NFL: Houston Texans Release Ryan Mallett, Sign TJ Yates
The Houston Texans has had enough of quarterback Ryan Mallett and his excuses. CBS Sports reports that the Texans have parted ways with their former starting quarterback and already have a replacement on the way.
According to Chron, Houston has signed former quarterback T.J. Yates. The 28-year-old was drafted in the fifth round by the Texans in 2011 and helped the team clinch their first playoff appearance as well as win the franchise's first playoff game ever as a rookie.
Mallett's release stems from missing a team flight for a game against Miami last week. He blamed the traffic in Houston as the cause of his absence, taking a commercial flight instead. The 27-year-old was also late during a training camp practice session and said that his alarm clock was broken, per NFL.com.
A report by The Houston Chronicle said that head coach Bill O'Brien wanted to cut Mallett after the incident, but general manager Rick Smith blocked the move. It was more of a move to preserve the team for the game against the Miami Dolphins as Brian Hoyer was the only other active quarterback on the roster.
Sports Illustrated noted that if Smith got his way over the head coach, it could lead to a butting heads on who will be calling the shots in the future. Based on the league's history, issues between general managers and head coaches in the NFL do not end well, but owner Bob McNair can help repair the relationship.
Mallett was acquired by the Texans from the New England Patriots last season for a conditional sixth or seventh pick, per Washington Post. He started two games in 2014 before suffering a torn pectoral muscle that kept him out for the rest of the season.
The Sports Illustrated report added that Mallett was a project of O'Brien and his coaching staff, believing on their ability to change him into a big game and playoff quarterback. The Texans coach has a reputation of being a good quarterback coach even though Mallett came in with a limited set of physical skills and potential as well as problems with his maturity.
This season, he was beaten by Hoyer for the starting quarterback position in the preseason, but he replaced Hoyer late in the loss to Kansas City in Week 1. O'Brien continued to start Mallett the next four games, leading the team to a 1-3 record, and was named one of the worst starters in the league by NFL.com.
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