Texans fallout from the draft. Texans GM Casserly quits
 

Houston Texans general manager Charley Casserly resigned on Wednesday, less than two weeks after the team's controversial decision to take defensive end Mario Williams with the top pick in the National Football League draft.

Casserly said he was leaving to pursue other opportunities in the NFL, although it has been speculated for some time that Texans owner Bob McNair was pushing out the only general manager the team has had in its six years of existence.

"I have not been fired. There's absolutely no truth to that at all," Casserly said in a press conference with McNair.

McNair concurred: "No, he has not been fired, so you can forget that."

McNair added he did not yet have a successor in mind, but that "we have to get someone who has a good eye for talent."

The Texans, who at 2-14 had the NFL's worst record last year, stunned the football world and fans on April 29 when they chose Williams from North Carolina State over University of Texas quarterback Vince Young and Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush from the University of Southern California.

The decision to pass over Young, a Houston native who led Texas to the national championship this year in a thrilling Rose Bowl win over Bush and USC, angered many Texans fans who already doubted Casserly after a series of lackluster drafts led to the miserable 2005 record.

Casserly took the unusual step of telling Houston fans in one television appearance they should blame him, not new Texans coach Gary Kubiak, for the Williams selection.

"You don't do this job and worry about your legacy. You don't draft Mario Williams to worry about your legacies, okay?," he told reporters.

Casserly was with the Washington Redskins for 23 years, rising to become general manager until he left in 1999.

Speculation that his Texans job was in jeopardy began in December when McNair, without Casserly's input, suddenly hired former NFL coach and general manager Dan Reeves as a consultant.

Reeves evaluated the team for McNair and left, but has been mentioned among possible replacements for Casserly.

Wow. Probably the best move for the both of them.

I believe that there are rumors flying about that Casserly may be in line for Tagliabue's job.

bye bye now texans really did suck bad...nice to someone besides a coach take some of the blame

The coach was fired, though. Casserly 'resigned.'

I loved the Williams pick for them :shrug: "Defense wins championships!" Besides that Bush ain't going anywhere without blocking. Williiams on the other hand doesn't have to do anything but line up as DE and do his thing. IMO the love affair with Reggie Bush was way outta control.

PhilFree:arrow:

Helping your post out.

Thank You!

PhilFree:arrow:

More likely Art Shell's job.

There's two schools of thought here.

1. Casserly was "pushed" out after passing on Bush or Young.
2. Casserly quit because he was forced to pass on Bush or Young.

Everyone assumes Williams was Casserly's choice, but it's entirely possible that the owner forced his hand.

He's done a lousy job from day one. I'm surprised it took this long.

As is posted, he is going for Art Shell's job. God forbid he get Tagliabue's job. This guy has been a babbling idiot for years. Has done nothing at Washington or Texas. Hopefully the NFL is smart enough to pass on him, although I am not quite sure what Shell did. Shuffle paper and talk to ESPN radio...if that is the criteria then Casserly is your man.