Texans News

"Cornerback Demarcus Faggins, an original Texan, has returned from a hamstring injury with three good practices. After struggling last season and getting bombarded with criticism by fans and media, Faggins is competing for a job on the team. “He seems to be OK health-wise,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. “We’re going to have some tough calls (at cornerback), so those guys have to play a lot. It’s going to be a tough group to make, so they’ve got to step up and do it.” Veteran Jamar Fletcher and rookie Antwaun Molden are reserve cornerbacks who have excelled in camp. Molden is nursing a nagging groin injury, but the coaches are hoping he can play Saturday against Denver. “We held Molden ..."

"André Davis is ready to step back on the field. He doesn’t care if it’s the preseason or the regular season. He’s just ready to let loose. No one can blame him. He ended last season as strong as anyone on the Texans, returning two kickoffs for touchdowns in the season finale against Jacksonville. After putting together the best year of his career as a receiver as well, Davis earned himself a four-year, $16 million contract that will pay him $6.5 million this season. Fearsome foursome Davis enters the season as a key component on one of the team’s strongest units. With Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones returning, expectations are high. A year ago, the same four were part of a ..."

"Not one Division I college football program in the country offered Will Demps a scholarship. He walked on and made a place for himself anyway. Not one team in the NFL drafted Demps out of San Diego State. He found work in the NFL anyway, becoming a starter as a rookie. Demps has lasted in the NFL six seasons and counting. He is the Texans’ starting free safety more because of brain than brawn, but he’s unfailingly slow on the uptake in one way. He still hasn’t learned how to take no for an answer. “I love to prove people wrong,” Demps said. “People say, 'You’re too fat, you’re too slow, you can’t hit, you’re not smart enough for this game.’ I turn away and use that as motivation.” The New ..."

"A year ago, the Texans had two inexperienced quarterbacks with minimal starter-worthy credentials. Not that it mattered, in the case of Matt Schaub. Acquired in a trade with Atlanta, he was awarded the job by default over the incumbent No. 2, Sage Rosenfels. Today, the Texans have two more experienced quarterbacks, both now possessing viable starter’s résumés. Again by default, Schaub remains the man, a potentially contentious decision if he struggles in the least. But the 30-year-old Rosenfels enters his seventh preseason as a backup with his head up and mouth zipped, determined to show himself worthy of the job even if Texans coach Gary Kubiak has officially decreed it’s not open to him. ..."

"The Astros have signed hard-throwing righthander Jack Tilghman, a 6-2, 205-pounder from the Texarkana Gunslingers of the independent Continental Baseball League. The Telford, Penn., native and former Walters State Community College pitcher led the Continental Baseball League with 13 saves while compiling a 3-2 record and 1.30 ERA with 57 strikeouts over 412/3 innings. Tilghman, 21, played on the Philadelphia Phillies’ Gulf Coast League team last season, but he was a free agent by MLB standards before area scout Rusty Pendergrass uncovered him again in Texarkana. “Rusty got word (Tilghman) was breaking 100 mph,” Astros scouting director Bobby Heck said. “We had an area scout go see him, and ..."

"Barring a miraculous recovery from a hamstring injury, running back Mike Bell won’t play against his former team, Denver, on Saturday at Reliant Stadium. Bell was out of shape when he arrived in Houston. Then he got hurt. “As of today, I’d say no,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “He claimed he had this problem before, and he was back in a couple days, but we don’t feel like he’s close right now. As of right now, I would say it doesn’t look good.” Brown could play Running back Chris Brown, who returned to practice this week, had another good workout Tuesday. He showed no signs of having the back injury that caused him to get a shot last week to help ease the pain. “I have to make a decision, but ..."

"Darius Walker isn’t your typical football player. He spent most of his time on the Texans’ practice squad, yet fans knew his face and voice thanks to a weekly Web show called Wednesdays with Walker on Texans TV, a feature of houstontexans.com. His popularity grew throughout the season although he wasn’t playing. Walker, who left college after his junior year at Notre Dame, felt it was an unusual situation to be in. “Coming from college, you’re so used to playing and being out there — the more you play, the better you get, so to speak,” Walker said. “When I came in here last year for the first half of the season, not only was I not playing, I wasn’t even dressing out.” After signing as an ..."

