It now seems obvious that Andre Johnson’s days as a Texan are over.  According to Johnson, he was told by Coach Bill O’Brien that his role on the team next year would be greatly reduced and that he might be a back-up with only 40 or so catches. Around the NFL writer Mark Sessler reports that Johnson laughed when O’Brien told him that.

“I just laughed,” said Johnson, the team’s all-time leading receiver. “They gave me my role, and I just laughed at them. How do you tell a guy who is used to catching 80 balls a year that he was going to catch 40?”  O’Brien wasn’t finished, informing Johnson that he wouldn’t even start next season alongside DeAndre Hopkins. 

“I was floored,” Johnson said. “I don’t feel like there is a guy on that team that can outplay me or outwork me. I mean, who am I going to play behind?  So I was real honest with him: ‘If that’s your role for me, you’re going to be dealing with a miserable football player.’“

Although, we have not heard O’Brien’s side of the story, on its face it makes little sense.  Johnson had a very productive season last year even though the Texans had mediocre quarterback play for most of the season from Fitzpatrick, Mallet and Keenum.  Clearly, DeAndre Hopkins is the number one target now, but who would replace Johnson as number two?  There is no one stepping up.  And a number two in the pass-happy NFL is very likely to get at least 80 catches in a decent season.  So either Johnson didn’t convey O’Brien’s message correctly when he spoke to the media, or O’Brien is orchestrating Johnson’s exit and was hoping to deflect the blame from himself.  Either way, Texans’ fans are most likely to blame the team for the fact that they will not be able to see Johnson conclude his career in Houston – which is something to be expected in the harsh reality of the NFL.

Red’s Prediction –  Texans’ fans will get to see Johnson in person one last time when he suits up in 2015 for the Indianapolis Colts.