Houston Texans: Signing Randall Cobb is a slap in the face to fans

The Houston Texans have signed wideout Randall Cobb to a three-year deal but it’s bittersweet because of the reasoning. it’s truly a slap in the face.

While we are all practicing our social distancing, the Houston Texans are busy on Kirby Drive trying to hammer out deals to shape their NFL roster for the upcoming season. Nobody knows how long this COVID-19 pandemic will last but we’re all hoping that it’s as soon as possible so that we can get back to a sense of normalcy in our lives.

I truly miss my sports but I understand that we all as world citizens have to do our part to prevent the spread of this deadly malady. I’m used to being out-and-about at my favorite sports bars with friends, watching my games with adult beverages in tow at this time of the week; but, at least for the near-term, that won’t be so.

I’m willing to make this sacrifice because my heart pours for those that have been affected by the coronavirus. I want to see these individuals recover as well as to be as strong as ever and a massive yet prudent response from our federal, state and local governments is needed in order to make this happening a distant memory.

The Moment

But a funny thing happening happened on the way to checking my phone earlier this week, I as well as the rest of Texans’ Nation, found out the DeAndre Hopkins had been TRADED for running back David Johnson and a second-round draft pick.

I was furious, dismayed, shocked and confused when I heard the news. I immediately knew at that point that Hop and Bill O’Brien had some sort of disagreement. With OB now having complete control of the team’s football operations, he acted off of emotion and made the worst trade in franchise history, topping the Jadeveon Clowney “deal” he made back last season.

We all know how much of a temper O’Brien has and it certainly got the best of him in this situation.

We remember Bill’s infamous Week 14 outburst to a fan on the way to locker room at the half while the Houston Texans were getting their tails handed to them 31-3 against the Denver Broncos this past season.

“You SUCK too! (fill in the rest of the expletives here)”

Yes, you know what I’m talking about.

Anywho, I didn’t think he’d be able to top that but trading away the best wideout this franchise has ever had outside of some guy named Andre Johnson definitely boggles the mind.

Hopkins isn’t a guy you flip like a used car, he’s the vintage Ford Mustang that you keep in the garage that you only drive on Sundays, keeping it preserved, pristine and fresh during the week.

You never give it up unless you have a sizable offer for it and O’Brien certainly violated that unofficial code of conduct.

Hopkins is definitely on track to be a future Hall of Famer and you just don’t trade away generational talent like that.

Texans’ Nation should be furious — I’m still fuming — but we have to live with the possibility that 29-year-old Randall Cobb could be our No. 1 receiver going into this season.

The Problem

If you want to strip your allegiance to this team, I totally understand because it’s clearly obvious that this franchise doesn’t care much about fans by making a move like this. There were some rough seasons and Hopkins was the only guy worth watching if not J.J. Watt.

If you want to really get their attention, those who are lucky enough to get season tickets — there’s still a years-long waitlist — you’re more than welcome to cancel them.

The problem is that there will be another set of fans that are more than willing to pony up to take their spot and hence the Houston Texans’ financial footing, as well as their balance sheet, will be as strong as ever.

Us Texans love our football and the franchise knows this so they’ll do whatever the hell they want knowing fans will still show up to games.

Why do I say this? Houston Texans’ season tickets are typically a great return on investment because you can typically upsell them for a greater value, especially for a marquee opponent.

But the true fans — many of them are my close friends and confidants — will go to every game because of their strong affinity for the team but there are others that look to make a quick buck and don’t go games but just sell their tickets.

There’s no way to police this because ultimately, they’ve paid their money and that’s all that matters.

How we deal with this happening

Although Cobb has some talent, it nowhere mirrors the greatness of one D-Hop. He’s coming to the team in awkward position, trying to convince fans that he’s a suitable replacement for a guy that was loved by fans.

He’ll just have to play the game the way he has to win us over and do everything he can to help the team be successful.

I enjoyed watching Cobb during his renaissance with the Green Bay Packers and I hope he can continue to bring that magic with this team. He even had a solid season with that team I don’t like up in North Texas that I don’t like. I won’t refer to them by name.

Cobb would’ve been a great signing as a complementary piece rather than him being featured with

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a cast that includes a strong Kenny Stills, a brittle Will Fuller and a still-unproven Keke Coutee.

Their newest acquisition has been healthy the majority of his career so that shouldn’t be a concern but I still feel replacing him for Hop is a total slap in the face to fans. Hop should’ve been a Texan for life and be enshrined in Canton in the future full of Texans’ fanfare. That won’t necessarily be the case now.

But for now, for those who are still on board of watching this mess of a team, they’ll have to see what the hell is O’Brien trying to pull because of this doesn’t work at the end of 2020, he needs to be LOCKED OUT of the team’s facilities with a pink slip in tow.

Let’s hope for the best…

Cobb caught 55 balls for 828 yards — 15.1 yards per reception — along with three touchdowns off 83 targets and a 66.3 catch percentage through 15 games — six starts — last season.

dark. Next. The Bill O'Brien Era: A full-on dictatorship that needs to end

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