I'm willing to bet that when it's all said and done, Mario will be there too.
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
Edited to fix typo, though anyone with even the slightest bit of knowledge regarding the NFL would have figured it out.
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
Saints' Bush hasn't made a fool of Texans yet Posted: Friday December 7, 2007 12:21PM; Updated: Friday December 7, 2007 12:21PM
No. 1 pick in 2006 Mario Williams has posted 8.5 sacks this season for Houston -- while also outplaying No. 2 draftee Reggie Bush. AP
Maybe the Texans were right after all.
The Texans were laughed at, mocked and ridiculed a couple Aprils ago, when they bypassed gifted Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush to draft workmanlike defensive end Mario Williams with the first pick in the draft. Nothing against Williams, but this was the Trail Blazers taking Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan.
Bush was a can't-miss talent, a once-in-a-lifetime player. He was going to revolutionize the running back position.
Almost two full years in, the Saints are still waiting.
While Williams closes in on his first Pro Bowl season in Houston -- with 8½ sacks, he trails only Jared Allen of the Chiefs among AFC defensive ends -- Bush sputters along in New Orleans, looking less and less every week like a once-in-a-lifetime player.
More like the second coming of Larry Centers.
The Saints, who thought they lucked into a future Hall of Famer, are now trying to figure out how Bush became so ordinary and what to do with a guy who's essentially a high-priced role player on a 5-7 team.
"I think that everyone expects him to go out and just be Superman all the time and that is not the case, especially in this league," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. "Reggie is a young back who is still learning how to play this game, learning how to be a professional."
Bush turned in a few electrifying plays last year, a few glimpses of greatness, but he's regressed this year; and that aura of greatness has faded a little more each week.
With four games left, Bush doesn't have a run longer than 22 yards. Trent Green, Jay Cutler, Josh McCown, Ben Roethlisberger, Donovan McNabb and Jason Campbell all have longer runs than Bush this year. And they're quarterbacks! Bush's 3.7 average is 37th out of 47 backs with 75 carries or more.
OK, but Bush is electrifying catching the ball out of the backfield, right? Wrong.
Despite 73 receptions, he doesn't have a catch longer than 25 yards. He's seventh in the NFL in catches but 77th in receiving yards.
Incredibly, the Texans' Williams actually owns a longer play this year than Bush -- his 38-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown is longer than any run, catch or return that Bush has managed.
So what's the problem?
Because of his physical limitations, Bush will never be an every-down back. The Saints concede this. "It's unfair to have those expectations," Brees said.
And he's such a poor blocker that teams recognize when he's running a pattern, he's probably going to get the ball, and they can adjust accordingly. Hence a 5.7 per-catch average, lowest by a back among the top 12 in catches in 63 years -- since Bob Davis of the Boston Yanks averaged 5.1 yards per reception in 1944.
"We try to give him enough opportunities where he's out in a route and he's not in protection," coach Sean Payton acknowledged.
No doubt Bush misses running mate Deuce McAllister, whose season ended after three weeks with a knee injury. But even before that, Bush was averaging 2.8 yards per carry and 4.4 yards per catch.
Bush was billed out of USC as a hybrid receiver and back, equally dangerous as a runner or receiver. But in reality, he's not physical enough to break tackles, not shifty enough to turn short catches into big plays and -- with eight fumbles (five in the last five games) -- not secure enough with the ball to be trusted in critical situations.
So what is he?
A bust? No, that's unfair. He's OK. But just OK. Because of his speed, he'll pop the occasional big play, though he hasn't this year. But when the Saints drafted Bush, they didn't think they were getting a guy who would rank a pedestrian 18th in the NFL in total yards.
Here's why this is such a huge problem for the Saints. Bush is signed through 2011 with cap numbers ranging from $3.7 million to $6.1, and McAllister is signed through 2012 with cap numbers ranging from $5.8 million to $8.2 million.
But McAllister, who turns 29 in a few weeks, is coming off a torn left ACL with MCL damage just 23 months after rehabbing a torn right ACL. He hopes to come back at some point next year but will likely never be the same. With McAllister's injuries and Bush's lackluster performance, a team that thought it had two brilliant running backs ... has none.
