Quotables: Andre Johnson won’t attend mandatory minicamp
Andre Johnson is frustrated with yet another rebuild in Houston, and won’t attend the team’s mandatory minicamp.
Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports
-Andre Melton, Andre Johnson’s adviser
Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson won’t attend the team’s mandatory minicamp from Tuesday through Thursday, according to the Houston Chronicle. Johnson’s absence was expected, and confirmed by his adviser and uncle Andre Melton on Monday. Johnson’s holdout comes from him being unhappy with the direction the Texans have gone in recent years. He’s expressed frustration with playing for a team that is going through yet another rebuilding period.
Johnson will incur multiple fines during his absence from the mandatory minicamp. There’s also a $1 million offseason workout bonus that is likely going away. It’s unclear what the endgame is here for Johnson and the Texans, but it doesn’t sound like it’s going to be figured out any time soon.
“In my mind, [Brian] Hoyer’s the guy. Hoyer came in, won us four games, unfortunately got hurt. But the guy was on fire when he was healthy.”
Count Cleveland Browns linebacker Paul Kruger among Brian Hoyer's supporters. Cleveland was in rough shape at the quarterback position last season, but one of the few bright spots was Hoyer, who won multiple games before going down with injury. Now he's competing with rookie first-round pick Johnny Manziel, but Kruger thinks Hoyer is the team's No. 1 quarterback.
“Me personally, I mean obviously that’s up to the staff and coaches so they’ll make that decision. But in my mind, Hoyer’s the guy,” Kruger said, via ProFootballTalk.com. “Hoyer came in, won us four games, unfortunately got hurt, but the guy was on fire when he was healthy.”
"I think the only thing we can do for Aldon Smith is support him and have his back and be there for him when he needs to talk."
We already talked a lot about what San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis had to say about contracts, whether it be his own or him weighing in on money management in the NFL, but that wasn’t all that came out of his guest spot filling in for Peter King at Monday Morning Quarterback on Monday. Davis also talked about teammate Aldon Smith, who is dealing with a slew of off-the-field issues
“I think the only thing we can do for Aldon Smith is support him and have his back and be there for him when he needs to talk,” Davis wrote. “We don’t live with him, and we don’t see him on a daily basis. He has to take control and focus on doing everything the right way. He has to want it. He has to take charge.” Smith is currently going through the legal process to take care of a DUI charge that caused the 49ers to place him in rehab for a chunk of last season.
"It's an honor I can't even explain. It's amazing, just the love and support I have for the Colts and the fans, but to see it come back toward me [is humbling]."
-Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts
Tight end Dallas Clark is retiring from the NFL, the Indianapolis Colts announced on Monday, and he’ll re-sign with team before doing so. Clark will join Jeff Saturday as just the second player to re-sign and retire as a Colt. Clark made his NFL debut in 2003 and since then has put up 11 seasons of good to great play, nine of them with the Colts. When he was at his best, he was among the top tight ends in the NFL.
When speaking about retiring as a Colt, Clark was humbled. “It’s an honor I can’t even explain. It’s amazing, just the love and support I have for the Colts and fans, but to see it come back toward me [is humbling],” he said. Clark went on to say that it’s so special he “can’t even express how awesome it is.” Clark finishes his career with 505 receptions, 5,665 yards and 53 touchdowns.
“Who decided to take Joe [Montana] to lunch and cast a cloud on Northern California’s greatest sports hero?”
-James Brosnahan, Attorney
An undercover FBI agent posing as a real estate investor tried to lure NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana into a sting operation. Said operation was related to a far-reaching California political contributions scandal, involving Leland Yee, a California senator who has been formally accused of soliciting donations from undercover FBI agents in exchange for “official acts.”
Montana was caught in the wide net due to the development his company is overseeing near the 49ers’ new stadium in Santa Clara. Montana’s company is developing a hotel, restaurant and other land near the new stadium and the pretext of the FBI sting centered on a possible investment in said development. Nobody suspected Montana of any wrongdoing, however, and he was simply pursued for the fact that his development was one of the biggest going on in California at the time.
“[Mike] Williams didn’t stand out in OTAs and seeing him in action, there isn’t a particular skill that he brings to the table that is different from the rest of the receiver group.”
-Mike Rodak, ESPN
The Buffalo Bills brought in Mike Williams via trade this offseason, and many expected Williams would be a key contributor going forward. But the Bills have quietly built a strong group of receivers outside of Williams, and the veteran hasn't been doing much at organized team activities to earn playing time, as reported by Mike Rodak of ESPN.
Williams hasn't made much of an impact during OTAs, nor does he bring "a particular skill" that sets him apart from the other Bills receivers. Buffalo spent a first-round pick on Sammy Watkins, and Robert Woods was productive as a third option as a rookie last season. That alone forces Williams out of the starting lineup, especially if Chris Hogan continues to look good in the slot, as Rodak notes. At this point, it seems like an uphill battle for playing time.
“The Seahawks sit atop the NFL’s mountaintop right now.”
-Mike Reiss, ESPN Boston
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Kevin Williams had offers from multiple teams on the open market. He may have been available longer than expected, but it sounds like he landed where he wanted, given that he turned down an offer from the New England Patriots who offered more money than he’s getting with the Seahawks, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston.
As Reiss points out, the Patriots have often tried to entice players to come to New England based on how good the team has been for such a long time under quarterback Tom Brady. Now the Seahawks are at the top of the pack after winning the Super Bowl last season, and that makes Seattle an attractive landing place for free agents.
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