Joe Mays stint on the unemployment line didn’t last very long. The linebacker who as cut last week by the Denver Broncos, has reportedly signed a one year deal with the Houston Texans. Financial terms have not yet been disclosed.
Mays was due $4 million in base salary by the Broncos, and his cut was mainly a cost cutting move. The 28 year old Mays, started last season as the Bronco starter at inside linebacker but was replaced by Keith Brooking after just 4 starts. During the Broncos sixth game of the season he suffered a severe leg and ankle fracture taking him out for the year. He finished the year with 20 tackles.
Mays provides the Texans with depth at inside linebacker. Their current starters, Brian Cushing and Darryl Sharpton both have injury concerns.
Mays is best known for a brutal hit last season on Texans quarterback Matt Schaub (pictured above) that resulted in Schaub losing part of his ear, and Mays being suspended for one game and fined $50,000 by the NFL. It is an interesting twist that the two are now teammates.
“We’re way past that. That was gone as soon as we walked off the football field that day,” Schaub said while Mays was visiting Houston. “It’s just a physical, hard-nosed game and he’s a physical player and that’s just part of football. I don’t fault him for that … He’s a good player and a good guy so it’s definitely water under the bridge.”
The Washington Redskins had Mays in for a visit on Saturday but he did not reach a deal with them before visiting the Texans facility.
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