Because it's obvious that Bush is not Superman. He's barely even Mario Bates.
"Reggie is one of the best athletes I have ever seen, but that only gets you so far," Brees said. "(There are) certain fundamentals and discipline to playing this game that are learned. And that's not something that just happens immediately."
Most likely, Adrian Peterson, Brian Westbrook and Marion Barber will represent the NFC in the Pro Bowl in Hawaii.
That's OK. Maybe Mario Williams can send Bush a postcard.
>>
<<<<< "I think that everyone expects him to go out and just be Superman all the time and that is not the case, especially in this league," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. "Reggie is a young back who is still learning how to play this game, learning how to be a professional." >>>>>
What a bunch of total BS that is, and Drew Brees knows it. The answer is simple...Bush has no heart for the NFL game. Wouldn't surprise me one bit if Bush retires after his contract expires. A number of plays I've seen, it appears as though he really doesn't want to be hit out there. You can be a chicken chit (for football) type player in the NFL as a WR and still do okay, but not as a RB.
<< <i> Edited to fix typo, though anyone with even the slightest bit of knowledge regarding the NFL would have figured it out. >>
And yet you can't seem to differentiate between your wet dream of Mario winning defensive player of the year with winning a weekly award (this is the second time you've done this, stown). Try harder! The 'W' and the 'Y' are pretty far apart...how anyone with the 'slightest bit of knowledge regarding the NFL' could make such a massive error (twice!) is beyond me.
I'm so glad we passed on the over-rated "once in a generation" Bush.
Speaking of here's an article about Darius Walker -> Link
He was undrafted and makes a fraction of the overpaid today's version of Eric Metcalf, which I would take all day long.
Dec. 22, 2007, 1:01AM Making most of second chance Texans RB Darius Walker was a big man on campus, but he has learned it takes commitment — and luck — to stick in the NFL
By MEGAN MANFULL Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Darius Walker arrived in the NFL undrafted but undeterred. The rookie running back from Notre Dame had been a star everywhere he played, and he expected nothing less in the NFL.
But no one had prepared Walker for the workload necessary to achieve his ambitious goal. Less than three months into his NFL career and a few days shy of his first training camp, Walker, 22, was waived by the Texans.
He returned home to Georgia replaying practices in his mind. He thought about what he should have done differently. He kicked himself for not taking advantage of his opportunity.
"The first time he was here, he didn't know what to expect," running backs coach Chick Harris said. "He didn't know what pro football was all about. I think the cold reality hit him when he was released."
About a week later on July 30, Walker's phone rang. The Texans invited him back after running back Chris Taylor suffered a season-ending knee injury.
"I was home almost a week before I got the call back," Walker said. "It was like a call from God. I was like, 'Wow, I have another shot, another opportunity.' It was a blessing to really come back and earn my way back up."
Up-and-down first season But Walker's season has been a bumpy one. He spent nearly three months on the practice squad before being signed to the active roster. He made his NFL debut against Tampa Bay on Dec. 9. Last week against Denver, Walker made his first start in place of the injured Ron Dayne. With two games remaining in the season, Walker (5-11, 205 pounds) has 112 rushing yards on 29 carries. He will start again against Indianapolis on Sunday and continue to share the load with Dayne, who is playing with a sprained ankle.
"It's a matter of growing up a little bit," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "We all know Darius' story, where he went to college, what his expectations were, and then all of a sudden he's a free agent. I've had some ups and downs with him here, as far as his work habits and what it takes to be a pro in this league.
"I like the way he's responded. He's come out and played well. He's done his job."
The biggest adjustments for Walker were learning how to practice and how to deal with not being a star.
He was a standout at Buford (Ga.) High School, helping lead the team to a 58-2 record and three state titles in his four seasons. As a senior, he rushed for 46 touchdowns and broke Herschel Walker's Georgia single-season touchdown record of 42.
At Notre Dame, the success came almost as quickly. He left after three seasons, ranking fourth all-time with 3,249 rushing yards.
He arrived with the Texans planning to pick up where he left off at Notre Dame, but that approach didn't work so well.
