Just Lose, Baby! Just Lose
The Houston Texans have one simple task this weekend. Just lose baby! Just lose so you can secure the #1 pick in the draft.
If they lose they’re the outright winner for the top pick. They control their own destiny. If they win, then they would have identical 3-13 records with the 49ers. Now if New Orleans, Green Bay and the New York Jets all lose their regular season finales then all would finish 3-13. Then they go to the tiebreaker which is strength of schedule. Basically whoever has the worst record with the “easiest schedule” would have the top pick. That would be New Orleans. So if you are terrible and still lose a lot of games to terrible teams, then you’re the sorriest team of them all.
Of course fans in Houston are dreaming of Reggie Bush. They’ve endured so much losing this season they’re hoping to continue the streak. They would boo if they won! Why start now? But players are playing for their jobs. So something whacky might happen and they win. Dom Capers could care less but he won’t say it. He’ll probably be the first coached fired Monday morning. He knows But the front office is hoping for a tank job this weekend.
If Houston has the top pick, they have two options.
1) They draft Reggie Bush. Even with Dominick Davis in the backfield they have said they would take Reggie Bush. Or trade Davis for some help. How can you pass up a once in a lifetime player who can do so many things when he touches the ball? They immediately have a weapon on offense. Then David Carr can play action more effectively and throw the ball down field to Andre Johnson. Okay it’s easier said than executed. Having Reggie Bush to build around would help the team in the long run. Winning the lousy season finale just to get a win does no good for a team who needs serious help.
2) They trade the top pick. Not a bad idea for a team who needs help in a lot of areas. They could trade down a few spots and still land an impact player and get more draft picks or players. What if some team offers their whole draft for the top spot? Houston would be stupid not to do that. Houston makes the call.
If Houston were to find a way to win on the road and all those team end up with the same record, they would have the 4th or 5th pick based on the tiebreaker. Not a position where you have all the power. They might get an OT, or OLB at that spot (assuming they don’t take a QB). It’s just not as a sure thing as having Reggie Bush.
So why start now to get a win? Just think of it this way Houston. If you lose this weekend and it’ll help you win more games in the seasons to come.
December 29th, 2005 14:58
I have a breakdown of the #1 hopefuls on my blog. View it and link if you feel it is appropriate.
December 30th, 2005 11:23
i like your site…you worth to be at the first rank..
December 30th, 2005 14:19
This is probably why I’d be a bad GM. If I were the Texans, I’d look at my roster, see Domanick Davis and Jonathan Wells, think “Hey, we’re okay at that position,” and then draft an offensive lineman (maybe after trading the #1 pick).
But as you said, Bush could be a once-in-a-lifetime talent. How do you pass that up? And how would you sell that to your fans?
I just wonder if it really makes the Texans a better team?
December 30th, 2005 15:07
But then again look at Mike Ditka and trading FOR “once-in-a-lifetime talent”…remember the Ricky Williams trade?
Or the Herschal Walker trade between the Vikings and the Cowboys.
I think a good GM will look at his roster, figure out what puzzle pieces are missing and look at how to get those pieces. Trading the #1 would be the best option.