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No looking back for new Texans QB
By CHAREAN WILLIAMS
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
AP/DAVID J. PHILLIP
The Texans' fans and front office are counting on Matt Schaub, above, being a big improvement over David Carr, who was 22-53 as the starter in Houston.
HOUSTON -- Matt Schaub has played two exhibition games as the starting quarterback for the [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Houston [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Texans[/FONT][/FONT]. Not once has he played the "what if" game.
Schaub was Michael Vick's understudy in Atlanta for three seasons before approving a trade to Houston by agreeing to a six-year, $48 million deal in March. Five months later, Falcons fans bemoan losing Schaub.
With Vick having decided Monday to plead guilty to federal dogfighting charges, Schaub would be Atlanta's starting quarterback this season had he stayed. Instead, the Falcons have Joey Harrington, a former No. 3 overall draft choice who is 23-43 in his five-year career, and the Texans have high hopes for Schaub.
"I'm incredibly excited about this opportunity here in Houston and being part of this organization, so that thought [of being the starting quarterback in Atlanta] has not even entered into my mind," Schaub said.
Schaub made only two starts for the Falcons and has only six touchdowns with six interceptions and a 69.2 passer rating in his career.
But the Texans invested their future in Schaub by swapping spots with the Falcons in the first round of this year's draft -- Atlanta selected defensive end Jamaal Anderson with the eighth pick and Houston took defensive tackle Amobi Okoye at No. 10 -- and surrendering two second-round choices.
In so doing, the Texans finally cut ties with David Carr, the No. 1 overall choice in 2002. Houston had picked up the option on Carr's contract after the 2005 season, prompting them to pass on[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Vince [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Young[/FONT][/FONT], Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler in the 2006 draft.
Houston ended up paying Carr $35 million over five years, and in return, Carr went 22-53 as the starter.
By all accounts, Schaub is everything Carr isn't.
Schaub called his new teammates to introduce himself on the day he was traded to the Texans.
Some players complained that they never really knew Carr.
"[Schaub] told me he was excited about the opportunity, and he was ready to get to work," said Texans receiver Andre Johnson, one of the league's best with 311 receptions for 3,953 yards and 17 touchdowns in four seasons. "I was excited, too. When you bring in a new quarterback, it's a new start."
Schaub is the first player to the Methodist Training Center, arriving before 6 a.m. most days. He usually is the last to leave. He also has found time away from the facility to socialize with teammates.
The Texans have applauded Schaub's work ethic, leadership and passion for the game, qualities they rarely, if ever, saw in Carr.
"It is different," Texans owner Bob McNair said. "David was wonderful in many ways, and one of them was he was such a solid family man. But on the other hand, he spent so much time with his family that some of his teammates felt like he should have been spending more time with them. In the case of Matt, no one has any second thoughts about his commitment to the team and him viewing the team as his family. He's here, and he's leading by example.
"He's a solid guy, and I think he's just going to keep getting better and better. His teammates like him, and they have confidence in him, and I think it really shows up when you get down to the clutch situations. I think Matt is going to perform well under pressure."
Charean Williams 817-390-7760
By CHAREAN WILLIAMS
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
AP/DAVID J. PHILLIP
The Texans' fans and front office are counting on Matt Schaub, above, being a big improvement over David Carr, who was 22-53 as the starter in Houston.
HOUSTON -- Matt Schaub has played two exhibition games as the starting quarterback for the [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Houston [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Texans[/FONT][/FONT]. Not once has he played the "what if" game.
Schaub was Michael Vick's understudy in Atlanta for three seasons before approving a trade to Houston by agreeing to a six-year, $48 million deal in March. Five months later, Falcons fans bemoan losing Schaub.
With Vick having decided Monday to plead guilty to federal dogfighting charges, Schaub would be Atlanta's starting quarterback this season had he stayed. Instead, the Falcons have Joey Harrington, a former No. 3 overall draft choice who is 23-43 in his five-year career, and the Texans have high hopes for Schaub.
"I'm incredibly excited about this opportunity here in Houston and being part of this organization, so that thought [of being the starting quarterback in Atlanta] has not even entered into my mind," Schaub said.
Schaub made only two starts for the Falcons and has only six touchdowns with six interceptions and a 69.2 passer rating in his career.
But the Texans invested their future in Schaub by swapping spots with the Falcons in the first round of this year's draft -- Atlanta selected defensive end Jamaal Anderson with the eighth pick and Houston took defensive tackle Amobi Okoye at No. 10 -- and surrendering two second-round choices.
In so doing, the Texans finally cut ties with David Carr, the No. 1 overall choice in 2002. Houston had picked up the option on Carr's contract after the 2005 season, prompting them to pass on[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Vince [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Young[/FONT][/FONT], Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler in the 2006 draft.
Houston ended up paying Carr $35 million over five years, and in return, Carr went 22-53 as the starter.
By all accounts, Schaub is everything Carr isn't.
Schaub called his new teammates to introduce himself on the day he was traded to the Texans.
Some players complained that they never really knew Carr.
"[Schaub] told me he was excited about the opportunity, and he was ready to get to work," said Texans receiver Andre Johnson, one of the league's best with 311 receptions for 3,953 yards and 17 touchdowns in four seasons. "I was excited, too. When you bring in a new quarterback, it's a new start."
Schaub is the first player to the Methodist Training Center, arriving before 6 a.m. most days. He usually is the last to leave. He also has found time away from the facility to socialize with teammates.
The Texans have applauded Schaub's work ethic, leadership and passion for the game, qualities they rarely, if ever, saw in Carr.
"It is different," Texans owner Bob McNair said. "David was wonderful in many ways, and one of them was he was such a solid family man. But on the other hand, he spent so much time with his family that some of his teammates felt like he should have been spending more time with them. In the case of Matt, no one has any second thoughts about his commitment to the team and him viewing the team as his family. He's here, and he's leading by example.
"He's a solid guy, and I think he's just going to keep getting better and better. His teammates like him, and they have confidence in him, and I think it really shows up when you get down to the clutch situations. I think Matt is going to perform well under pressure."
Charean Williams 817-390-7760