Demands of the league "Initially, he didn't know what we wanted (in practice)," Harris said. "I guess he was going by what he was doing in college as a starter. I just started telling him the honest facts about life, hard work, dedication and focus every day to get better. And he accepted it. I could see him getting better. "And when I started to see him fall off, I stepped on his feet a little. 'Hey, you want to go back the other way or do you want to continue to grow to be a pro?' And he's growing. He's still got a ways to go, but he's learning so much."
Walker doesn't hesitate to shoot down the notion he regrets leaving Notre Dame before his senior season. A second chance from the Texans has enabled him to live out his childhood dream.
The coaches can tell Walker is not taking his opportunities for granted these days.
"A lot of guys have to go through (being cut) to really appreciate the job they have and the opportunity they have in their lives to be a pro football player and not take it for granted," Kubiak said. "They all come from someplace where they were probably 'the guy.' Being 'the guy' in this league is hard to do. You've got to learn to be one of the guys first."
megan.manfull@chron.com
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
Wow, sure is quiet on the texans' front after getting owned by the Colts...stown dares to blast stalin and I for 'hiding under the bed' when the Bucs lose?
And as I said in another thread, we lost to one of the best teams in the NFL on the road.
Zero shame in that.
Your bandwagon team, on the other hand, lost to one of the worst teams in the NFL and you refused to come out from under the bed.
Speaking of, your bandwagon team played only 1 1/2 hours away from you and for some reason, you didn't go to the game?
Yeah, some fan you are.
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
Bacon wrapped jalapenos stuffed with chorizo sausage and assorted cheeses.
Grilled chicken wings basted in extra hot and extra garlic sauce.
Barry Burgers (ground sirloin, jalapenos, andouille sausage, and some other stuff that I cannot disclose).
And for dessert, back by popular demand, Donut bread puddin'
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
You split/butterfly them open, like a T, and scoop out all of the stems and seeds ( ). That's where 95% of the heat is. You fill it with browned chorizo sausage, oinion, and garlic (let cool first) mixed in with cream cheese, shredded monterrey jack, and cheddar cheese. Wrap that beyatch up with applewood smoked bacon and hold it together with toothpicks.
I mean, sure, if you eat it all the way to the stem there will be some heat but for the most part, it just tastes dam good.
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
+1 for waking up at 5:30 for the last tailgate of the season.
Thankfully, I'll sleep in tomorrow, unless my cat wakes me up early, again
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
I'm willing to put my neck out and say the AFC South is the toughest division in the NFL.
Not one team below .500 and every team, other than the Texans, made the playoffs.
Jebus Effen Christmas
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
-----Original Message----- From: Houston Texans [mailto:newsletter@houstontexans.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 4:35 PM To: Moi Subject: From the desk of the president - 1/15
Thank you for an incredible 2007 season. While our 2007 campaign left us just short of our first playoff appearance, we set a new record for Texans wins in a season. More importantly, the pride and courage demonstrated by our team week after week gave plenty of cause for excitement and optimism. We appreciate the tremendous support you have shown us over our first six years, which has led to 60 consecutive sell-outs at Reliant Stadium, a season ticket base of more than 62,000 and a tremendous home field advantage. Your support through the years has been, and continues to be, an important asset to our team. Just check the record (six regular season home wins in eight games in 2007) and you will see that our fans make a big difference on game day and we sure appreciate it.
Below I have provided a link to a short video with a few of the highlights from the 2007 Houston Texans season. I hope you enjoy these reminders of an outstanding year and we look forward to many great seasons to come.
P.S. - Preparations for the 2008 season have begun, so please e-mail fanfeedback@houstontexans.com to provide your comments or suggestions. We want to hear from you.
Jamey Rootes President Houston Texans
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
Best of luck with the draft this coming April! Whadda ya think B? Texans going to go after another "BIG TIME" Defensive guy or look to add to the Offense? Walters (I think thats his name) put up some nice #'s alongside Johnson at the WR spot...
I think we will either go with a DB or LT in the 1st round.
Robinson is out until middle of next season and there's still some uncertainty with Spencer.
This draft appears to have a lot of depth, so what would be ideal is to trade down and pick up a 2nd.
