Armando Salguero: David Culley Did Not Get A Raw Deal From Texans, He Got Blessed

The Houston Texans have fired coach David Culley after one season, and what you'll soon hear is that the veteran NFL assistant and first-time head coach deserved better because he got only one year with a subpar roster.

So let's all feel bad for Culley.

Honestly, I wish I was Culley.

The Texans plucked him from the Baltimore Ravens staff, where he was the wide receiver and pass game coordinator. They gave him a contract with only four years of guarantees rather than the going rate of five other coaches got. He was making around $4-5 million per year.

Culley accepted this deal knowing what the Houston roster was about to look like, understanding he was taking on a full and difficult rebuild, but also realizing this was an opportunity of a lifetime.

Because if he made it work with the Texans, against very long odds, he'd be recognized as one of the top head coaches in the NFL.

But Culley's Texans finished 4-13, and so they and the coach are going in different directions now.

Culley departs with $4-$5 million earned this season and another $16-$17 million due in 2022-25.

The Texans are expected to be interested in former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores and other current New England Patriots coaches.

Two questions:

Which one of you reading this amazing story wouldn't agree to that deal Culley got for $20-$22 million, even knowing you'd probably be fired after one year?

And which one of you reading this amazing story ever heard of David Culley before this year?

Culley has been a fine NFL assistant since 1994. He's had coaching stops in Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Buffalo and Baltimore before landing the Houston job.

He was never going to get an NFL head coaching gig unless it came with warts and problems and zero guarantees, like the Houston job did.

So, at age 65, Culley grabbed a chance of a lifetime -- even if it was a longshot chance.

The Houston Chronicle, citing sources familiar with the situation, reported that after the Texans spent four days evaluating the personnel side of the organization, general manager Nick Caserio and senior executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby recommended Culley be fired.

And chairman and CEO Cal McNair signed off on it.

There's going to be a national narrative that Culley deserved better. Media will say he got a raw deal.

He actually got the deal he signed up for. As for what he deserved, forget that.

He got many millions of dollars out of this one year of work. He's still respected in NFL circles, and he can find an assistant job if he wants one because he's got a good reputation.

Also, there are worse things than escaping the Houston Texans situation.

David Culley is blessed.

Follow on Twitter: @ArmandoSalguero