Texans release No. 3 QB Ragone
By
Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Once regarded as a solid prospect, and a player who might eventually emerge as a starter in the league, quarterback
Dave Ragone has been released by the
Houston Texans after three seasons.
[SIZE=-2]Ragone[/SIZE]
Ragone, 26, played in only two games in three seasons. He started two contests as a rookie, when
David Carr was injured, and completed 20 of 40 passes for 135 yards, with one interception. He also rushed for 51 yards on six carries.
But over the past two seasons, Ragone did not appear in a single game, and as a pure, dropback pocket passer, he was probably ill-suited for the offense being installed by Texans first-year coach Gary Kubiak this spring. That offense will require more mobility from the quarterback and movement skills have never been Ragone's strong suit.
On the revamped depth chart, Ragone has been replaced as the No. 3 quarterback by rookie Quinton Porter, an undrafted free agent from Boston College who has impressed the coaches. Beset by a string of injuries, Porter started only 17 games during his college career.
The Texans earlier in the spring signed former Miami backup
Sage Rosenfels to take over the No. 2 spot behind Carr, a job held by veteran
Tony Banks the past four seasons. Banks was not re-signed and remains available as an unrestricted free agent.
Ragone was the team's third-round choice in the 2003 draft, the 88th player selected that year, following a standout career at Louisville. He signed a three-year, $1.35 million contract that included a signing bonus of $440,000. Then, this year, the Texans retained his rights as a restricted free agent and earlier this month signed him to the one-year qualifying offer of $721,600.
Last spring, playing for the Berlin Thunder, Ragone earned offensive most valuable player honors in the NFL Europe League. In leading his team to a World Bowl berth, Ragone completed 158 of 251 passes for 1,746 yards, with 13 touchdown passes and just two interceptions. He established an NFLEL record by throwing 174 straight passes without an interception.
Because he is not a "vested" veteran, Ragone is subject to league waivers, and could be claimed by a team seeking a young No. 3 quarterback.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. To check out Len's chat archive, click here
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