LB's J. Sharper and J. Foreman given permission to seek trade

[FRCDFED]

This is off of Profootball Talk so it's reliability is questionable. But both LB's are very solid!

"The Texans have given both LB Jamie Sharper and LB Jay Foreman permission to seek a trade."

[Wallcrawler]

I heard something on the Jamie Sharper front the other day, not sure about Foreman.


Anyway, Im not really interested in Sharper. He's getting up there. If we are going to sign an aging linebacker, we could get Sam Cowart off the FA list without trading anything.

Unless Im totally missing something on Sharper, Im not really interested in him at all. I know he was good in the 2000 Ravens SB run, but I havent followed him much since he went to the Texans.

[Bowser]

Of the two, I'd take Foreman.

[FRCDFED]

At least the LB crop is improving. Simmons, Sharper, and Foreman are all three quality LB's.

[Anyong Bluth]

Texans ready to part with Foreman
Leading tackler in '02 expendable after team signs LB Greenwood
By JOSEPH DUARTE
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

The fallout from the signing of free agent Morlon Greenwood continued Friday with the Texans giving inside linebacker Jay Foreman permission to seek a trade.

Thursday, the Texans signed Greenwood to a five-year deal worth $22.5 million, and gave three-year starter Jamie Sharper permission to seek a trade.

"I'm blindsided by the whole thing, really. I really don't know what's going on," said Foreman, who led the team in tackles in 2002. "It's just one of those deals. In this business, you can't be surprised by anything."

Texans general manager Charley Casserly declined comment.

Although both of the Texans' starting inside linebackers are on the trading block several scenarios are possible:

• The Texans could trade both players, only one, or decide to retain both, although the latter appears unlikely.
• The team could place added emphasis on selecting an inside linebacker during the early rounds of the April draft.
• Another inside linebacker could be acquired during free agency.
Sharper, 30, the team's leading tackler each of the last two seasons, is scheduled to count $6.13 million against the salary cap in 2005. Foreman, 29, a three-year starter recovering from an ankle injury, will have a $2.21 million cap hit.

Also Friday, the Texans hired University of Virginia assistant coach Mike London as defensive line coach. London spent the past four years working as defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator for Virginia, which uses a 3-4 defense, and previously worked for four seasons with Boston College. The position has been vacant since Todd Grantham left last month to become defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns.

The Texans also signed a pair of unrestricted free agents. Fullback Moran Norris, 26, agreed to a three-year deal worth $1.9 million, including a $600,000 signing bonus, and cornerback Jason Bell, 26, signed a one-year deal worth $540,000 with a $25,000 signing bonus.

"I'm real glad to get this over," said Norris, the primary blocker the past two seasons for 1,000-yard rusher Domanick Davis. "It took a lot of stress off me being a free agent."

Receiver Corey Bradford is scheduled to meet with the Detroit Lions early next week.

Thats the info

[eazyb81]

ugh, no thanks to both. In a matter of days we have gone from dreams of signing Trotter or Hartwell to the shi#ty reality of hoping Sam Cowart or Jay Foreman get released.

[jspchief]

Texans run a 3-4 don't they? Not sure how either of those would do switching to a 4-3.

I find it odd that the Texans are letting these guys walk simply because the got Greenwood. IMO, Greenwood is pretty over-rated. His size is a liabiltiy aganst the run.

Either one would be an upgrade over what we have, just not sure if we'd play them in the middle or on the outside. Right now I think we'll take an OLB in round 1 of the draft, so I expect us to only pursue a MLB.