C.J. Gardner-Johnson's release after just three games surprised many, but Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans showed zero uncertainty when justifying the decision on Wednesday.
The coach didn't divulge many details other than the fact the decision was his. That's the first clue in this minor mystery.
"It was my decision to move on," Ryans said, via the Houston Chronicle. "I know what's best for my team. ... Coming from me, the head coach, it was the best for our team. That's why I made the decision."
Logically, what's best for Ryans' 0-3 team is retaining as much talent as possible. Gardner-Johnson is certainly a valuable player when it comes to talent, but Ryans' conviction in this decision suggests the talent didn't outweigh the baggage.
One look at Gardner-Johnson's career history -- a winding journey through the NFL that includes five stops (New Orleans, Philadelphia, Detroit, a second Philadelphia stint and Houston) over seven years -- illustrates how he has worn out his welcome in the past.
Gardner-Johnson has been known to make rivals (if not outright enemies) in his NFL career with how he carries himself, establishing a reputation as a relentless trash talker with talent to back it, but not always a willingness to be a team player. In an anonymous player poll conducted by The Athletic's Mike Jones last year, Gardner-Johnson was voted as the most annoying player in the NFL, with one player summing it up simply: "Yap, yap, yap."
When a team succeeds, Gardner-Johnson's passionate disposition is celebrated. But when things aren't going well, those outbursts prove to be more abrasive than constructive.
Though Ryans didn't say so directly, it sounds as if the offseason addition's fiery nature didn't fit what the coach has established in his locker room -- or on the field.
"It's always my first rule or a team rule for our guys, always protect the team," Ryans said. "It starts with me as a head coach to making sure everybody is on the same page with having a team-first mentality… It'll never be about one person. It'll never be about me personally. It's collectively as a team, that's how you go win. That's how you do great things."
So far, Ryans' team isn't in a great place. The Texans have lost all three games by a single possession, rank near the middle of the pack in most major defensive statistical categories and are very likely feeling the pressure that is building amid their difficult start.
If ever there were a time to circle the wagons, it's now. And sometimes, everyone can't hop back on board to resume the journey.
"For me, as the head coach, you have to make what others may feel is a difficult decision," Ryans said. "But, whenever it's about the team and I stick to my core values that it's all about the team, any decision about it is easy for me.
"I know where we stand and I know what everybody here in our organization, on our team, in the locker room, I know what everybody stands for. I know what everyone is about. So, everyone's looking at me to make the right decision. I'll always do that for my players."