Walter will continue to be money; Kubes said he regretted not playing Walter more the year before. On the other side, looks like Davis may test out the Free Agent market. Thankfully, we have Jacoby waiting in the wings if Davis decides to go elsewhere.
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
Over 500,000 votes were casted nationwide, Ephraim Salaam and Chester Pitt's story (beating out 240 other players) was broadcasted during the Super Bowl.
A heartwarming story and yet another reason why I'm PROUD to be a Texan fan
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
He fits perfectly in our system as a kickoff return specialist, a complement to the other Andre, and a great teammate to a reasonably priced Contract.
I love it.
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
<< <i>The Texans will entertain the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13 on Monday, Dec. 1. >>
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
Texans players go deep for charity 06/11/2008 8:10 PM ET By Krysten Oliphant / MLB.com
HOUSTON -- A different group of Houston athletes took the field at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday afternoon, and while the competition was light and fun, the prize money was serious. Ten players from the NFL's Houston Texans participated in the sixth annual Reliant Energy Home Run Derby to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, raising $30,800 for the nonprofit organization.
The players were in five teams of two, each competing for the most base hits and home runs. Each player was awarded $500 per home run, $250 for a ball that hit the wall, $100 for a hit to the warning track and $50 for a base hit.
"The last couple years we really didn't raise as much money as we wanted to," said Reliant spokesperson Manny Rodriguez. "We wanted to make this to a point where we could raise some money, so we made the home runs worth a little bit more and made the base hits worth something, and it showed."
Children from the Boys and Girls Clubs were invited to watch, as kicker Kris Brown, tight ends Mark Bruener and Owen Daniels, long snapper Bryan Pittman, guard Chester Pitts, quarterbacks Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels, linebacker DeMeco Ryans, defensive end Mario Williams and offensive tackle Eric Winston tried to hit one out of the park.
Winston, a former high school baseball player, was the story of the day with four home runs. Three of his dingers went so far -- into the upper deck in right field -- they were awarded $1,000 a piece, and he raised a total of $9,250.
"He's lobbing it up there for us, but these are Major League Baseball players," Winston said. "It's really hard to hit a baseball off a pitching guy, much less anybody else. If I can do anything close to what these Astros guys do, that's great. I knew I could hit a couple, but I'm glad I got some good wood on it."
Even the Astros' big hitters were impressed with Winston's power. Some of the Texans said they were worried they would lose the 6-foot-7, 310-pounder to the diamond.
"That's awfully nice of them, but if they came out here and hit, I'm sure I'd be impressed too," Winston said of the compliments from the Astros. "I'm the first person to tell you I couldn't do this for a living. But with all these screaming kids out here, you want to get as many hits as you can, because you know it's for a good cause."
Winston and Williams gave Team Black the win, partly because of Winston's homers going such a great distance. Team Black was tied in money total with Team Orange (Daniels and Schaub) at $10,450 each.
Many of the players had not picked up a baseball bat in years. Williams ($1,200) said the last time he swung at a pitch was in middle school. While he had some hard hits, most went into center field. Astros left fielder Carlos Lee yelled at him to hit to the Crawford Boxes if he wanted to homer.
"Last year [at] this time was the last time I picked up a bat, at the last Home Run Derby," said Ryans, who hit one home run and raised $1,600. "I loved playing baseball when I was growing up, since kindergarten, when I first started. It was my first love, baseball, and it's always good to come out and help the kids."
The quarterbacks raised a total of $9,450, showing some of the most power on the team. Rosenfels hit five home runs, and Schaub hit four.
Schaub said he would rather hit one fewer than Winston, to keep his protector on the gridiron happy.
"A couple of times it hit the top of the fence, and I needed to hit a few of those out of here or else I was going to catch some grief from my teammates," Schaub said. "It was a lot of fun. We want to keep doing this thing for a while. Now that the rules are a little different and you can still score by hitting a base hit, you don't have to worry about trying to over-swing at every pitch to try to get a home run."
Pitts, who raised $1,250, struggled to get one over the wall, and although he hit no home runs, he still came away sweating. Pitts said he has a new respect for baseball players.
