High-Priced Options for Texans

The Houston Texans got their first look Friday at a shopping list of 135 players left unprotected for the Feb. 18 expansion draft. And as expected, the other teams didn’t do the NFL’s 32nd franchise any favors.

Sure, the Texans would love to have three-time all-pro left tackle Tony Boselli of Jacksonville or seven-time all-pro offensive lineman Willie Roaf of New Orleans.

But as General Manager Charley Casserly and Coach Dom Capers discovered, the list was filled with high-priced veterans who carry huge salary cap implications.

“When you initially see the list, it’s exciting,” Capers said. “Then you go through the list and you start to project, will he be there in three or four years? Does he fit the master plan?

“Then, you start to look at it a little different. Fans will read a lot of the names on the list but there are a lot of things that go into this.”

Starting cornerbacks Aaron Glenn and Marcus Coleman were left unprotected by the New York Jets and Baltimore exposed linebacker Jamie Sharper and return specialist Jermaine Lewis.

What Casserly and Capers must decide is how many players from the expansion draft, free agents and the April 20-21 college draft can fit into their salary cap for the upcoming season.

Boselli, a seven-year veteran, has been one of the league’s best offensive linemen, but he sat out most of the 2001 season after operations on both shoulders.

The Texans would love Boselli protecting the quarterback prospect they choose. But Boselli comes with a cap price of $6.5 million to $7 million next season.

Complete expansion draft list on D14.

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The Buffalo Bills fired offensive coordinator Mike Sheppard.

Sheppard was hired by Coach Gregg Williams last February. He spent the previous two years as quarterbacks coach in Seattle.

The Bills were 3-13, their worst season in 16 years.