During the late '80s, then throughout the '90s and into the new century, there have been a few franchises that have, undoubtedly, been the "doormats."

Traditionally, the Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions have been the poster children for poor management and follies football in general. However, things seem to be changing for some of those teams.

Going into the 2007 season, the Bengals and Browns have a new atmosphere and swagger about them, while the Cardinals have the pieces in place with the acquisition of a quarterback, a couple of receivers via the draft and a stud free agent running back.

Down in Tampa, the Bucs hover in mediocrity, as they shine their rings, while up in Detroit, the Lions will never get anywhere until General Manager Matt Millen is canned. There's no way around that.

Which leads us to the latest member of the "doormats" – the Houston Texans. Initially conceived on October 6, 1999, the Texans took on the role of this generation's Bucs.

Unlike its expansion predecessors (Jacksonville and Carolina), the Texans did not hit the open field running. Granted they won their first game as a franchise, but its been down hill since then. 

Some may argue that the Texans are doing the best that they can do. I, on the other hand, strongly disagree. Let's take a look at the Texans previous and current first round draft picks:

2002 Draft: David Carr, QB, Fresno State (First Pick in Franchise history)
Career Totals
Games played: 76 | Games started: 75
Passing Attempts: 444 | Completions: 1,243 | Completion %: 60
Yards: 13,391 | Yards per Completions: 6.47
TD: 59 | Interceptions: 65 | QB Rating: 75.5 

* Note: Carr's completion percentage was 68.8 before being released in 2007.

2003 Draft: Andre Johnson, WR, Miami
Career Totals
Games played: 61
Receptions: 311 | Receiving Yards: 3,953 | Average Yards/Catch: 12.7 | TD: 17

2004 Draft: Duntae Robinson, CB, South Carolina
Career Totals
Games played: 48
Tackles: 258 | Solo: 212 | Assists: 46 | Sacks: 4 | Interceptions: 9 | TD: 1

2004 Draft: Jason Babin, LB/DE, Western Michigan
Career Totals
Games played: 43 | Assists: 29 | Sacks: 13 | Interceptions: 0 | TD: 0

2005 Draft: Travis Johnson, DT, Florida State
Career Totals
Games played: 23
Tackles: 37 | Solo: 31  Assists: 6 | Sacks: 1 | Interceptions: 0 | TD: 0

2006 Draft: Mario Williams, DE, South Carolina
Career Totals
Games played: 16
Tackles: 47 | Solo: 35 | Assists: 12 | Sacks: 4.5 | Interceptions: 0 | TD: 0

2007 Draft: Amobi Akoye, DT, Louisville, Rookie

At a glance, those names, for the exception of Travis "The Don" Johnson and Jason Babin, actually are an impressive list of talent that the Texans have compiled. Ironically enough, they are no longer with the face of the franchise and that's where my assessment of the managerial lunacy begins.

Up to the off-season of 2005, Houston has had a so-so path. They had won some games and lost some, and that is expected of all franchises. The problem is that they have lost more than they have won, and they have done it almost in a surprisingly passive manner. As teams get stronger in the off-season, the Texans for some reason or other tend to get weaker. 

Starting with sitting at the top of the draft in 2006. With the no-brainer pick of Reggie Bush or Vince Young, who was the hometown hero on the board, the Texans chose Mario Williams.

Why? … Is the question I pose. 

Passing on Young made logical sense at that time, or did it? Passing on Bush makes no sense in any way, shape or form. I blame that on the lame duck general manager and newly hired head coach Gary Kubiak. 

With the history of success that the Denver Broncos running game had under Kubiak, Bush should have been a slam-dunk. Yet, they passed on him.

To a certain extent you can make an argument for that draft blunder, which leaves the hardly spoken about third option, which was D’Brickshaw Ferguson. After suffering the most sacks by a QB in league history, Carr desperately needed some protection. Why not trade down and draft "D'Brick" and compile a few extra draft picks and continue the building? 

Instead they give a lucrative contract extension to the Carr, and then release him a year later.

Meanwhile, Bush pretty much electrified every game he was in during his rookie year, and with the assistance of Drew Brees, brought the New Orleans franchise from the brink of despair to the threshold of a championship. Young, you know the hometown boy, not only came home to play the Texans, but he took the game and the stadium over with his incredible touchdown scamper to ice the victory.

And the forgotten one, D’Brick, had an extremely sound rookie campaign anchoring the left side of the Jets line.

What about Mario, dare I say super Mario? Well, nothing super about his maiden campaign (47 tackles and 4.5 Sacks) that left the Red Wave scratching their heads. Bush, Vince, D’ Brick, and Mario? It almost hurts to say Mario in the same breath as the other top picks of '06. Where’s the logic?

So here we are in 2007 and now the Texans have the eighth pick in the draft. As the off-season opened, the Texans were characteristically tentative in free agency. Their biggest acquisition was Ahman Green, but that was only big by name. Green has the tendency to take time off during the season and behind him, well there's not much more.

The other "big" names that were brought in were:

* LB Danny Clark (Oakland)
* LB Sawn Barber (Whose best years stayed in Kansas City)
* CB Jamar Fletcher (First round bust from Miami). 

Kubiak is attempting to build a stable of backs and recreate his running machine, but here's a news flash Gary, you can't run if there is no blocking. Wait… wasn't the blocking what got this franchise in the predicament they are in?

With the eighth pick in the draft, the Texans decided to trade down two picks with the Atlanta Falcons and address the vacant spot at quarterback with Matt Schaub, an unproven, much heralded player, who reminds me of A.J Feely (Need I say more)?  

Then with the 10th pick, they selected yet another defensive lineman. The choice this go around was the 6-2, 302 pound, 18-year-old phenom, Amobi Okoye. Okoye definitely has a huge upside and I can't fault the management for this pick, but the question still lingers, what about the offensive line?

It does not matter what quarterback a team brings in, or running back, or even what scheme you attempt to implement, because nothing will get off the ground if you have no blocking.  

Until they can come to terms with themselves on this matter and address it, whether through the draft or free agency, the Texans will continue to be part of the infamous "doormats."