"I need to take a knee," Pitts yelled after his turn. "Anyone with calves this big shouldn't be on the [diamond]. What about these calves says 'baseball player?' Absolutely nothing."
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
On the bright side, we now have two MNF games this year.
Oh yeah and Mario is on pace for 32 sacks, 16 fumbles, and 112 tackles.
Good times.
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
Comments
I'm willing to bet that when it's all said and done, Mario will be there too.
Link
Suck it, Bushboy!
Edited to fix typo, though anyone with even the slightest bit of knowledge regarding the NFL would have figured it out.
<< <i>A great read -> Link
Saints' Bush hasn't made a fool of Texans yet
Posted: Friday December 7, 2007 12:21PM; Updated: Friday December 7, 2007 12:21PM
No. 1 pick in 2006 Mario Williams has posted 8.5 sacks this season for Houston -- while also outplaying No. 2 draftee Reggie Bush.
AP
Maybe the Texans were right after all.
The Texans were laughed at, mocked and ridiculed a couple Aprils ago, when they bypassed gifted Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush to draft workmanlike defensive end Mario Williams with the first pick in the draft. Nothing against Williams, but this was the Trail Blazers taking Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan.
Bush was a can't-miss talent, a once-in-a-lifetime player. He was going to revolutionize the running back position.
Almost two full years in, the Saints are still waiting.
While Williams closes in on his first Pro Bowl season in Houston -- with 8½ sacks, he trails only Jared Allen of the Chiefs among AFC defensive ends -- Bush sputters along in New Orleans, looking less and less every week like a once-in-a-lifetime player.
More like the second coming of Larry Centers.
The Saints, who thought they lucked into a future Hall of Famer, are now trying to figure out how Bush became so ordinary and what to do with a guy who's essentially a high-priced role player on a 5-7 team.
"I think that everyone expects him to go out and just be Superman all the time and that is not the case, especially in this league," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. "Reggie is a young back who is still learning how to play this game, learning how to be a professional."
Bush turned in a few electrifying plays last year, a few glimpses of greatness, but he's regressed this year; and that aura of greatness has faded a little more each week.
With four games left, Bush doesn't have a run longer than 22 yards. Trent Green, Jay Cutler, Josh McCown, Ben Roethlisberger, Donovan McNabb and Jason Campbell all have longer runs than Bush this year. And they're quarterbacks! Bush's 3.7 average is 37th out of 47 backs with 75 carries or more.
OK, but Bush is electrifying catching the ball out of the backfield, right? Wrong.
Despite 73 receptions, he doesn't have a catch longer than 25 yards. He's seventh in the NFL in catches but 77th in receiving yards.
Incredibly, the Texans' Williams actually owns a longer play this year than Bush -- his 38-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown is longer than any run, catch or return that Bush has managed.
So what's the problem?
Because of his physical limitations, Bush will never be an every-down back. The Saints concede this. "It's unfair to have those expectations," Brees said.
And he's such a poor blocker that teams recognize when he's running a pattern, he's probably going to get the ball, and they can adjust accordingly. Hence a 5.7 per-catch average, lowest by a back among the top 12 in catches in 63 years -- since Bob Davis of the Boston Yanks averaged 5.1 yards per reception in 1944.
"We try to give him enough opportunities where he's out in a route and he's not in protection," coach Sean Payton acknowledged.
No doubt Bush misses running mate Deuce McAllister, whose season ended after three weeks with a knee injury. But even before that, Bush was averaging 2.8 yards per carry and 4.4 yards per catch.
Bush was billed out of USC as a hybrid receiver and back, equally dangerous as a runner or receiver. But in reality, he's not physical enough to break tackles, not shifty enough to turn short catches into big plays and -- with eight fumbles (five in the last five games) -- not secure enough with the ball to be trusted in critical situations.
So what is he?
A bust? No, that's unfair. He's OK. But just OK. Because of his speed, he'll pop the occasional big play, though he hasn't this year. But when the Saints drafted Bush, they didn't think they were getting a guy who would rank a pedestrian 18th in the NFL in total yards.
