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Houston Texans: Why Bill O’Brien deserves a contract extension right now

By Brian K. Patterson

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 27: Head coach Bill O'Brien of the Houston Texans watches the game against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field on December 27, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 27: Head coach Bill O'Brien of the Houston Texans watches the game against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field on December 27, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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The Houston Texans have one game to go before this dumpster fire of a season in finally extinguished with some type of culmination.  After this week, all local football eyes will be on Bill O’Brien and wondering what the heck his future will be with this franchise.  Here’s why I think he deserves an extension.

The Houston Texans are rarely in this situation with a head coach.  Over the past 15 years of existence, the organization has only had three main guys manning the sidelines.  Those are Dom Capers, Gary Kubiak and finally Bill O’Brien.  Switching coaches as often as the flavor of the week is certainly something the Houston Texans shy away from but with no information coming out the front office, we all have to speculate.

The Dysfunction

It’s an absolute shame that we have to do this because Rick Smith won’t come out and tell us what’s on his mind because quite frankly, he doesn’t have to.  The Houston Texas — as well as the rest of the NFL — are enjoying a renaissance where there is an enormous amount windfall of cash headed their way.  So if Smith doesn’t have to make himself transparent, then won’t do it.  Yes, there are occasions where he does show up on SportsRadio 610 to talk a spell but it seems scripted to me.

I think he knows the questions by whomever is going to ask so it gives me the impression as if he’s reading off a cue card.  And rightfully so — 610 AM is owned by the Houston Texans so they have the leeway to control the message.  The monopoly this franchise has on the local sports media market as well as other nearby markets where they own the stations are jaw-dropping but you can’t blame the franchise for being shrewd businessmen.

But what happens is you have huge disconnect between fans because many of us want to know if they’re going to bring O’Brien back for several more seasons.  He has one year left on his five-year deal and there has been no talk about an extension, even when this season is lost and there’s absolutely no incentive to keep this a secret.

If anything, it’s better the get the news out now rather than later in the season.  But no, we sit here and wait to figure who in the hell will be coaching this team in 2018.

The Solution

Bar none — BILL O’BRIEN DESERVES AN EXTENSION OF AT LEAST A MINIMUM OF TWO MORE YEARS RIGHT NOW.  There’s no if, and’s or butts about it.  With all of the quarterbacks he’s had to coach, with all of the injuries they’ve endured, with all of the personalities he’s had to manage, he still has churned out three consecutive seasons at 9-7 with two division titles.  That’s not easy to do.

Just ask the Buffalo Bills — they are on the bubble to get into the playoffs this year with an 8-7 record but will likely miss yet another postseason because they won’t get the help they need from other members of the AFC. They haven’t been a part of the postseason since 1999, the only team not to have partaken in the festivities in the 21st century.

That’s a tough pill to swallow but O’Brien has proven that he’s able to get more out of players than just about any coach in the league.  He’s certainly doing more with less.  Had Deshaun Watson not gotten hurt, he would’ve shattered the mold again with the team likely elbowing their way into the postseason once again without J.J. Watt or Whitney Mercilus.

Speaking of DW4, he along with Jadeveon Clowney have gone out of their way to lend their support

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for O’Brien.  Although players have been asked this question over the past weeks, these two guys — arguably the most pivotal on this team — words do matter and the front office needs to listen up and listen good.  Especially if those words are coming from two franchise players like both.

Sure, we can criticize O’Brien for his time management in critical moments, his grumpy demeanor at times but he’s a FOOTBALL COACH.  Minor miscues are to be expected and my coach doesn’t necessarily have emanate the personality of lollipops and rainbows.

Not only that but everywhere he has gone, he has had success — not to mention how he helped heal a reeling Penn State football program while getting better at his craft and working his way up to the ladder to get where he is now.

The Madness

O’Brien said today he’ll coach out his last year even if he’s not offered an extension.  It’s honestly a way of betting on himself with the confidence that he’s a magician and can quickly erode our minds of the transpiration of the 2017 season.  I’ll tell you what though — the Houston Texans better not let things get to that point because it’d be an abomination of how a respected NFL front office should be run.  But that’s just me.

I could only the imagine the crap he has to put up with daily between Smith, Bob McNair and everybody in between.  Ugh.  Not to mention the fact if the Texans turn him loose, his cell phone would be overloaded with calls from teams looking for a coach.

Next: Jadeveon Clowney: From Bust to Superstar

We’re going to find out in days on what O’Brien’s fate is but the best place for him is to be right here coaching this team that has been molded into his image.

And that’s that — go Texans.

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