Leading Texans cheerleader, Chronicle pro football columnist John McClain, reports on the baffling nature of the injury that is holding back the Texans’ high-priced running back, Ahman Green:
Meanwhile, the Texans asked running back Ahman Green, 30, to have his sore right knee examined by [Dr. James] Andrews to see if he can find something that might help him stay on the field.
“We’re trying to find out what’s really going on, why it’s swelling and giving me pain and discomfort,” Green said after practice Tuesday. “I’ve had three MRIs, and they still don’t know from that, so I’m going to fly over there and see what we can find out.” [. . .]
“I’m hoping we’ll finally know,” Green said. “I hope we can find a solution for this. We’ll have our finger on the dot to see exactly what it is. Once we find the problem, we’ll have a solution.
“I know what I bring to this team, and my teammates depend on me a lot. And when I’m injured, I can’t do the things I know I can do.”
In reality, the acquisition of Green was a mistake — and a very expensive one at that — from the beginning. Moreover, that it was a mistake should not have been a surprise to anyone. As noted in my annual preview of the Texans’ season:
An example of the dubious decision-making regarding offensive personnel is the signing of RB Ahman Green, formerly of Green Bay. Green was a great running back in his prime with the Pack, but he has averaged less than four yards per carry for the past two seasons. Inasmuch as the Texans agreed to pay Green $23 million over four years ($8 million guaranteed in the first season), the chances that the 30-year old Green will be worth the value of this contract this season are tenuous, at best. The chances of him still being worth the contract a couple of years from now are so speculative as to be off the charts.
In short, you won’t read about it in McClain’s columns, but Green represents another indication that the hiring of current Texans coach Gary Kubiak has not changed the legacy of dubious personnel decisions over at Reliant Park.
Ahman Green = eventual salary cap hit.