Wednesday, June 12, 2002

ProFootballWeekly.com asks personnel expert Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the hottest topics in football. 

Texans look to add Batch, Mitchell

Ex-Lions QB Charlie Batch visited Houston June 7 as he explores his options after being cut by Detroit June 3. Batch, 27, played the first four years of his career with the Lions, throwing 49 touchdowns and 40 interceptions while completing 56 percent of his passes. He also has five career rushing touchdowns. The Texans are also looking closely at signing ex-Saints LB Keith Mitchell, who went to the Pro Bowl in 2000 after a standout season as a pass-rushing outside linebacker for New Orleans. He struggled in 2001 when his role changed and he was asked to play more in pass coverage.

Buchsbaum: The Texans are interested in signing former Lions QB Charlie Batch as an insurance policy against David Carr not being ready so they don’t have to rush their first-round pick into action. Carr has had a very strong offseason thus far and has clearly been the best quarterback in Texans camp.

The biggest disappointment for Houston has been veteran QB Kent Graham, who has looked so poor thus far that Mike Quinn moved ahead of him on the depth chart, putting Graham at No. 3. Quinn is probably not a quarterback you want starting in the NFL, even in the short term, which is why the Texans are interested in Batch, but only if his price is right.

Another player they’re very interested in is former Saints and Texas A&M OLB Keith Mitchell, who appears to be a perfect fit as an outside linebacker in their 3-4 defensive scheme. Mitchell’s strong point is rushing the passer. He was at his best doing that at Texas A&M. His weak point is probably pass coverage, which the Saints asked him to do a lot more of last year when he slipped from being a Pro Bowl player, which he was two years ago when he was a rusher, to last year when he became a drop linebacker in their scheme.

Bills promote Modrak to assistant general manager

Buffalo promoted director of football operations Tom Modrak Tuesday, elevating him to the position of assistant general manager. Modrak, a 25-year NFL veteran, signed a multiyear contract with the Bills to continue as the right-hand man to Buffalo GM Tom Donahoe.

Buchsbaum: Buffalo made an outstanding move by boosting Tom Modrak to second in command as assistant general manager. Modrak really deserves to be a GM and is better-qualified than 90 percent of the general managers in the NFL. To have Modrak and Tom Donahoe in the same front office is just a great 1-2 combination because both are not only excellent talent evaluators, they also work well with other people.

Modrak is probably the best at working with other people and is very well-liked by players, agents and everyone around the NFL. But don’t take that to mean he’s a softie, because he isn’t.

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2001 - 2002 Season