On the heels of multiple off-field issues bringing his maturity and commitment into question, the Houston Texans announced they have decided to cut ties with quarterback Ryan Mallett on Tuesday.
John McClain of the Houston Chronicle first reported the news. Adam Caplan of ESPN noted Mallett loses $562,500 ($62,500 per game) with the release.
Pro Football Talk reported that Mallett is free to sign with any team since it's just before the Nov. 3 trade deadline.
According to Berman, the 27-year-old signal-caller missed the team charter flight prior to Houston's Week 7 game against the Miami Dolphins and had to book his own flight instead.
Missing the team flight was the final straw, per McClain. McClain also noted that the team sent Mallett home on Monday while they worked everything out.
That wasn't the first time Mallett had an issue with tardiness, as he was reportedly late for a team bus to joint practices with the Washington Redskins during the preseason, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
Mallett was nearly cut on the spot after missing the flight to Miami, but according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle, general manager Rick Smith prevented head coach Bill O'Brien from doing so.
The team simply delayed the inevitable, however, as it ultimately released Mallett, who had already lost his starting job to Brian Hoyer.
Wilson noted, per sources, that even those close to Mallett wonder if he will ever "get it."
Mallett was criticized for his actions by many on social media, including Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk:
Ryan Mallett just doesn't care enough to be an NFL quarterback. Some players will bust their asses to be in the NFL. He's not one of them.
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) October 25, 2015
Smith didn't pull any punches when discussing Mallett's time in Houston either:
Ryan Mallett has never been the brightest bulb in the box. From the overwhelming fan favorite to totally burned out in two months. #Texans
— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) October 25, 2015
Mallett has possessed all the necessary physical tools to be an NFL quarterback since his college days at the University of Arkansas. The New England Patriots thought enough of him to select him with a third-round pick in 2011 before shipping him to Houston in 2014.
The big, strong-armed quarterback was given every opportunity to be the man in Houston, but he never took full advantage.
In addition to his irresponsibility, Mallett struggled on the field to the tune of 770 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions on the year.
The NFL is so starved for quarterbacks that Houston's decision to cut Mallett speaks volumes about the organization being fed up with his antics.
Despite Mallett's shortcomings, it seems likely that a team will take a chance on him due to his impressive physical abilities.
He is still relatively young and inexperienced in terms of game action at the NFL level, so some coach out there may believe he is capable of harnessing his skill set.
Unless Mallett fully commits to being an NFL quarterback and conducts himself as a professional, though, there probably isn't anyone who can turn his career around.
Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.
