In the wacky world of the NFL, it makes sense that quarterback Ryan Mallett could be back in the NFL this season while his former coach, Bill O'Brien, may be gone.
O'Brien lost a power struggle with Texans general manager Rick Smith about how to deal with Mallett, who missed the team flight to Miami on Saturday, SI.com reported.
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Meanwhile, Mallett has been mentioned in a scenario in which he not only might be back in the league in 2015 but also be on a team that could win a Super Bowl, according to Pro Football Talk.
"In a league where there simply aren't enough quarterbacks to go around, Mallett may find his way back onto an NFL roster, sooner or later," Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported. "Or sooner than later.
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"How about the team he started his NFL career with? In 2011, the Patriots made him a third-round pick. By all accounts, Mallett wasn't a problem. He possibly wasn't a problem because he knew his place in New England. There, Mallett never was going to be the starter, as long as Tom Brady was: (1) on the team; and (2) still alive."
Mallett would be a solid No. 3 for the Patriots, if New England wants to invest in a No. 3 QB behind Brady and Jimmy Garappolo. Mallett knows the system, which has to attract coach Bill Belichick.
If O'Brien had had his way, Mallett would've been available over the weekend. Citing a report from the Houston Chronicle, SI.com reported that O'Brien wanted to cut Mallett when he missed the team flight and had to take a commercial flight to Miami.
Smith, however, did not allow O'Brien to proceed because that would've left the Texans without a backup to Brian Hoyer.
O'Brien must've had a backup plan ready if he was willing to get rid of Mallett. The fact that he was overruled does not bode well for the coach.
"Because Smith got his way initially, and more to the point because the butting of heads was out in the open, there may be no turning back for O'Brien," SI.com reported. "He is only in year two of his Houston tenure, off a somewhat surprising 9-7 finish last year. This should be the time when he really hammers home how he plans to run this team, when he finishes laying the groundwork for the Texans' future.
"But if O'Brien's not calling the shots, then how much chance does he really have of righting the ship off a disappointing 2-5 start?"
And O'Brien didn't offer much of a hint that things are better behind the scenes.
"We're dealing with Ryan Mallett and that situation internally, Rick Smith and I," O'Brien said to open his Monday press conference. "I won't have any comment on that at this point."
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