"Travis Johnson can quote long passages of dialogue from dozens of movies, is a student of sports history, and can offer an opinion on a few dozen topics. “Why are you so hard on Barry?” Barry? “Barry Bonds. You know who I’m talking about.” That exchange is how one interview began last season. He was ready to debate the topic, but I quickly disarmed him with my charm. He did some disarming of his own on the opening day of training camp when he showed up with Travis Johnson III in a stroller. It’s pretty hard to ask the old man if he’s going to work hard when there’s this incredibly cute baby looking up at you. If Big Puma doesn’t start hitting, he might want to try it. The truth is, the ..."

"Duane Brown has already had his welcome-to-Houston moment. The stifling heat and humidity forced him from his third practice barely 24 hours after the Texans signed him to a contract that guarantees him at least $6.2 million. It’s hoped his welcome-to-the-NFL moment, looming Saturday night against Denver, will be less humbling. The Texans’ top draft choice and heir apparent at left offensive tackle owns up to having “a few butterflies” as he contemplates his first live combat as a pro. Others in the organization probably share at least a measure of his anxiousness, considering what the franchise has invested in him, how crucial his position is, and how relatively brief his ré sumé is . ..."

"The Texans had their first scuffle in training camp Monday when a few players got into a fight on the ground after there was a run up the middle. Travis Johnson, Eric Winston and Anthony Maddox were three of the players involved. “Let me be the first one to say that I put them in a tough position as a coach, because I’m saying, ‘You be aggressive, you knock the heck out of people, but stay off the ground,’” coach Gary Kubiak said. “That’s hard to do. It’s hard to play this game when you’re being very aggressive and keeping people up, but that’s what we have to do as a team. “You’ve got to be able to play physical, play nasty, but you’ve got to understand the team is No. 1. You can’t hurt ..."

"Texans starting center Chris Myers took the path less chosen when he began his journey into professional football. Unlike most players, who didn't start playing at the Pop Warner level, Myers began in the 10th grade. But it wasn’t his idea. “It wasn’t my choice — it was my parent’s choice,” Myers said. “My parents wouldn’t let me play (because) I was a little bigger when I was growing up. They thought I’d be playing with guys three-years older than me and getting hurt. They didn’t want to risk it.” So Myers patiently waited until he started high school to play the sport he loved. “I was a football fan all my life,” Myers said. “My grandfather refereed in the NFL for over 30 years, and my ..."

"N.D. Kalu has discovered the secret to youth and vigor. Besides diet. Besides exercise. Besides clean living. Besides job insecurity. He didn’t even have to take a pill. He just had to let a doctor make a few cuts into an aching left knee. Through the wonders of arthroscopic surgery, Kalu is feeling frisky enough to try to keep up with the competition at Texans training camp. “I’ve still got something left in the tank,” Kalu said. “The last two years have been hard. I was feeling so much pain. This is the first time in two years I can honestly say I’m just playing and not worrying about my knee.” Kalu picked a good time to turn back the clock, but it might not be enough to keep his job. He ..."

"When free agency began in March, Cowboys fans could not wait to show cornerback Jacques Reeves the road out of Dallas. They pointed him in the direction of Interstate 45 South to Houston. Cowboys fans across the state chuckled when the Texans signed Reeves to a five-year, $20 million contract that included a $4 million signing bonus. Reeves, who starts opposite Fred Bennett, is hoping to have the last laugh and show team owner Bob McNair a good return on his investment. “I never paid any attention to that,” Reeves said about the criticism he received during the Cowboys’ 13-3 season, which ended with a playoff loss at home to the New York Giants. “I don’t know what was said or written. I ..."

"Once they resume practice this morning, the Texans plan to start using helmet transmitters on defense every day. They haven’t worked with the devices since offseason training activities and want to make sure they are more than prepared when the preseason gets under way on Saturday night against the Broncos. “(Linebackers coach) Johnny (Holland) will be the one talking,” coach GaryKubiak said. “We’re going to put it in DeMeco’s (Ryans) helmet and Will’s (Demps) helmet. If both of those guys are on the field, DeMeco is live. If something were to happen to DeMeco, then we would operate through Will.” This is the first year that the NFL has allowed coaches to talk to a defensive player on the ..."

