Doesn't John Elway look like a genius?
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The benched, booed and vilified Brock Osweiler is about to become the most expensive backup quarterback in NFL history, if all indications are right.
The Houston Texans famously signed Osweiler to a four-year, $72 million contract before this season —- even though he had no real, sustained experience as a starting NFL quarterback. He was benched in Sunday's game in favor of Tom Savage, who makes less than one percent of Osweiler's annual salary ($300K). Most media reports have focused on what a bad investment Osweiler has been so far (true), but there is one thing:
The Texans structured his contract so the team can cut bait after the 2017 season. Remember these two facts:
Osweiler gets $21M in 2016 ($12M signing bonus, $5M roster bonus, $4M salary). His $16M base salary in 2017 is also fully guaranteed.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 10, 2016
The rest of Osweiler's money is non-guaranteed: $18M salary in 2018, $4M roster bonus trigger due March 2019 and $13M salary in 2019.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 10, 2016
RELATED: Osweiler gets benched.
So Houston structured the deal in a way that was, in essence, an insanely expensive two-year tryout. If Osweiler spits the bit, Houston can make him the backup in 2017 and then cut bait in 2018. (If cut, it looks like Houston would take a $6 million hit in 2018 and $3 million in 2019, based on numbers by overthecap.com.)
How bad has Osweiler been? His 71.4 QBR ranks him as the second worst quarterback in the league, behind Blake Bortles (wow), Case Keenum (double wow) and Colin Kaepernick —- and none of those guys have been lighting it up. He's ahead of only the horrible Ryan Fitzpatrick, who lost his job to the fourth-round project, Bryce Petty.
Remember, Elway refused to meet Osweiler's demands —- he was accused of low balling his young QB —- but now the Broncos' executive vice president and general manager looks like the smartest man in the NFL. (Remember, Elway knows a thing or two about quarterbacks, being one who has won and Super Bowl and being elected to the Hall of Fame and all). He even took a teeny-tiny shot at Osweiler when he told a radio host: "A lot of times, those deals you don't make are the best ones."
Houston's owner, Bob McNair may be wishing he thought like that, especially now. He gave a strong indication on where the franchise is headed.
Bob McNair on benching Brock Osweiler 'That was a gutsy call. I'm glad I didn't have to make decision. It was for the good of the team'
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 18, 2016
Yes, it's good for his team, but not for his pocketbook.
It will be interesting to see how the Osweiler fail impacts other quarterback needy team. Because, as much as team like the New York Jets and Jacksonville get hammered for poor quarterback picks and development, the fact is, they're rolling the dice just like every other NFL team.
And they're doing so without blowing $37 million.
