Texans fallout from the draft. Texans GM Casserly quits

UteChief · 05-10-2006, 05:56 PM

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.

05-10-2006, 05:56 PM	Topic Starter
UteChief Veteran Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: SLC, UT Casino cash: $6962450	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.
Posts: 2,381