Here's why this is such a huge problem for the Saints. Bush is signed through 2011 with cap numbers ranging from $3.7 million to $6.1, and McAllister is signed through 2012 with cap numbers ranging from $5.8 million to $8.2 million.
But McAllister, who turns 29 in a few weeks, is coming off a torn left ACL with MCL damage just 23 months after rehabbing a torn right ACL. He hopes to come back at some point next year but will likely never be the same. With McAllister's injuries and Bush's lackluster performance, a team that thought it had two brilliant running backs ... has none.
Because it's obvious that Bush is not Superman. He's barely even Mario Bates.
"Reggie is one of the best athletes I have ever seen, but that only gets you so far," Brees said. "(There are) certain fundamentals and discipline to playing this game that are learned. And that's not something that just happens immediately."
Most likely, Adrian Peterson, Brian Westbrook and Marion Barber will represent the NFC in the Pro Bowl in Hawaii.
That's OK. Maybe Mario Williams can send Bush a postcard.
<<<<< "I think that everyone expects him to go out and just be Superman all the time and that is not the case, especially in this league," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. "Reggie is a young back who is still learning how to play this game, learning how to be a professional." >>>>>
What a bunch of total BS that is, and Drew Brees knows it. The answer is simple...Bush has no heart for the NFL game. Wouldn't surprise me one bit if Bush retires after his contract expires. A number of plays I've seen, it appears as though he really doesn't want to be hit out there. You can be a chicken chit (for football) type player in the NFL as a WR and still do okay, but not as a RB.
-
Oh wait, it was Defensive Player of the Week.
Nevermind.
<< <i>
Edited to fix typo, though anyone with even the slightest bit of knowledge regarding the NFL would have figured it out. >>
And yet you can't seem to differentiate between your wet dream of Mario winning defensive player of the year with winning a weekly award (this is the second time you've done this, stown). Try harder! The 'W' and the 'Y' are pretty far apart...how anyone with the 'slightest bit of knowledge regarding the NFL' could make such a massive error (twice!) is beyond me.
Speaking of here's an article about Darius Walker -> Link
He was undrafted and makes a fraction of the overpaid today's version of Eric Metcalf, which I would take all day long.
Dec. 22, 2007, 1:01AM
Making most of second chance
Texans RB Darius Walker was a big man on campus, but he has learned it takes commitment — and luck — to stick in the NFL
By MEGAN MANFULL
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Darius Walker arrived in the NFL undrafted but undeterred. The rookie running back from Notre Dame had been a star everywhere he played, and he expected nothing less in the NFL.
But no one had prepared Walker for the workload necessary to achieve his ambitious goal. Less than three months into his NFL career and a few days shy of his first training camp, Walker, 22, was waived by the Texans.
He returned home to Georgia replaying practices in his mind. He thought about what he should have done differently. He kicked himself for not taking advantage of his opportunity.
"The first time he was here, he didn't know what to expect," running backs coach Chick Harris said. "He didn't know what pro football was all about. I think the cold reality hit him when he was released."
About a week later on July 30, Walker's phone rang. The Texans invited him back after running back Chris Taylor suffered a season-ending knee injury.
"I was home almost a week before I got the call back," Walker said. "It was like a call from God. I was like, 'Wow, I have another shot, another opportunity.' It was a blessing to really come back and earn my way back up."
Up-and-down first season
But Walker's season has been a bumpy one. He spent nearly three months on the practice squad before being signed to the active roster. He made his NFL debut against Tampa Bay on Dec. 9. Last week against Denver, Walker made his first start in place of the injured Ron Dayne.
With two games remaining in the season, Walker (5-11, 205 pounds) has 112 rushing yards on 29 carries. He will start again against Indianapolis on Sunday and continue to share the load with Dayne, who is playing with a sprained ankle.
"It's a matter of growing up a little bit," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "We all know Darius' story, where he went to college, what his expectations were, and then all of a sudden he's a free agent. I've had some ups and downs with him here, as far as his work habits and what it takes to be a pro in this league.
"I like the way he's responded. He's come out and played well. He's done his job."
The biggest adjustments for Walker were learning how to practice and how to deal with not being a star.
