MINNEAPOLIS – Barreling into the Texans’ offensive backfield, Jonathan Greenard could hardly believe how his old team hadn’t put more resources into trying to block him.
The Minnesota Vikings’ outside linebacker was lined up across from rookie tight end Cade Stover, and the former Texans third-round draft pick and leading pass rusher drew a holding penalty on the first snap of the game.
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Signed to a four-year, $72 million free agent deal one day before the Texans signed four-time Vikings Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter to a two-year, $51 million contract, Greenard didn’t take kindly to the single-blocking treatment. Greenard later knocked Stover to the ground before sacking former Texans teammate C.J. Stroud.
Later, he beat right guard Shaq Mason for another sack and picked up his third sack for the hat trick when defensive tackle Harrison Phillips collapsed the pocket around Stroud and spilled the play to Greenard.
Greenard is now up to four sacks for the season after a 34-7 win over his former teammates at U.S. Bank Stadium as the Vikings improved to 3-0.
“I’m glad I’m here in Minnesota because obviously they respect me,” Greenard said of the Texans assigning a tight end to block him. “If anyone else want to do that, they can try.”
Before kickoff, Greenard posed for photographs with his wife and daughter. He told KPRC 2 he was extremely excited about this matchup. A short time later, Greenard was dominating his old team.
“One-hundred percent, it was definitely weird,” Greenard said. “Between those white lines, it’s straight smoke.”
“I’m glad it was against the Texans,” former Texans cornerback Shaq Griffin said.
Greenard has been a welcome addition as a key figure in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ unpredictable defense.
“JG has been huge for us all year with pressure production,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “I know all of us are glad to see him ring the bell three times right there with three sacks.”
Stroud was sacked four times. Through three games, he has been sacked 11 times. That sets an undesirable pace of 61 sacks for the season.
“One of our No. 1 keys to success was protecting our quarterback, and we didn’t do that, and we didn’t win the game,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Don’t want to see your quarterback hit as much as he was hit today, so we have to get it fixed.”
Signed to a deal that averages $19 million annually with $42 million in guaranteed money, it’s a generational wealth moment for the Georgia native and the kind of life-changing money that makes him reflect heavily on the bigger picture and his growing family. His wife, Alta Gracia and their daughter, Rayna, were at the heart of his free agency decision.
“It’s amazing,” Greenard told KPRC 2 in a telephone interview after signing with the VIkings. “It’s more of a feeling of security. The main thing I was excited about was being able to get in a situation to take care of my family. I don’t have to worry about if I did the right thing. This makes me feel 10 times better about my decision. I left feeling true to myself.”
Because pass rushers are such a premium position and Greenard emerged as one of the top free agents with a breakthrough season as he recorded a career-high 12 1/2 sacks in his one season playing for Ryans, he was expected to command anywhere between $17 million and $22 million annually on the open market. His market developed and fell right into that price range at $19 million annually.
Yes, the Texans held conversations with Greenard’s representatives, agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey. Financial expectations were discussed, but the two sides were on an entirely different page as far as what Greenard could make elsewhere or potentially if he had remained in Houston, the team that drafted him in the third round out of the University of Florida. Ultimately, Texans general manager Nick Caserio signed Hunter.
“To my knowledge, there wasn’t an official offer from the Texans,” Greenard said. “There was minimal conversation, and we’ve all moved on. No hard feelings, I have no beef at all. The McNairs did so much for my family. I could never repay them. They treated me with so much love and respect. They reached out to me even after everything was over. It was great and it let me know how appreciate they were of me. They’re really good people. Drew did a lot of the talks. I didn’t have any conversations at all with Nick or DeMeco throughout the process. I had an idea throughout the season this could possibly be my last season there just because of the vibes. It wasn’t up to me.
“I played my ass off. I leave knowing I played my ass off and busted my ass off, even playing the last two games on bum ankles. I could barely run and mustered the strength, with no painnumbing shots, to go out there. I had an idea and a feeling I wouldn’t be in Houston anymore. I don’t think they put an offer in. I could see it happening. I knew I did my part.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
