Houston Texans: We Have a Problem

I really think that Mario Williams will turn out to be a fine player in the NFL for years to come. Many are pegging him as the “next” Reggie White or Lawrence Taylor and, although that may be both, a huge and unfair, comparison, I firmly believe that Williams will be very good, at the least.

Having said that, I must admit that I believe the Houston Texans’ decision to pass on former USC tailback Reggie Bush, this draft’s most gifted player – or Vince Young for that matter – could come back to bite them in the rear end for years to come.

I understand the Texans’ given reasons for drafting Williams, citing their need to build a championship caliber defense in the high octane AFC South, but if Houston management thinks Williams and their current cast of defenders is going to stop Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts – or Byron Leftwich and the Jacksonville Jaguars for that matter – anytime soon – they are sadly mistaken.

The Texans also committed the cardinal sin of not selecting either one of the two most talented players in the draft and have set themselves – and Williams – up for a huge public relations backlash should Williams not live up to his billing and the team, which went 2-14 last season, not reverse its recent fortunes of colossal failures anytime soon.

How the Texans could pass on both of the spectacular ticket-selling players is beyond me but hey, it’s not a decision I have to live with so, I’m not going to lose any sleep over it at all. However, Houston owner Bob McNair may be up to his ears in spin doctoring at this time next year.

“Vince Young was very popular in Houston and Reggie Bush is, too,” McNair said on draft day. “So you know, it was a tough choice.”

Speaking of putting a spin on things, McNair tried his best to make their decision come out smelling like a rose, but I’m not buying it – and neither will the fans if Houston f Bush or Young start making highlight reel plays for their respective teams while the Texans continue to flounder.

“I realize [the frustration] and I think that’s going to be a temporary situation,” McNair said. “It’s up to us to go out and win football games. We win football games, and they are going to say, ‘You made the right decision.’ If we don’t win football games, they say, ‘You’re stupid.'”

Well, it sounds like McNair knows the routine. Whether he and the rest of the Titans brain trust can live with the repercussions of their selection is another matter all together. For both, their sakes and Williams’ I hope things come up smelling like a rose. Well, maybe I shouldn’t have said rose – especially since those Houston natives can’t seem to get Vince Young off of their minds.