Houston Texans News: Pro Sports Daily

Texans increase ticket prices 8.5 percent on average

February 4

Houston Chronicle

"Coming off the first playoff appearance in franchise history, the Texans announced an 8.5 percent increase in ticket prices for next season. The Texans' average general ticket price in 2012 will be $78.66 per ticket, up from $72.47 in 2011. Houston's average ticket price in 2011 ranked eighth among the 12 teams in this season's playoffs. "Our fans have created one of the best home field advantages in the NFL, as anyone who saw the wild card game can attest," said John Schriever, Texans Senior Vice President of Ticketing and Event Management. "We want to continue to make our games accessible to a broad audience while still pricing in a manner that reflects the strong demand for our"

Texans raise ticket prices following first trip to playoffs

February 4

Houston Chronicle

"The best season in Texans history comes with a higher price tag. The team announced late Friday that the average general ticket price will increase by 8.5 percent – from $72.47 to $78.66 – for the 2012 season. Nearly all of the seating locations at 71,054-seat Reliant Stadium will have a price increase between $3 to $10. The price change is the first for the Texans in two years and follows the first AFC South title and playoff win in team history. John Schriever, the Texans' vice-president of ticketing and event services, said the price increase is necessary for the team to generate revenues that "keep pace with our competition." "Our fans have created one of the best home-field advantages"

NFL expands Thursday schedule

February 4

New York Post

"Are you ready for a lot more prime-time football? NFL commissioner Roger Goodell used his annual Super Bowl news conference yesterday to reveal the league is dramatically expanding the Thursday night package on its own network starting this fall. In what appeared to be a way to up the pressure in its long-running dispute with Time Warner Cable and Cablevision over New York-area carriage of the NFL Network, the league said that channel will now show Thursday games from Week 2 through Week 15. The NFL Network previously broadcast Thursday games the final eight weeks of the season, but Goodell said the expansion resulted from a desire to guarantee every team in the league at least one"

NFL legend Deacon Jones: Texans 'stupid' to let Mario go

February 3

Houston Chronicle

"Legendary NFL defensive lineman Deacon Jones said the Texans would be "stupid" to let Mario Williams go. Jones, a Hall of Famer, went on to say that Williams potentially has a place in history as the NFL's second-best defensive lineman, behind only Jones, of course."

Goodell: If NFL expands, it'll add two more teams

February 3

CBSSports.com

"It's no secret the NFL wants to expand to Los Angeles. And while so much of the attention has been focused on which franchise would relocate to L.A. -- whether it's the Chargers, Vikings, Jaguars or Rams -- we haven't discussed much the possibility of the NFL expanding. Apparently, that's an option. Commissioner Roger Goodell said Thursday on Costas Live on the NBC Sports Network that if the league places a team in L.A., the NFL probably would add two more franchises to make it an even 34. Goodell said the league "doesn't want to move any of our teams" and "we probably don't want to go to 33" if the NFL decides expansion is a good choice."

Texans talking to Dorrell about QB coach vacancy

February 2

Houston Chronicle

"While Gary Kubiak was talking with Karl Dorrell about replacing Greg Knapp as the Texans' quarterbacks coach, Knapp was preparing for his new job as the Oakland Raiders' offensive coordinator. Dorrell, who coached Miami's quarterbacks last season, spent four seasons on the Dolphins' staff. He worked on Denver's staff in 2000 through 2002 when Kubiak was the Broncos' offensive coordinator. Dorrell may be reunited with Kubiak in Houston — just as Knapp is being reunited with new Raiders coach Dennis Allen."

Former Texans QB David Carr gives Super Bowl XLVI a familiar look

February 1

Houston Chronicle

columnist John McClain

"Quarterback David Carr beat his former team to the Super Bowl. Carr, who backs up Eli Manning, will receive a Super Bowl ring if the New York Giants defeat New England on Sunday. The Texans, who made Carr the first pick in the 2002 draft, made the playoffs for the first time this season. They won the AFC South and defeated Cincinnati in a playoff game before losing at Baltimore. "I was very happy for them, especially for (owner) Mr. (Bob) McNair," Carr said during Tuesday's media day. "He deserves everything that comes to them, like the playoffs. "Hopefully, someday, they'll be in the Super Bowl. I know Mr. McNair really cares, and he wants to bring a Super Bowl winner to Houston. They've"

