Houston Texans: Derek Newton’s cut from the team a semi-dirty move

The Houston Texans have released Derek Newton from the roster after battling two straight seasons of recovering from ruptured patellar tendons in both of his knees. This move wasn’t to much of a surprise but the manner in which it was done was in that fashion. Let’s take a look and examine further.

The Houston Texans have entered in a new era with general manager Brian Gaine running the show. With that being said, the new era comes with new beginnings and they’ve decided that guard/tackle Derek Newton was to not be a part of the change of direction that the team has heading to.

Newton has been to hell and back with his recovery of both of his patellar tendons in his knees as they were ruptured in Week 7 of the 2016 season against the Denver Broncos.  I recall seeing it when it happened, it was an away game and one could hear a pin drop as Newton was on the ground, grimacing in pain with him eventually being carted off the field.  The 2011 7th-round pick out of Arkansas State was flying high, coming fresh off a five-year, $26.5 million deal in the off season.

He was one of Houston Texans’ fans favorite whipping boys in his early years but he amazingly was able to get better at his craft and was perennial favorite by the guys at Pro Football Focus with his weekly performances.  His versatility was proving to be second to none and although he wasn’t the absolute best out there, his performance put him in the hall of very good at his peak.

Then the injury happened.  I’m positive that he had a sense of frustration as he had to learn to do simple things such as walking all over again.  He had been making tremendous strides in his return and had been showing up to work daily in the Houston Texans off season program but things were different when he showed up the facility yesterday when he had been told he was cut.

It surprised him to no end as he thought he was truly on the less beaten path to be one of the first

More from House of Houston

• Are you the 2021 FanSided Sports Fan of the Year?
• Houston Texans: 4 reasons Romeo Crennel is right coach right now
• Astros-Twins Wild Card Series: 5 things to know as MLB postseason begins
• Houston Texans: The Most Underrated Sports Drought Ever
• Houston Texans: J.J. Watt’s early case for NFL Hall of Fame

athletes to come back from such a debilitating injury.  According to Aaron Wilson of the Chron, the team is basing their decision to cut him off a physical that he took March 23.  It was a straight leg raise exercise and Dr. Walter Lowe, the team physician, noticed some swelling as well as soreness in his knee, causing him to fail his physical.

But with him getting a second opinion from the highly-respected Dr. James Andrews shortly thereafter in regard to him being fit to participate with the team, Newton really thought things were on the up-and-up until he was prepared to walk through the door yesterday.  Dr. Andrews has worked with the likes of Peyton Manning, Reggie Bush, Bruce Smith and Marvin Harrison with their knee ailments and all of them were able to resume their careers.  His opinion should carry weight but it wasn’t enough for the team to keep him aboard.

Another factor to the team cutting him was that he was due a $500K roster bonus that would’ve been effective April 1.  Since he failed his physical March 23, the team feels they have grounds to not pay him that bonus.  Newton plans to appeal that decision and hopefully some good can come out of that.

I know the Texans have more of an inside view to Newton’s readiness than I do but I think they should’ve at least waited until training camp to make a decision on him.  Because of his injury, they threw him out just like yesterday’s trash considering all of the strides and the contributions that he made to the team.   In all respects, it was a semi-dirty move but it’s certainly was a business-like decision that was made.

Next: The Bob McNair tenure has gone long enough

Did the Texans make the right decision?  Possibly so but I can certainly criticize the timing of it.   But if he finds himself on another NFL roster being able to produce at a considerable level, then it will this organization’s face that will have egg all over it.

But we’ll see — best of luck to you Derek.

Go Texans.