Schaub is Gone

After weeks of speculation, Falcons backup quarterback Matt Schaub has been traded to the Houston Texans. Schaub signed a six-year, $48 million contract with $7 million guaranteed. Apparently, the Texans have already named him their starter for the 2007 season. As a result of the deal, the Falcons move up two spots to number 8 in the first round of April’s NFL draft and receive Houston’s second-round draft pick in each of the next two drafts. Atlanta now has three of the top 44 selections (8th, 39th, and 44th) in this season’s draft.

I’m happy for Matt Schaub because anytime you can get someone to pay you that type of guaranteed money and automatically name you as a starter; you’re doing something right. If you’ve read the AJC, then you know there are tons of Schaub fans in Atlanta, especially during Michael Vick’s recent struggles. I’m not one of them though, although I have nothing against him. I just don’t understand why so many people fell in love with him as a player. He only started two games for the Birds and he lost both of them. Yeah, he looked good in the preseason, but that doesn’t really mean anything in NFL, especially when he was going against backup players. I just don’t see this as a big loss to the Falcons. Hopefully, we’ll use the acquired draft picks to strengthen our defense and offensive line, so we can protect our current franchise quarterback.

I’m sure former UGA standout quarterback D.J. Shockley is trilled by the departure of Schaub. Shockley is a natural leader and he’s shown glimpses of being a solid backup. Although, I don’t want Vick to go down; I’d like D.J. to get an opportunity to shine as an NFL quarterback.

Unfortunately for D.J. it looks like the Falcons are going to make him work for the principal backup spot, as they’ve signed ex-Raven Chris Redman and are contemplating signing ex-Buc Tim Rattay and/or ex-Bengal Anthony Wright.