Rackers racks up records as special teams plays its part

January 28

Houston Chronicle

"The Texans have questions about their special teams as they approach the offseason. The most important of which involves re-signing kicker Neil Rackers, who set team records with 135 points, 32 field goals and 18 consecutive field goals. "I want to be a Texan," Rackers said. "It's a great organization with great teammates, and, obviously, a great ballclub.h "We can't control what happens. The business side of it is what it is. If the Texans want me and I'm back here, I would love that." Rackers, who'll be 36 and entering his 13th year as a professional next season, connected on 63 consecutive field goals from inside the 45-yard line dating to his career with the Arizona Cardinals. He"

If Manning on market, Texans should be first in line

January 28

Houston Chronicle

columnist Jerome Solomon

"Not that they applauded — it would be unsportsmanlike to root for an opponent's injury — but Peyton Manning having to sit out the 2011 season to recover from a neck injury was not bad news for the Texans. Now fresh off their first AFC South Division championship with the T-shirts to prove it, the Texans are primed for more good news on the Manning front. With the Colts undergoing dramatic front-office and coaching changes this offseason, Manning's future with Indianapolis is in doubt. There is a growing belief around the league Manning has played his last game with the organization that drafted him in 1998. If there are two lines, one for teams not interested in having a healthy Manning as"

Influx of coaches, talent transforms Texans' secondary

January 27

Houston Chronicle

"The worst part of the Texans' 2010 defense was the secondary. During that 6-10 season, the Texans ranked 30th in defense, including last against the pass. The secondary didn't need fine-tuning; it needed an overhaul. David Gibbs, who coached the secondary, was part of a purge that included coordinator Frank Bush and linebackers coach Johnny Holland. Coach Gary Kubiak hired defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who brought linebackers coach Reggie Herring with him from Dallas. Vance Joseph was lured from San Francisco to coach the defensive backs."

With or without Mario, maintaning unit's strength will be a priority

January 26

Houston Chronicle

"Linebacker is one of the Texans' strongest positions. When a team utilizes a 3-4 defense as the Texans do, it can never have enough linebackers, especially those who play outside. The biggest question facing the Texans this offseason involves an outside linebacker. Will they be able to re-sign Mario Williams, who had five sacks in five games before suffering a season-ending injury? Williams' six-year, $54 million contract expires in March. The Texans say re-signing him is a priority. He says he wants to stay. But there's one problem: They will have little salary-cap room to re-sign and sign players."

Tough decisions await Texans

January 25

Houston Chronicle

columnist John McClain

"As I wrote in the first part of my 11-part series evaluating the Texans, the team's top priority will be to re-sign outside linebacker Mario Williams. They also want to sign running back Arian Foster, who'll be a restricted free agent, to a long-term deal. Remember, the Texans spent about $20 million more than the $120 million salary cap. Estimates are that it won't increase to more than $124 million. That means the Texans will have to get under the cap by March 13, and then they won't have a lot of room to operate. General manager Rick Smith and director of football administration Chris Olsen are going to have to become magicians to make cap space appear."

Offensive line's collected commitment key to Texans success

January 24

Houston Chronicle

"A team does not rank second in rushing and first in average time of possession without a dominating performance by its offensive line. For the first time, the Texans' offensive line received well-deserved recognition as one of the best in the NFL. Left tackle Duane Brown, left guard Wade Smith, center Chris Myers, right guard Mike Brisiel and right tackle Eric Winston paved the way for everything that went right for the league's only offense that utilized four quarterbacks. "I can't say enough about what a great job those guys did up front," coach Gary Kubiak said. "You could see the benefit of them playing together for a while now.""

Texans' tight ends have firm grasp on position

January 23

Houston Chronicle

"Tight end remains one of the Texans' strongest and most productive positions. The Texans have Owen Daniels, Joel Dreessen and Garrett Graham at tight end. Even though they call James Casey a fullback, as a receiver, he's still a tight end at heart. This position doesn't need to be addressed in the draft or free agency this year. The only issue involving a tight end is Joel Dreessen's contract situation. Unless he signs a new deal, Dreessen will become an unrestricted free agent March 13. Coach Gary Kubiak, offensive coordinator Rick Dennison and tight ends coach Brian Pariani want Dreessen back. And Dreessen wants to return, so expect him to sign a new deal."