"Four years ago, Earl Cochran was sitting on his couch and watching football on television. He had injured his shoulder the previous season and was waiting for a team to call for his services, but the phone never rang. “I went through a long process,” said Cochran, 27, a defensive end. “I was in Green Bay; started out with a shoulder injury. I got released and was out of football for a year. Then I went to (NFL) Europe for the first time, played sparingly. Came back and went to Minnesota for camp … was against the numbers. Next year I came to Houston.” Good potential Cochran is well-traveled since the 2004 season, when the Packers released him. When the Texans signed him to the practice ..."

"It took awhile, but the Texans have caught on to linebacker DeMeco Ryans’ tricks. They no longer are surprised when they tell him to take a break in practice only to see him sprinting back onto the field. It doesn’t shock them when the trainers say Ryans (6-1, 250) has injuries that would sideline most players and he is nonetheless dressed and ready for that Sunday’s game. “He forces himself back on the field,” linebackers coach Johnny Holland said. “(In practice), he’d tell us he’d just need to get the mental reps and see it on the field. He thinks (with) every rep he has a chance to get better. You’ve really got a lot of respect for a guy like that. “The guy plays through pain. There’s a ..."

"The first phase of Texans training camp ended on a discomfiting note Saturday morning with star receiver Andre Johnson pulling up lame, after a groin muscle tightened up on him while running a pass route. But Johnson’s injury, which isn’t thought to be serious, can hardly be blamed on a killer camp regimen. Like most of his peers around the NFL, head coach Gary Kubiak has taken a prudent, even cautious approach to honing his team for the rigors of the 2008 season in light of the NFL’s new 80-man roster limit. Saturday’s hard practice before the fans, their last workout until Monday morning, was unusual in that it actually went as long as scheduled. With only 79 players actively drilling ..."

"With cornerback Darrell Green and receiver Art Monk being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, there were so many Washington Redskins fans in attendance they made Fawcett Stadium look like FedEx Field. About 90 percent of the crowd wore the Redskins’ burgundy and gold, and the appreciative fans chanted their names when they were introduced. Monk, who retired as the NFL’s all-time leading receiver, waited eight years to be inducted after he first became eligible. When he was introduced Saturday night, the fans gave him such a thunderous standing ovation that he had to wait more than three minutes to begin his acceptance speech. Green, who joined Rams offensive tackle ..."

"What are the odds of three kids from your local Pop Warner team making it to the NFL? And then playing on the same team? Well, the barely believable happened when three little Naperville Redskins grew up to be big, imposing Houston Texans. A duo became a trio in the off-season when the Texans signed free agent Chris Brown, who joined fellow former Redskins Glenn Earl and Owen Daniels on the roster. "If you had told me when we were playing Pop Warner we'd all be on the same NFL team, I would have said you were crazy," Earl says. "It's kind of bizarre." Daniels is an established tight end who could be on the cusp of becoming a Pro Bowler in his third season. Earl was a starter going into ..."

"Texans coach Gary Kubiak didn’t try to pretend he wasn’t nervous when he saw Andre Johnson pull up short while running a route. Johnson then bent over and limped off the field. “That’s the worst nightmare for a coach,” Kubiak said. “(A) guy like him getting hurt, it’s part of football, unfortunately, and there’s not a play that you don’t hold your breath, in all honesty,” he said. “You’ve just got to keep pushing through and hope for the best and hopefully it’s our time to stay healthy. We’ve been pretty fortunate through this camp; we’ve been pretty darn good. Keep our fingers crossed with him and see what happens.” Johnson said his groin tightened up when he was running the route, but ..."

"Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson left Saturday morning's practice after pulling up lame on a deep pass pattern. Johnson favored his left groin and limped off the field in noticeable pain while team trainers tended to the two-time Pro Bowl selection. "That's the worst nightmare for a coach," Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said after witnessing Johnson's injury. "Any player going down, but a guy like him getting hurt it's part of football, unfortunately, and there's not a play that you don't hold your breath in all honesty. You just got to keep pushing through and hope for the best and hopefully it's our time to stay healthy. We've been pretty fortunate through this camp. Keep our ..."

