea or discussion that he may have had with uncle about doing so.

So either he is playing coy or is sticking to guns because Melton went on the record to the Houston Chronicle saying that he would take that pay cut.

Oct 9, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson (80) catches a touchdown pass in the second quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Regardless, it’s going to be a whirlwind of an off-season for Dre.

Will he stay or will he go?

We’re going to see about that.

Here’s my advice.

Take the pay cut Andre — chasing rings is tricky endeavor with absolutely no guarantee of the outcome.

I don’t think there would be a team in the universe that would be willing to take his salary on without a restructure. Especially those that are Super Bowl tested, tried and true.

Stay here, where you are loved, revered and forever will be a fixture in Houston sports history.

Oct 9, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson (80) celebrates with fans after catching a second quarter touchdown pass against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Don’t go to a team that doesn’t know you like we do and won’t give the same level of appreciation that we can.

I think the Texans are going to do everything they can to keep you even if it means deferring your salary to later down the road.

You deserve every penny but it’s not viable now especially if you’re wanting to play on a team that’s ready to go to the Super Bowl.

Super Bowls cost money and we’re going to need every penny to build our roster to get there.

This season was certainly a step in the right direction but I know that you don’t have much time left.

If you decide to leave H-Town to start your quest for a ring, I cannot and will not fault you for that.

But stay here, positive things are happening here that will hopefully transition the team’s admission to the Big Show that you so covet.

You’ve made nearly $100 million over your career so what’s a short-term loss for a long-term gain?

Take the pay cut Andre.

I honestly think you will not regret that decision.

Thank you for all you’ve done up until this point and I certainly hope to see you on our field next season.

Go Texans.