Expect an upgrade at receiver via draft for the Texans

January 22

Houston Chronicle

"Wide receiver should be the Texans' top priority during the offseason. Because they will have little room to operate under the salary cap, the Texans are more likely to find a receiver in the draft than through free agency. The Texans have the 26th pick in the first round of the NFL draft. They need an infusion of youth and talent at receiver. Expect them to address their need in the first or second round. Andre Johnson turns 31 in July. Kevin Walter turns 31 in August. Johnson and Walter will be entering their 10th season. Jacoby Jones, the Texans' top reserve, will be 28 next season. He'll be entering his sixth season. The Texans' need for another receiver was evident this season."

Could Wade Phillips ever take over as Texans head coach?

January 21

Houston Chronicle

"Three things: 1. I don't write headlines. 2. Just because there is a pattern doesn't mean there is an evil plot. 3. I don't believe in conspiracies. Remember that line that you heard, oh, several thousand times last summer, about every time Wade Phillips took over as defensive coordinator that team made the playoffs that first year? How much do you want to bet that this offseason you won't hear nearly as often the fact that each one of those teams failed to do as well the following season? And it wasn't too long after that next season (once even during it) that the head coaches of those teams were out of a job? As the happy campers did last offseason, we'll ignore Phillips' first two jobs"

Nothing run-of-the-mill about team's backs

January 21

Houston Chronicle

"The Texans are in better shape at running back than any position on the team. Running back is their strongest and deepest position with Arian Foster, Ben Tate and Derrick Ward. Add fullbacks Lawrence Vickers and James Casey, both of whom did a terrific job as lead blockers, and it's no surprise the Texans ranked second in the NFL in rushing. Foster (1,224 yards) and Tate (942) came close to becoming only the seventh pair on the same team to reach triple digits since 1970. The Texans averaged 153 rushing yards per game. The only reason Denver ranked first with 156 is because of quarterback Tim Tebow. If Foster had not missed almost four games, it's safe to say the Texans would have ranked"

Texans quarterbacks get much more than a passing grade

January 20

Houston Chronicle

"More evidence of the terrific job the Texans did this season can be found in a couple of interesting statistics. For instance, 11 teams had three quarterbacks complete at least one pass this season, and only one, the Texans, made the playoffs. Of those 11 teams, the Texans were the only one that had four quarterbacks complete at least one pass. T.J. Yates became just the second rookie middle-round pick in NFL history to begin the season third-string and be forced into the lineup because of injuries and lead his team to a playoff victory — the 31-10 wild-card conquest of Cincinnati at Reliant Stadium."

A dozen hot-topic questions as the Texans enter the offseason

January 20

Houston Chronicle

"Q. Why is owner Bob McNair going to give coach Gary Kubiak an extension when he's got another year left on his contract? Shouldn't he wait and see if Kubiak can lead the team to the playoffs again? A. McNair doesn't want a lame-duck coach working under the last year of his contract. That's not fair to the coach. The same goes for general manager Rick Smith, who'll also get an extension. He also has one year left on his contract. Fans and media would bring it up every day, especially when the Texans lose. Players often react differently when playing for a coach on the last year of his contract. It's hard to attract assistants and free agents when a coach is going into his last year. McNair"

Coaching staff likely to stay intact

January 19

Houston Chronicle

"One year after he could have been fired, Texans coach Gary Kubiak is going to get a contract extension. It's up to owner Bob McNair when he wants to extend Kubiak's contract and for how long. His contract expires after the 2012 season. "This is the best coaching staff we've had," McNair said. "I thought he and his staff did a magnificent job." The Texans' staff is highly regarded around the NFL. Kubiak has put together a staff that teaches and coaches with one thing in mind: winning a Super Bowl. Kubiak's staff starts with his three coordinators: Rick Dennison (offense), Wade Phillips (defense) and Joe Marciano (special teams). Kubiak has one assistant head coach in Bill Kollar, who"

Components of a big-time winner in place for Texans

January 18

Houston Chronicle

columnist John McClain

"I have to tell you something about the Texans that really impressed me. I've been in a lot of dressing rooms after playoff losses, and I was rather surprised at the Texans' reaction to their 20-13 loss to Baltimore. When reporters entered the Texans' dressing room, the players weren't satisfied with the seven-point loss in hostile territory. The players didn't want to talk about the season. They didn't want to talk about next season. They weren't happy just to have been there. They were genuinely disappointed and frustrated they lost. They expected to win. They knew they could have won. They knew they gave away the game with four turnovers. And they were angry about it."