"The Texans canceled their morning session with special teams and instead just had one full-squad practice indoors Friday afternoon. The players responded well to the morning reward. “I thought it was our best practice of camp, to be honest with you,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “Some good meetings (Friday) and guys really bouncing around. We want to have a good, physical practice in the morning, and then we’ll give them a break.” The Texans will practice in front of the fans for the final time this morning. They will have Sunday off — their first free day of training camp. “We won’t scrimmage (today), but we’re going to put our pads on,” Kubiak said. “We need to bang around pretty good and ..."

"As part of its orientation program, the NFL invited every player to visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. The Class of 2008, including former Washington Redskins cornerback Darrell Green of Houston and Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Emmitt Thomas of Angleton, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame tonight. In Houston, the six Texans draft choices will be looking back at a trip to Canton they’ll never forget. “It was a privilege to visit the Hall of Fame,” running back Steve Slaton said. “It’s one of the proudest moments of my life. That trip provided a good foundation for us and paved the way for us to enter the NFL. “Being there and being so close to the history of the game ..."

"Coach Gary Kubiak braced for what he worried might be the inevitable. Mike Sherman, the Texans’ former assistant head coach/offense, had already taken the job as the head coach at Texas A&M. Kubiak feared that linebackers coach Johnny Holland might follow suit to become the Aggies’ defensive coordinator. Holland led the “Wrecking Crew” defense in tackles in each of his final three seasons in College Station before becoming a second-round draft pick by the Packers in 1987. “I know how bad the Aggies wanted him and Sherman wanted him,” said Kubiak, himself an A&M product. “But I know that Johnny likes the city of Houston and is excited about what we’re doing and the guys that he’s working ..."

"Fred Bennett arrived in Texans camp last summer blessed with an unusually long reach and a surfeit of confidence, two commodities rookie NFL cornerbacks can’t have too much of. Still, his exuberance had to be properly channeled, and that necessitated a few intense weeks of nagging, harassing and browbeating from secondary coach Jon Hoke. “You can be as critical of Fred all you want,” Hoke said, “but you’ll never hurt his feelings. He believes in himself too much. Because of that, on top of his raw ability, he’s got a chance to be a great player.” The evidence suggests he’s on the cusp of same. Statistics can be misleading, but according to the computations of ESPN’s “Football Scientist,” ..."

"Running back Mike Bell said it was like going through the NFL Scouting Combine all over again when he arrived Thursday to work out with the Texans. But his determination to make the most of the opportunity worked. By 7:15 Thursday night, he had signed a contract and was lining up with his new teammates on the field. “I was super nervous,” said Bell, who was released recently by Denver. “You’ve just got to do your best and know your time in the league is not very long and take advantage of every opportunity.” The Texans signed Bell to help fill the void left by Chris Brown, who has spent the past several practices dealing with back spasms. Bell knows the Texans’ system well, since it is ..."

"Mike Bell is a Houston Texan.

A rookie surprise for the Denver Broncos in 2006 when he quickly rose from undrafted rookie to No. 1 tailback during training camp, Bell gained 677 yards in first season. But he quickly fell out of favor.

Moved to fullback last year, Bell was cut by the Broncos four days before the start of training camp last week.

He worked out with the Texans during their lunch break Thursday along with three other running backs.

The Texans, who lost former University of Colorado running back Chris Brown to injury, signed Bell in time for him to participate in their Thursday afternoon practice."

"John David Washington, son of actor Denzel Washington, is among the four running backs who will work out for the Texans today. Washington, who played at Morehouse College and spent the last two seasons on the Rams’ practice squad, will join veteran Mike Bell (recently released by Denver) and undrafted rookies Calvin Dawson (Louisiana-Monroe) and Darnell Terrell (Missouri) at tryouts between practices. Because Chris Brown has been sidelined with a back injury, the Texans are looking for another running back for practices. “We’re concerned about having just those four (Ahman Green, Chris Taylor, Darius Walker and Steve Slaton) right now and running them too hard,” coach Gary Kubiak said. ..."