He was a standout at Buford (Ga.) High School, helping lead the team to a 58-2 record and three state titles in his four seasons. As a senior, he rushed for 46 touchdowns and broke Herschel Walker's Georgia single-season touchdown record of 42.
At Notre Dame, the success came almost as quickly. He left after three seasons, ranking fourth all-time with 3,249 rushing yards.
He arrived with the Texans planning to pick up where he left off at Notre Dame, but that approach didn't work so well.
Demands of the league
"Initially, he didn't know what we wanted (in practice)," Harris said. "I guess he was going by what he was doing in college as a starter. I just started telling him the honest facts about life, hard work, dedication and focus every day to get better. And he accepted it. I could see him getting better.
"And when I started to see him fall off, I stepped on his feet a little. 'Hey, you want to go back the other way or do you want to continue to grow to be a pro?' And he's growing. He's still got a ways to go, but he's learning so much."
Walker doesn't hesitate to shoot down the notion he regrets leaving Notre Dame before his senior season. A second chance from the Texans has enabled him to live out his childhood dream.
The coaches can tell Walker is not taking his opportunities for granted these days.
"A lot of guys have to go through (being cut) to really appreciate the job they have and the opportunity they have in their lives to be a pro football player and not take it for granted," Kubiak said. "They all come from someplace where they were probably 'the guy.' Being 'the guy' in this league is hard to do. You've got to learn to be one of the guys first."
megan.manfull@chron.com
Hypocrite, much?
And as I said in another thread, we lost to one of the best teams in the NFL on the road.
Zero shame in that.
Your bandwagon team, on the other hand, lost to one of the worst teams in the NFL and you refused to come out from under the bed.
Speaking of, your bandwagon team played only 1 1/2 hours away from you and for some reason, you didn't go to the game?
Yeah, some fan you are.
Bacon wrapped jalapenos stuffed with chorizo sausage and assorted cheeses.
Grilled chicken wings basted in extra hot and extra garlic sauce.
Barry Burgers (ground sirloin, jalapenos, andouille sausage, and some other stuff that I cannot disclose).
And for dessert, back by popular demand, Donut bread puddin'
You split/butterfly them open, like a T, and scoop out all of the stems and seeds (
I mean, sure, if you eat it all the way to the stem there will be some heat but for the most part, it just tastes dam good.
Thankfully, I'll sleep in tomorrow, unless my cat wakes me up early, again
Sincerely,
#84 of the Jags.
I had a few people to cook for
<< <i>Looks like you had a great time B! Nice way to wrap up the season huh? >>
I think the best thing for the future of a Texans fan would be for the NFL to realign them out of that brutal division.
Not one team below .500 and every team, other than the Texans, made the playoffs.
Jebus Effen Christmas
From: Houston Texans [mailto:newsletter@houstontexans.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 4:35 PM
To: Moi
Subject: From the desk of the president - 1/15
Thank you for an incredible 2007 season. While our 2007 campaign left us just short of our first playoff appearance, we set a new record for Texans wins in a season. More importantly, the pride and courage demonstrated by our team week after week gave plenty of cause for excitement and optimism. We appreciate the tremendous support you have shown us over our first six years, which has led to 60 consecutive sell-outs at Reliant Stadium, a season ticket base of more than 62,000 and a tremendous home field advantage. Your support through the years has been, and continues to be, an important asset to our team. Just check the record (six regular season home wins in eight games in 2007) and you will see that our fans make a big difference on game day and we sure appreciate it.
Below I have provided a link to a short video with a few of the highlights from the 2007 Houston Texans season. I hope you enjoy these reminders of an outstanding year and we look forward to many great seasons to come.
2007 Houston Texans Highlights
P.S. - Preparations for the 2008 season have begun, so please e-mail fanfeedback@houstontexans.com to provide your comments or suggestions. We want to hear from you.
Jamey Rootes
President
Houston Texans
Robinson is out until middle of next season and there's still some uncertainty with Spencer.
This draft appears to have a lot of depth, so what would be ideal is to trade down and pick up a 2nd.
Walter will continue to be money; Kubes said he regretted not playing Walter more the year before. On the other side, looks like Davis may test out the Free Agent market. Thankfully, we have Jacoby waiting in the wings if Davis decides to go elsewhere.