Jacoby Jones' mistake is one we will never forget; that is just the way it is

January 18

Houston Chronicle

columnist Jerome Solomon

"I told you it would be ugly, and I warned you that it would be unfair. But I also told you it is what it is. Yes, people take this stuff too seriously. This is the nature of big-time professional sports. People have a passion for sports. That is one reason my job is so rewarding. People need plumbing; they don't need sports columnists. But unless one floods your house with a shoddy pipe job, a plumber can't get you riled up like I can. I feel for Jacoby Jones, I do, he is as likable as they come. But athletes get roasted when they mess up. That is the professional sports beast in America. You know I have never said athletes are overpaid, but let's not ignore the fact that they are paid a"

On paper, Texans' future looks great

January 17

Houston Chronicle

columnist Jerome Solomon

"One reason "wait 'til next year" is so often reviled is that it is the mantra of sports losers. Not to mention, so often next year never gets here. Luv all the Blue you want, but how many coaches and teams have promised to kick that you-know-what in next year? Most of them failed. Every season, all but one NFL team — the Super Bowl champion — has to settle for pointing to the next campaign as the one in which it will win the title. And only one team can be right, while most of the others fall back on the same field of future dreams. So what does the future hold for the Texans, who repeated clichés of "the future is bright" and "the sky's the limit" after they let an excellent opportunity"

Delhomme sees end of road, but being with Texans a 'great' experience

January 17

Houston Chronicle

"Quarterback Jake Delhomme admitted his NFL career likely ended with the Texans' defeat Sunday, but he said his brief time in Houston proved a wonderful experience. "I'm being very realistic," Delhomme said. "I turned 37 last week. I'm not moving my family. I'm going somewhere to start over. This kind of fell into my lap, so to speak. You don't think you're going to get the injuries a team like this one had. If this is the end, which most likely it is, it's been great. I'm beyond happy it happened. "You never want to say never. But … to come to a place like this, where everybody's on the same page, to see the way these guys work, it's been great. If I've left this game, I've left it on a"

Disheartened Jacoby Jones apologizes for mistake

January 17

Houston Chronicle

"Jacoby Jones has become Public Enemy No. 1 to many Texans fans. Jones' terrible decision and fumble on a punt return set up an easy touchdown as the Ravens took a 7-3 lead en route to a 20-13 victory that ended the Texans' historic season on Sunday in the AFC divisional round in Baltimore. Jones is sorry for the mistake. He has apologized over and over and over. And over. "It's something you got to live and learn with," he said on Monday as the Texans cleaned out their lockers. "It's a decision I made and I got to grow from it. I'll get over it. I made a mistake. I apologized to my teammates."

No more Mario? Texans beyond their history

January 17

San Antonio Express-News

columnist Buck Harvey

"The Texans cleaned out their lockers Monday and left their season behind. No one did it as well as Matt Schaub. He limped away in a walking boot, but with his reputation never feeling better. Had he been healthy, wouldn't the Texans still be playing? But the question became something else entirely for another, and no one saw this coming just a few months ago. Given his price, as well as how the Houston defense played without him, Mario Williams might have cleaned out his locker for the last time."

Win wasn't pretty, but Ravens will take it

January 16

Baltimore Sun

"Let's get the negative stuff out of the way first. You say this was an ugly win? The Ravens don't care. They'll take it. No one gets style points when the NFL playoffs roll around. This wasn't a beauty pageant. It was more like "Survivor: M&T Bank Stadium." You say there's no way the Ravens can beat the Patriots next week in the AFC Championship if they play the way they did in this 20-13 divisional-round win over the Houston Texans?"

Ravens' offense needs help from its 'big brother,' the defense

January 16

Baltimore Sun

"When their offense lined up on 3rd down with 1:38 left Sunday, the Ravens were inches away from Foxborough, Mass. One short surge straight ahead and they were in the AFC championship game. But when fullback Vonta Leach picked up no yards in a cloud of dust, the Ravens, whose offense struggled to move the ball after a fine first quarter, needed one final defensive stand to survive. Houston Texans quarterback T.J. Yates heaved a Hail Mary in the final 20 seconds, but when his prayer hit the turf at M&T Bank Stadium, giving the home team a 20-13 win, the Ravens lived to play another game. Their opponents next Sunday will be the high-scoring New England Patriots."