"At 6-5, 300 pounds, Mike Brisiel isn’t hard to spot on the football field. But he’s just happy to be on the field for the Texans this season and is slated to start at right guard, no less. Brisiel wasn’t a known commodity last year. Picked up as an undrafted free agent May 4 out of Colorado State, he was signed to the practice squad twice and survived three releases. “I’ve been on the practice squad for basically two years,” Brisiel said. “Last year, I was on the practice squad up until the 12th week, when Fred (Weary) got injured. Then they called me up. … Luckily, they gave me the opportunity to battle it out for the starting job.” Brisiel made his own luck, really, earning the starting ..."

"Adversity. The word has been a part of Zac Diles’ vocabulary for most of his football career. Standing 6 feet and weighing 240 pounds, Diles isn’t your prototypical linebacker. But that’s what makes him so special. “Well ... I wish we had started him in a few games at the end of last year, and we didn’t,” Kubiak said. “I don’t want to say it’s a hunch, but I just I think he has earned his opportunity, just like (receiver) Kevin (Walter).” Totaling four tackles last season, Diles was more of a special-teams ace. All of his playing time was earned. No matter the situation, he always gave it his all. And his teammates took notice. “I remember when he was on scout team and playing on special ..."

"Running back Chris Brown missed two more practices because of a sore back. “I’m concerned about the time missed,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “You’ve got four backs (Ahman Green, Chris Taylor, Darius Walker and Steve Slaton) really working hard. He needs to get on the field and catch up.” Guard Fred Weary (hamstring), linebacker Chaun Thompson (hamstring), cornerback Demarcus Faggins (hamstring), receiver Jacoby Jones (foot) and guard Scott Jackson (foot) also missed practice Tuesday. “The good thing with all the guys we’re talking about is that all should be back on the field, so we’re not talking about losing guys for a (long) period of time,” Kubiak said."

"Carlos Lee hit his 12th career grand slam and Brian Moehler came within one out of a complete game in the Astros' 6-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Moehler (6-4) allowed seven hits and struck out three in 8 2-3 innings, his longest outing of the season. Jeff Keppinger doubled and scored in the ninth for Cincinnati and after Moehler gave up a single to Jay Bruce and a walk to Javier Valentin, Houston manager Cecil Cooper brought in Wesley Wright to relieve. Wright struck out Joey Votto for the final out and his first save in the Tuesday night game. Miguel Tejada added a solo homer and Hunter Pence added an RBI triple for the Astros, who have won their last eight games against the Reds. The ..."

"Coaches like nothing more than heated battles for starting jobs, playing time and positions on the team. The Texans have that at almost every position. Coach Gary Kubiak was talking Monday about stiff competition when someone asked him about quarterback Matt Schaub. “There’s competition at every spot, (and) competition makes players better,” Kubiak said. “Matt knows he gets pushed every day.” Schaub is the starter, but Sage Rosenfels helped the Texans go 3-1 down the stretch last season. The Texans resisted overtures from Minnesota for Rosenfels. Rosenfels wants to start, but he’s not going to complain publicly about being the backup. “The thing I’ve been impressed with the most is after ..."

"Mike Sherman had just announced he was leaving the Texans for Texas A&M last December when Gary Kubiak received a call from an old friend. “Hey, I know you’re busy,” Alex Gibbs told him. “I just want to tell you I’m tired of sitting around.” Gibbs answered the next question before Kubiak could ask it. “I’m not talking about a part-time deal. I want to come back and work. I miss it.” Their conversation was brief, five minutes or so, but it might have been the most important one Kubiak would have as he prepared the Texans for 2008. Matt Schaub has a new best friend. So does Ahman Green. And Duane Brown and Chester Pitts and others. History says the Texans will run the ball and protect the ..."

"Chris Brown didn’t move too far from his old home in Nashville, Tenn., and he will still see his former teammates twice a year. But the 27-year-old running back is hopeful that relocating to Reliant Stadium is just what he needs to rejuvenate his career and put his injury-plagued past behind him. The only concern is that the injury issues may follow him. Monday morning, Brown’s back started cramping, and he was forced to miss Texans practice. “It’s part of camp; you’re always going to have things to deal with. But for him to help his football team, he has to be on the field,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “I would sure hope (he’s back today). He is already a day behind and needs to get back out ..."

