Things are getting ugly for the Houston Texans. The team lost to the Oakland Raiders and frustrations are running high in the locker room. That became evident when an on-the-field spat between several players was caught on camera, spawning several rumors including trades of the team's marquee players.
Case Keenum started the game, but was eventually benched in favor of Matt Schaub. The veteran did not play the past four games and did very little to change the pace this week against the Raiders when he came in during the third quarter. In fact, Schaub appeared to only make things worse when an incompletion in the end zone led to a fight with wide receiver Andre Johnson.
The wide receiver left the field after being pushed by the quarterback during the final minutes of the game. Johnson chalked the fight up to frustration. Noting he was not worried about the whole ordeal, Johnson said he and the quarterback discussed the matter in the locker room and their relationship was fine. Schaub would not reveal the details of the fight, simply saying it was just emotions and the two have moved past the drama.
"It's just emotions, emotions of the game, a culmination of a lot of things, but stuff we will keep between us," Schaub said, via ESPN.com. "He is a great guy and a great competitor, as am I. Just the heat of the moment, but that is behind us."
Head coach Gary Kubiak said he brought Schaub in for the healthy Keenum to try and change up the defense. The coach was attempting to change the tempo of the game in favor of the Texans and he still trusted that Schaub was the guy that could potentially get the win. Instead the Texans lost and Schaub fnished the day going 12 of 25 in passing for 155 yards and no touchdowns.
The fight has only increased the rumors that Johnson wants a trade out of Houston in the offseason. The wide receiver has been one of the constant faces for the franchise in recent years, but could be looking to head to a team not preparing to do some rebuilding in the offseason. When asked about the circulating talk, Johnson simply said he was under contract.
"I'm under contract, so, I have to play my contract out," Johnson said. "I can't do anything about that. I've always said this this is where I wanted to be, so I don't really have anything to say about that. I still have an ongoing contract."
Johnson is currently signed through 2016, earning $6.5 million next season. He will be a heavy hit to the salary cap over the next few years. It would not hurt the Texans to at least consider the idea.