Expect Texans to be a Super Bowl contender next few season

January 16

Houston Chronicle

"You still doubt my supposition that the Texans are better than the Ravens? Well, no need in debating the point because for the second time this season, the best team didn't win the matchup between the two teams. The only important thing is the final score. T.J. Yates finally made enough rookie mistakes to cost the Texans, who should not have come out of that game having scored only 13 points. With Arian Foster running wild, Andre Johnson doing whatever he wanted to the Ravens' secondary and the offensive line abusing the Ravens up front (no sacks allowed), 13 points was about the fewest the Texans could have scored."

For some, Texans don't top to-do list

January 16

Houston Chronicle

"While Texans fans across Houston crammed into bars and huddled around TV screens to catch the end of a historic season Sunday, others were perfectly happy avoiding the action altogether. They filled store parking lots and flowed out of malls with shopping bags, even as the matchup between the Ravens and Texans came down to the final play. In a city that seemingly gushed playoff pride for two weeks, there was a distinct split Sunday between jersey-clad fans on the edge of their seats and those with other priorities. For John Bach and his family, weekend plans were determined in advance: Sunday was to be blocked out for football watching at a sports bar. His family of four showed up at"

Texans' first playoff run ends with turnover-filled loss to Ravens

January 16

Houston Chronicle

"The best season in Texans history came to a screeching halt Sunday afternoon. The Texans committed four turnovers, including two drive killers in the fourth quarter, and couldn't take advantage of the running of Arian Foster and a stifling defense in a 20-13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in an AFC divisional playoff at M&T Bank Stadium. "This hurts because we put everything we had into this game, but we are very proud of our season and we're excited about our off-season," star rookie defensive end J.J. Watt said. "This loss really stings right now," Watt said. "But playing these two playoff games was great motivation for us. We were only a few plays away from going to the (AFC) Championship"

Texans feel they are better than the Ravens

January 16

Houston Chronicle

columnist Jerome Solomon

"They ignored injuries, illness and irrelevance to put together a remarkable season. A torn pectoral here, a broken collar bone there and pulled hamstrings everywhere. By the end of the regular season, even an assistant coach had appeared on the injury report: out, gallbladder and kidney surgery. So what would the Houston Texans make of having to overcome an all-time bonehead play by a five-year veteran, rookie mistakes by a rookie quarterback and odd bounces of the ball that never seemed to bounce their way? They did what they did all season. They stayed in the game. They remained confident. They battled back."

Texans offensive line holds its own against Ravens defense

January 16

Houston Chronicle

"They expected this. Oh, there was no chance in extracting the sentiment out of the Texans' offensive linemen during the week leading up to Sunday's 20-13 setback to the Ravens. Not for publication, anyway. But if you listened, and they weren't shy about it, either, the linemen had a sense they'd have their way against a front seven headlined by All-Pro defensive tackle Haloti Ngata and outside linebacker Terrell Suggs. Yes, they were confident. "Why wouldn't we be?" right tackle Eric Winston asked. "We've ran the ball well all year, Arian (Foster) is playing as well as he's been playing… I think we played well all year, and the continuity helps, too.""

Exceptional Arian Foster shines, impresses Ravens

January 16

Houston Chronicle

"Arian Foster and Ray Lewis met at midfield at M&T Bank Stadium moments after a 20-13 victory that vaulted Lewis and the Ravens into the AFC Championship and sent Foster and the Texans into the off-season pondering the possibilities. They were exchanging jerseys, an arrangement Foster brokered earlier in the week via text message. The running back said he wanted physical evidence to share eventually with his grandchildren to prove that he shared the same field with the future Hall of Fame linebacker. After what Foster did Sunday, perhaps Lewis will be bragging one day. Against a defense that hadn't allowed anyone to run for more than 91 yards during the postseason in the history of the"

Goodell: NFL to consider some full-time officials

January 16

Chicago Tribune

"Aiming to ensure NFL rules are enforced the same way from game to game, the league will consider making about 10 officials full-time employees next season. As of now, all game officials are part-time employees. Responding to a question about consistency in officiating while speaking to a group of about 75 fans before Sunday's playoff game between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the proposal would bring a group of officials to the league offices in New York to help review game films and evaluate the calls. They then would be spread out among the crews at games."