"Kicker Kris Brown better start looking over his shoulder, because some competition is lurking in the shadows. Dynamo defender Craig Waibel put on quite a kicking show after Sunday’s afternoon practice. With Brown coaching him and holding for him, Waibel connected on 10 of 14 field goals to send 30 kids from Texas Children’s Hospital to the Dynamo’s SuperLiga semifinal match against Pachuca on Tuesday. Waibel started from 17 yards and worked his way back, connecting from 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 yards. Then, Brown set up Waibel for a 57-yard attempt – Brown’s Texans record. After Waibel made that one, Brown went back for a 63-yard attempt, the record distance in the NFL shared by Tom Dempsey ..."

"Successful professional athletes don’t go gently into the good night. They are, it seems, genetically programmed to rage, rage against the dying of the light. Ask Brett Favre. Ask Ahman Green, too. Green is adamant his aborted first season with the Texans was the function of bad luck and worse timing, considering he was injured in the season-opener. It had nothing whatsoever to do with his age, the fuel left in his tank or his level of motivation. He says he intends to prove this to skeptical Texans fans come September, if he can just survive the next few weeks. Like most veterans, certainly those who are on the back side of 30, Green makes no bones about his distaste for the summertime ..."

"Maybe if Mario Williams had been cheered instead of booed when he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Texans, everything would have been different. Maybe he would have basked in the love and enjoyed it a little too much. Maybe the sophomore sensation would have instead faced a sophomore slump. Gary Kubiak didn’t wish any of the negative treatment on Williams. But the Texans coach did watch closely the past two seasons as Williams was forced to deal with intense scrutiny and constant comparisons to Reggie Bush and Vince Young. Kubiak ended up liking what he saw – a young defensive end determined to rise above the criticism and not succumb to the pressure. All that determination and hard work ..."

"The first dozen, two dozen, even three dozen names to go off the NFL draft board didn’t faze Xavier Adibi. He is a smart guy, a quick study who knows the business end of a book. He had no delusions of first-round grandeur. He had read, heard and ultimately come to believe that some team would have the sense to see him as a second-round bargain of a linebacker and act accordingly. When the first day of the draft came and went without anybody picking Adibi, he began to do a slow burn. Adibi was downright molten by the time the Texans called his name in the fourth round. He hasn’t tried for one moment to forget the feeling of 117 picks — including 10 linebackers — worth of snubs. He doesn’t ..."

"Injured cornerback Dunta Robinson might be gone, but he’s not forgotten. Robinson, who continues to recover from knee and hamstring surgeries, is only missing from the starting lineup. During his absence, his role has changed from one of the NFL’s premier players at his position to being like an assistant coach who doubles as a highly paid cheerleader. “I’m doing a lot of work on the side, but I’m helping the young guys in the secondary,” Robinson said. “I’m willing to help any rookie that has a question. I’ve been watching some film with some of them and doing whatever I can to help.” Robinson, a first-round pick in 2004, was having the best season of his career when he suffered the ..."

"I never intended to let Chester Pitts and Ephraim Salaam write this column. I want the editors to know this up front. I showed up at Texans practice Saturday morning, turned on a tape recorder and began asking questions. Looking back on it now, I’m not sure where I lost control. It might have been right after, “How’s it going?” I said something about them both being famous after that wonderful Super Bowl commercial, and that was it. “We’ve got our new best friend Ellen DeGeneres,” Ephraim said. “We hang.” Really? “I’ve got her cell phone number,” Chester added. “You want to talk to her?” No, don’t go to any trouble for me. Being on television has never been important to me. “The ESPYs were ..."

"Rookie Duane Brown got his wake-up moment of training camp just two days into it. He struggled to deal with the heat during the morning practice, and had to leave the field before it was over. He returned to participate in all of the afternoon session inside the bubble. “Ah, man, it was terrible,” Brown said. “It didn’t get this hot in Virginia. Me, being young, I thought I could just come out there and do my thing, but there’s a lot more to it.” The Texans are giving Brown a lot of repetitions at left tackle, and Saturday was the first day they donned shells under their jerseys. The coaches are also working with Brown to lose about 10 pounds. He said he hopes to get down to 315 pounds ..."

