Gary Kubiak's Extension Could Be a Mistake for the Houston Texans

Gary Kubiak signing a three-year extension to lead the Texans is a mistake.

Yeah, I said it. 

And I know I also said I was in favor of him getting one more year to show what he can and can't do as the head coach of the Texans. Hear me out.

Let's start with the one more year idea first. 

Kubiak has shown that his offense works. Apparently I have to tell some people that Andre Johnson is incredible, but Andre Johnson is incredible. Matt Schaub is emerging as a top 10 quarterback. 

Kubes led the Texans to their best record in franchise history. That does not warrant being fired.

At the same time, Kubiak has also shown he makes a lot of mistakes as a head coach. There have been issues with time outs, challenges, and execution. Some of that falls on the players named Chris or Kris Brown, but ultimately, it falls on the head coach.

The Texans have not yet made the playoffs. That does not warrant a contract extension.

If it were up to me (man, I wish it were up to me), Kubiak would coach out his contract and be re-evaluated after the season. If that means after the Texans reach the playoffs, then a contract extension and hefty raise are warranted. 

On the other hand, if the Texans take a step backwards (without catastrophic injuries, of course), Kubes should be shown the door. It would be a shame to waste the primes of Johnson, Mario Williams, Schaub, and DeMeco Ryans because of ineffective coaching and leadership.

Let's get to more of the mistake part. Look at the big names out there: Cowher, Gruden, Billick, Dungy. 

Is locking up Kubiak worth not getting one of these Super Bowl winners if the Texans are looking to make a move?

Is Kubiak going to leave as a "free agent" coach after the season if he's not locked up? Where is he going to go, especially if there is a labor stoppage. If nobody is playing football, then nobody is coaching it, either.

I don't buy the lame duck coach theory, either. 

Are NFL players, who risk injury on every play, going to play less hard and put their non-guaranteed contracts on the line because they don't think the coach is going to be back next season? I can see a few players doing that, but not to the extent of wide spread mutiny. 

Their jobs are on the line every week. It would be very short-sighted to tune out the coach unless a player had a huge guaranteed bonus on his contract (I'm talking Fat Albert Haynesworth big).

Is the idea that a player will play hard in his contract year widely accepted? Does the same idea not apply to coaches? I think it does apply but has been ignored in the Kubiak situation.

So can somebody explain to me why the Texans were in such a hurry to lock up Gary Kubiak? Because I just don't get it.