You’re The Worst power rankings: NFL GMs
By Staff
8) Houston Texans – Rick Smith
The Houston Texans signed J.J. Watt to a $100 million contract back in 2014. How’s that working for the team? A 9-7 record last year and a missed playoff appearance. A 6-7 record to date in 2015, and a second-place standing in the worst division in the NFL. Just imagine if they would’ve spread that money around to a halfway decent quarterback instead of trotting out the laughingstock combination of Ryan Mallett, Brian Hoyer, TJ Yates and Ryan Fitzpatrick.
The best thing that $100 million has done for Houston is buy great publicity. Watt is a darling of the league, gets fondled with mittens by the media, and deflects any criticism that the team rightfully deserves.
Amazingly, GM Rick Smith has been with the team since 2006. A decade of dominance, er, futility. Houston is perpetually one of the most overrated teams in the NFL, and essentially a whipping boy for any team with a little bit of backbone. They’re always “one step away” from being great. To be fair, that step in 2015 is reaching .500. Maybe find a quarterback and running back who doesn’t break down 30 minutes into the season.