"Maybe if Mario Williams had been cheered instead of booed when he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Texans, everything would have been different. Maybe he would have basked in the love and enjoyed it a little too much. Maybe the sophomore sensation would have instead faced a sophomore slump. Gary Kubiak didn’t wish any of the negative treatment on Williams. But the Texans coach did watch closely the past two seasons as Williams was forced to deal with intense scrutiny and constant comparisons to Reggie Bush and Vince Young. Kubiak ended up liking what he saw – a young defensive end determined to rise above the criticism and not succumb to the pressure. All that determination and hard work ..."

"Running back Chris Taylor is trying his hand at fullback for the first time in his football career. The 5-11, 220-pounder hopes such versatility will increase his chances for making the team. The Texans are crowded at running back, with Ahman Green, Chris Brown, Steve Slaton, Taylor and Darius Walker all vying for carries. Taylor said starting fullback Vonta Leach has given him tips and a crash course on all the plays. “At fullback, you have to take on those linebackers so I’m going to have to hit DeMeco Ryans every day,” Taylor said. “So hopefully that goes fine. I’m ready for anything, though.”"

"After signing his five-year contract, Duane "Big" Brown trotted on to the practice field with the speed of a plow horse. But when he lined up at left tackle, he looked like a Kentucky Derby winner. Brown, the Texans’ first-round draft choice from Virginia Tech, made it onto the practice field with 40 minutes remaining in the team’s first session of training camp after signing a $9.1 million contract that could be worth $11.5 million and includes $6.2 million in guarantees. "He’s the only guy I’ve seen sign a contract with his ankles taped," coach Gary Kubiak said of the 6-5, 329-pound offensive lineman. It was so important to Brown to not miss the first practice that he was at Reliant ..."

"Rosevelt Colvin realizes he has a little catching up to do. All 79 players surrounding him on the first day of training camp spent time together in May and June during OTAs. Throw in the fact that Colvin is moving to defensive end full-time for the first time in his 10-year career, and no one would have blamed him for looking a bit out of sync. But the former linebacker who was signed after the team’s offseason workouts ended never seemed out of place. And that’s how Colvin wants to keep it. "Hopefully I can fit in as best I can," Colvin said. "I won’t be the guy that’s the bump in the road but just follow along and get it done." When the Texans signed Colvin away from New England, they ..."

"Their defense was no better. Neither was the running game. Yet the Texans won twice as many games in 2007. Was it coaching? Training? B-12 shots? Actually, a lot of things contributed to the Texans going 8-8. For instance, great play on special teams. There also was a resolve they hadn’t had in past years. They came from behind to win four of their last eight games and surrender just one fourth-quarter lead. But what really transformed the Texans in 2007 was something more basic. For maybe the only time in franchise history, they had winning play from the quarterback position. Not spectacular play. Not as good as it needs to be. Just solid play. They jumped from 27th to 12th in passer ..."

"The Houston Texans placed cornerback Dunta Robinson on the physically unable to perform list Friday. Robinson is rehabilitating a right knee injury sustained at the Oakland Raiders on November 4, 2007. He was subsequently placed on injured reserve on November 13 and missed the final seven games of the season. The South Carolina product finished with 34 tackles and two interceptions. Originally selected 10th overall by Houston in the 2004 draft, the 5-10, 185- pound Robinson had started all 57 games of his career before the injury."

"Because he had not signed a contract, left tackle Duane Brown didn’t report with his teammates on Thursday. Brown is in danger of becoming the second No. 1 pick in franchise history to become an official holdout. In 2005, defensive tackle Travis Johnson missed a day. None of the other first-round picks – quarterback David Carr, receiver Andre Johnson, cornerback Dunta Robinson, outside linebacker Jason Babin, defensive end Mario Williams and defensive tackle Amobi Okoye – has missed a day of camp because of a holdout. General manager Rick Smith has been negotiating with agents Ken Landphere and Andy Ross. "I’m sure his people are working hard (for) him as are the people upstairs," ..."