HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans waived quarterback David Carr,
the first draft pick in franchise history five years ago, and
running back Domanick Williams.
The Texans never have had a winning record, and Carr often was
the scapegoat. He completed 60 percent of his passes, but also
threw 65 interceptions and was sacked 249 times in five seasons.
Houston hoped Carr would flourish under new coach Gary Kubiak
last season, but the Texans went 6-10.
Williams, formerly Domanick Davis, is Houston's career rushing
leader with 3,195 yards. He spent all of last season on injured
reserve with a knee injury.
Also Friday, the Texans re-signed 1999 Heisman Trophy winner Ron
Dayne, who joined the Texans just before last season and blossomed
late in the season, rushing for 429 yards and five touchdowns in
December.
The Texans released Carr a day after signing Matt Schaub and
saying he would be their starting quarterback. General manager Rick
Smith said Thursday the team was trying to trade Carr, who had two
years left on a contract that was to pay him $11.5 million for
those seasons.
"It will be kind of weird without David next season, especially
for the guys that have been there for a long time," Dayne said in
a phone interview. "It won't be that big for me since I just got
here. But we've got to move forward without him."
A message left for Carr's agent, Mike Sullivan, was not
immediately returned Friday. The team said it would have no
immediate comment.
Williams sat out most of training camp last season with soreness
in his right knee. He showed up in the Texans locker room on Jan.
1, saying he had legally changed his last name from Davis to
Williams, his mother's maiden name.
He missed five games in 2005 before undergoing arthroscopic knee
surgery. He returned for training camp and declared himself
healthy, but soon stopped practicing because of a bone bruise in
the knee.
The Texans bolstered their backfield by signing Ahman Green
earlier this month. The same day, Smith said Williams had
experienced more swelling in his knee and will probably undergo
another surgery.
The Texans signed Dayne two days after placing Williams on
injured reserve in September. Dayne had been released by Denver,
where Kubiak was formerly the offensive coordinator.
Dayne led the Texans with 612 rushing yards on 151 carries, his
best season since 2001 with the New York Giants. He ran for 153
yards and two touchdowns in Houston's 27-24 win over Indianapolis
on Christmas Eve, one of the biggest wins in franchise history.
Dayne said he's content to back up Green, a four-time Pro
Bowler.
"It's OK," Dayne said. "I've been in the same position for
most of my career. So I've been used to it. Whenever I get in I
just want to do my best and help the team."