The Texans are in the unenviable position of having to replace Pro Bowl running back Arian Foster for a significant amount of time after he underwent surgery for a groin injury suffered during training camp.
Texans fans should expect a slew of veteran running backs to be trotted in for workouts; they have already met with former Saints running back Pierre Thomas, but did not reach an agreement. One name sticks out as a solution, however—former Raven Ray Rice. Here are three reasons Rice fits like a glove in Houston.
Janay Rice defends Ray Rice, says he's "not a wife beater."
He Should Have Plenty Left In The Tank
Rice is not old. His 2013 season was a disappointment; his yards per carry dropped from 4.4 to 3.1 that year, and he scored just four touchdowns, his fewest since his rookie campaign. But attrition is a running back’s worst enemy, and at only 28 years old, Rice just had a season off.
A suspension for domestic violence is not a positive of course, but in terms of preserving Rice’s health, there’s no way to enter a season fresher than not having played the previous year. The other options on the free agent market are very flawed veterans like Ahmad Bradshaw, an injury-risk who is already suspended for a game, Chris Johnson, who has declined precipitously.
Floyd Mayweather defended Ray Rice's initial two-game suspension
The Texans In-House Group Of Replacements Is Weak
Alfred Blue is the leader of the pack to head up Houston’s backfield while Foster recovers, and he averaged the same 3.1 yards per carry Rice did in 2013, only he is four years younger. Blue claims he is a better runner this year, but do the Texans want to risk regular season success on finding out?
The Texans were reliant on Foster for their running game last season according to FootballOutsiders.com. The Texans’ line was mediocre, and heavily dependent on Foster once he got past the line of scrimmage. Without him, they’ll need someone dynamic to keep them afloat because the passing game won’t be any great shakes. Blue doesn’t look like that man.
Many Players Receive Second Chances
Rice’s actions when he struck his then-fiancee in an Atlantic City elevator were shocking. Many current and former NFL players have histories of domestic violence, and have suffered less than Rice has. In a recent interview with ESPN, Rice’s own wife Janay implored NFL teams to give her husband a look, and unequivocally stated he “made a mistake,” and is “not a wife beater.”
Bonus: This Is More Fodder For Hard Knocks
The Texans are set to be featured on HBO’s annual Hard Knocks series chronicling one team’s training camp. This would be TV gold, a la Chad Ochocinco in Cincinnati, Rex Ryan in New York, and anything related to the Dallas Cowboys.
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