Texans players were shocked by the news that linebacker DeMeco Ryans was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.

That is the nature of the NFL. Players come and go.

Was moving Ryans the cost of doing business, or was it the Texans refusing to pay the cost of contending for a Super Bowl? (Let’s be kind and take incompetence off the table. For now, anyway.)

You can’t put a price tag on what Ryans brought to the Texans. Leadership isn’t for sale on the Internet. And since moving Ryans didn’t save the Texans anything on the salary cap this season, one wonders just what the team was thinking.

Ryan was the team leader offensive and defensive players turned to for guidance. Teammates, both young and old, looked to him to set the tone on and off the field. He was the person coaches asked to pump up certain players, to calm others.

His teammates, many of whom were publicly upset at the trade, call him Cap. Not salary cap, just Cap, which is short for captain.

Only blindly loyal fans would believe the Texans are closer to being a championship team today than they were earlier in the week. Apparently that’s whom general manager Rick Smith addressed in his statement on the trade.

“DeMeco Ryans contributed significantly toward helping us build the foundation we hope will bring a world championship to the city of Houston,” the statement read.

You don’t have to be an architectural engineer to know that ripping the foundation out from under a building isn’t a wise move if you’re planning to add on to the structure.

The Texans had their best season in 2011, with 10 wins and a playoff victory. The foundation was strong.

In the last week or so, the Texans have lost four starters. They traded Ryans, released right tackle Eric Winston and failed to re-sign outside linebacker Mario Williams and guard Mike Brisiel. Jason Allen, a key reserve cornerback, also left via free agency.

In their place, the Texans have added a draft pick and a few salary-cap dollars. While they were required to get under the cap, how they have gone about it might not have been the best way.

“Houston was a place where we were building toward a playoff run,” Ryans said. “It took us a while to get there, but once we had the core guys in place, we did what winning teams do. We practiced the way winning teams practice, and we went out about our ways the way winning teams do.”

Is the run over?

Just what is the Texans’ plan? Were they poorly prepared for this year’s static salary cap? Or did they go all-in last year and decided against doing so again this season?

That could be a mistake. This was close to being a championship team in 2011. This is the year the Texans should push in the chips to make a run at the Super Bowl. Take the salary-cap punishment next offseason.

That is what makes the Ryans trade to the Eagles so odd. Ryans is the best defensive player in Texans history, its all-time leading tackler and one of just two two-time defensive Pro Bowlers (Williams). He was the heart and soul of the defensive unit.

Ryans’ six-year, $48 million contract signed in 2010 was based on his being the team leader for years to come. A torn Achilles tendon in 2010, the defensive switch to the 3-4 last season and the resulting move of Brian Cushing inside lowered Ryan’s long-term value.

We understand that. With the trade, the Texans don’t have to pay Ryan’s $6.9 million salary, but the franchise still takes a hit. Cap-wise, the trade will cost the Texans at least $2 million more than if they just paid Ryans to play. Dead money, it is called. In other words, cap-wise they’re being hit for some $2 million more than if they just paid Ryans to play.

Dead money doesn’t tackle. Dead money doesn’t lead team meetings. Dead money doesn’t win football games.

“This move was mutually beneficial for the Texans’ immediate and long-term goals, DeMeco’s career, and the Philadelphia Eagles,” Smith said.

In other words, Smith claims this is a win-win-win-win trade. Four wins? Three out of four, maybe, and that’s not good for the Texans.

The Eagles have already won.

Philadelphia’s gain

PhiladelphiaEagles.com described the trade as a “blockbuster” and said that the Eagles had to give up “only” a fourth-round pick and an exchange of position in the third round for an instant starter and team leader.

Of course that is some spin, but you think the Eagles could have drafted a linebacker as good as Ryans in the fourth round or with their earlier pick in the third? Hardly.

As for Ryans, he gets to return to the middle linebacker position in the 4-3 defense.

We’ll even give Smith a check in the “long-term goals” category, because with Ryans eating up $8 million of the salary cap in 2013 and ’14, something was going to have to give.

But what about this year’s squad? We won’t know until the season plays out, but it is hard to imagine that trading Ryans helps that cause.

It is bad business when you allow the salary cap to take out the Cap.

jerome.solomon@chron.com

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