Texans' fate starts, ends with Yates

January 15

Houston Chronicle

"The main reason few outside the Texans' dressing room give them a chance of winning Sunday's divisional playoff game at Baltimore isn't the fact they have to play on the road against a team that was 8-0 at home this season and 21-3 at M&T Bank Stadium over the last three seasons. And it's not because the Texans will be playing their first playoff road game and just the second postseason game in their history, nor is it because they've already lost at Baltimore this season, 29-14 on Oct. 16. No, the main reason the Texans enter the game as 7½-point underdogs is their starting quarterback. In a round that features past Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and"

Critics hound Ravens QB Flacco even as his success continues

January 15

Houston Chronicle

columnist Jerome Solomon

"Joe Flacco has started and won 44 regular-season games in his first four years as an NFL quarterback. No quarterback has won more in his first four seasons. In each of those seasons, Flacco led the Ravens to the playoffs, something no other starting QB in NFL history has done. Plus, Flacco and the Ravens won a postseason game in each of his first three seasons. All road wins to boot. Yet today, as the Ravens host the Texans in the AFC divisional round of the playoffs, questions persist about whether Flacco is a top-flight quarterback. Considering his record, perhaps no NFL player receives as much criticism as the 6-6 former Delaware Blue Hen. It is impossible for him to ignore, though he"

Texans GM Smith owes much to Ravens' Newsome

January 15

Houston Chronicle

"Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome prides himself on his role as a pioneer who influences the careers of other African-Americans who have advanced into prominent front-office positions in the NFL. As the NFL's first African-American general manager, Newsome has had success with the Ravens that has helped pave the way for others – including the Texans' Rick Smith – to run the personnel side of organizations in a league that is dominated by black players on the field. Smith, who was 36 when owner Bob McNair hired him as general manager in June 2006, will get a chance to square off against his longtime mentor Sunday when the Texans take on the Ravens at noon in an AFC divisional"

Houston's Foster doesn't fit mold

January 15

San Antonio Express-News

"Arian Foster arrived in the NFL almost unnoticed, with a point he was willing to go to great lengths to prove. One of the telltale signs that the Houston Texans running back would soon prove he wasn't the crazy one for believing he could flourish at football's highest level came during a December 2010 game against the Baltimore Ravens. Undrafted out of college, relegated to the practice squad for much of his first professional season, Foster was on his way to leading the league in rushing. During the second quarter of a Ravens victory at Reliant Stadium, All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis cornered Foster to say, "I love the way you play the game.""

Cowboys' loss is Texans' gain with safety Danieal Manning

January 15

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"For safety Danieal Manning, the choice was simple when he became an unrestricted free agent last spring. If he wasn't going to re-sign with the Chicago Bears, with whom he spent the first four years of his career, the Corsicana native wanted to come home. That put the Dallas Cowboys, the team he rooted for as a kid and one in desperate need of safety help, at the top of his wish list. But after contacting the Cowboys through his agent, Russell Hicks, and getting no response -- likely because his asking price was too high --Manning turned to option No. 2: the Houston Texans. Clearly, it worked out for the best."

Flacco feels for T.J. Yates

January 14

Baltimore Sun

"When the Houston Texans routed the Cincinnati Bengals, 31-10, in an AFC Wildcard contest Saturday evening, T.J. Yates became the fifth rookie quarterback to win a playoff game, joining the Ravens' Joe Flacco, the Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger, the New York Jets' Mark Sanchez and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Shaun King. When Houston visits M&T Bank Stadium Sunday, Yates will try to join an even more elite club as Flacco and Sanchez are the only rookie passers to win two postseason contests. Flacco, who is the only starting quarterback in NFL history to lead his team to the playoffs in each of his first four campaigns, can empathize with the challenge that awaits Yates."

