Bill O’Brien reportedly wanted to cut Ryan Mallett but was overruled by Texans GM Rick Smith
Bill O’Brien wanted rid of Ryan Mallett. The fact that Mallett joined the team in Miami could point to a rift between key members of Texans’ leadership.
Texans head coach Bill O’Brien was ready to kick Ryan Mallett to the curb. According to the Houston Chronicle, O’Brien had made a decision to release Mallett prior to the team’s Week 7 bout against the Miami Dolphins, but general manager Rick Smith vetoed the decision.
Mallett missed the team’s charter flight to Miami before its ugly loss to the Dolphins on Sunday. He said he got stuck in traffic, which might have been a workable excuse if he didn’t already have a history of missing meetings.
According to the Chronicle, O’Brien wanted Mallett to stay in Houston, but Smith pushed to let Mallett join the team so that Brian Hoyer would have a capable backup. Mallett was named the Texans’ starting quarterback in Week 2 after Hoyer struggled in the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mallett wasn’t much better when he was on the field, however. Through six appearances, he is 78-for-147 passing for 770 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions.
The Mallett saga reflects deeper issues in the Texans’ organization. O’Brien is in just his second season with the Texans and appears to already be at odds with his front office. The Texans are in the midst of a disastrous season, starting 2-5 after going 9-7 last season. They were losing 41-0 at halftime to the Dolphins on Sunday before coming back to lose by the misleading score of 44-26.
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SB Nation presents: The Texans were embarrassed by the Dolphins on Sunday