A heartwarming story and yet another reason why I'm PROUD to be a Texan fan
Link for those who missed it.
Link
He fits perfectly in our system as a kickoff return specialist, a complement to the other Andre, and a great teammate to a reasonably priced Contract.
I love it.
<< <i>The Texans will entertain the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13 on Monday, Dec. 1. >>
+1 for Stown being a VERY DEDICATED home town fan!
Texans players go deep for charity
06/11/2008 8:10 PM ET
By Krysten Oliphant / MLB.com
HOUSTON -- A different group of Houston athletes took the field at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday afternoon, and while the competition was light and fun, the prize money was serious.
Ten players from the NFL's Houston Texans participated in the sixth annual Reliant Energy Home Run Derby to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, raising $30,800 for the nonprofit organization.
The players were in five teams of two, each competing for the most base hits and home runs. Each player was awarded $500 per home run, $250 for a ball that hit the wall, $100 for a hit to the warning track and $50 for a base hit.
"The last couple years we really didn't raise as much money as we wanted to," said Reliant spokesperson Manny Rodriguez. "We wanted to make this to a point where we could raise some money, so we made the home runs worth a little bit more and made the base hits worth something, and it showed."
Children from the Boys and Girls Clubs were invited to watch, as kicker Kris Brown, tight ends Mark Bruener and Owen Daniels, long snapper Bryan Pittman, guard Chester Pitts, quarterbacks Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels, linebacker DeMeco Ryans, defensive end Mario Williams and offensive tackle Eric Winston tried to hit one out of the park.
Winston, a former high school baseball player, was the story of the day with four home runs. Three of his dingers went so far -- into the upper deck in right field -- they were awarded $1,000 a piece, and he raised a total of $9,250.
"He's lobbing it up there for us, but these are Major League Baseball players," Winston said. "It's really hard to hit a baseball off a pitching guy, much less anybody else. If I can do anything close to what these Astros guys do, that's great. I knew I could hit a couple, but I'm glad I got some good wood on it."
Even the Astros' big hitters were impressed with Winston's power. Some of the Texans said they were worried they would lose the 6-foot-7, 310-pounder to the diamond.
"That's awfully nice of them, but if they came out here and hit, I'm sure I'd be impressed too," Winston said of the compliments from the Astros. "I'm the first person to tell you I couldn't do this for a living. But with all these screaming kids out here, you want to get as many hits as you can, because you know it's for a good cause."
Winston and Williams gave Team Black the win, partly because of Winston's homers going such a great distance. Team Black was tied in money total with Team Orange (Daniels and Schaub) at $10,450 each.
Many of the players had not picked up a baseball bat in years. Williams ($1,200) said the last time he swung at a pitch was in middle school. While he had some hard hits, most went into center field. Astros left fielder Carlos Lee yelled at him to hit to the Crawford Boxes if he wanted to homer.
"Last year [at] this time was the last time I picked up a bat, at the last Home Run Derby," said Ryans, who hit one home run and raised $1,600. "I loved playing baseball when I was growing up, since kindergarten, when I first started. It was my first love, baseball, and it's always good to come out and help the kids."
The quarterbacks raised a total of $9,450, showing some of the most power on the team. Rosenfels hit five home runs, and Schaub hit four.
Schaub said he would rather hit one fewer than Winston, to keep his protector on the gridiron happy.
"A couple of times it hit the top of the fence, and I needed to hit a few of those out of here or else I was going to catch some grief from my teammates," Schaub said. "It was a lot of fun. We want to keep doing this thing for a while. Now that the rules are a little different and you can still score by hitting a base hit, you don't have to worry about trying to over-swing at every pitch to try to get a home run."
Pitts, who raised $1,250, struggled to get one over the wall, and although he hit no home runs, he still came away sweating. Pitts said he has a new respect for baseball players.
"I need to take a knee," Pitts yelled after his turn. "Anyone with calves this big shouldn't be on the [diamond]. What about these calves says 'baseball player?' Absolutely nothing."
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Oh yeah and Mario is on pace for 32 sacks, 16 fumbles, and 112 tackles.
Good times.