Texans defense has turned into one of the league's best

January 14

Baltimore Sun

"Having lost their starting quarterback and their highest-paid defensive player in the middle of the season, the Houston Texans are arguably the unlikeliest team left in the NFL's final eight. But the Ravens say they aren't surprised by the 11-6 Texans, nor was offensive coordinator Cam Cameron by the touchdown that propelled the AFC South champions into the divisional round. Last Saturday, in the final minute of the first half, rookie defensive end J.J. Watt slipped a block and plucked a line-drive pass from Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton out of the air with his left hand, then returned it 29 yards for a tie-breaking, morale-crushing score. Houston took a 17-10 lead and the"

Texans have come close, but they realize close won't cut it Sunday

January 14

Houston Chronicle

"The Texans would like to play the Baltimore Ravens in a fashion similar to their last two regular-season games but with different results. The Texans have never beaten the Ravens in five tries. They've come close in each of the last two seasons before losing 34-28 in overtime at Reliant Stadium last season and 29-14 at M&T Bank Stadium this season. "It's been pretty one-sided, so we've got to get on the board," Texans offensive tackle Eric Winston said. "You've got to look back on it, and I don't think a lot of that stuff is going to have a lot of bearing on this game, though. "There's different guys. There's a different situation, and we all know from past experiences that funny things"

Phillips has what it takes to be a head coach

January 14

Houston Chronicle

"When I asked Wade Phillips about Tony Romo receiving an inordinate amount of criticism as the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, Phillips abruptly cut me off. "I think the coach probably got more criticism than the quarterback," the Texans defensive coordinator said with a half-smile. Maybe it was more of a quarter-smile. For a straightforward man who pulls no punches, that bit of a smile wasn't the most genuine facial expression. A brief smile couldn't hide his focus on the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round Sunday. Phillips is quite the humorist — not as funny as his dad, Bum, who is in Will Rogers territory when it comes to down-home humor — and he tends to be jolly, but no doubt"

Texans rookie defensive end Watt, aka 'Milkman,' makes name with his play

January 14

Houston Chronicle

"Sitting in an Applebee's last weekend in Madison, Wis., during the dead period for college recruiting, Wisconsin defensive line coach and assistant head coach Charlie Partridge nudged his 5-year-old daughter, Alexa, and pointed at the nearest television. The Texans were playing Cincinnati, and when she recognized former Badger J.J. Watt, one of her favorites, Alexa began jumping up and down. Moments later, Watt slid down the line, reached out to intercept Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, and returned the ball for a touchdown. Witnessing that dramatic play, Partridge's expression wasn't childlike. He simply shook his head. As Watt's current teammates admitted following the 31-10 victory"

Wade Phillips won't interview for Tampa Bay coaching job

January 13

Houston Chronicle

"Not long after he met with the media and answered questions about his upcoming interview for the Tampa Bay head-coaching job, Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips had second thoughts. Phillips, who has done an outstanding job in his first season with the Texans, called Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik and withdrew from consideration. "I explained my reasons to Mark, and he understood," Phillips said. "The timing just wasn't right. The truth is I love it here. I love coaching for the Texans. We've got something magical going, and we want to keep it going.""

Phillips mulls return to sideline

January 13

Houston Chronicle

"Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has been calling defenses from the press box in the last two games as he continues to recover from kidney and gallbladder surgery. The procedure caused him to miss the losses to Indianapolis and Carolina, but Phillips has improved since returning to coach the team. He said he isn't sure whether he'll be in the press box or back on the sideline — where he was for the Texans' first 13 games of the season — come Sunday when the team plays Baltimore. "You know, I'm not sure," Phillips said Thursday. "We haven't decided on that, so this week was kind of a test as far as how we were doing.""

Wade Phillips cancels Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coaching interview

January 13

St. Petersburg Times

"Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, scheduled to interview for the Bucs' head coaching vacancy today in Tampa, instead withdrew his name from consideration. Phillips told the Houston Chronicle on Thursday night, "I want to be here and don't want to be a distraction." The news was first reported by ESPN. The news came a few hours after Phillips, who was fired as coach of the Cowboys eight games into the 2010 season, said he was going through with the interview despite feeling a strong bond with the Texans and suggestions by fans that the timing — ahead of Sunday's AFC division playoff game at Baltimore — was problematic. "My first priority is to be here," Phillips said earlier"

Wade Phillips pulls out of Bucs' coaching race

January 13

Tampa Tribune

"A day before he was scheduled to interview for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach's job, Houston Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips pulled himself out of contention Thursday. Phillips, 64, was scheduled to interview following the Texans practice in Houston on Friday, but sources with knowledge of the Bucs' coaching search said he called general manager Mark Dominik early Thursday evening and told him he was pulling out. The notification from Phillips came shortly after Phillips said during an afternoon news conference that he preferred to stay in Houston. "My first priority is to be here, "Phillips said. "I like it here. I love it here. We've had such a magical year and we're"