Category: NFL (Page 664 of 1282)

2009 NFL Preview: #18 Houston Texans

Check out all of our 2009 NFL team previews.

Offseason Additions: Antonio Smith (DE); Eugene Wilson (S); Cato June (LB/out for the season); Deltha O’Neal (CB); Shaun Cody (DT); Rex Grossman (QB).

Offseason Losses: Sage Rosenfels (QB); Bryan Pittman (C); C.C. Brown (S); Will Demps (DB); Anthony Weaver (DT); Ephraim Salaam (OT).

Player to Watch: Steve Slaton, RB.
After amassing 1,282 rushing yards on 268 carries, 377 passing yards on 50 receptions and 10 total touchdowns as a rookie, all eyes are on Slaton this season. He’ll give up short-yardage and goal line carries to Chris Brown, but Slaton is going to be on the field plenty for the Texans this year. The shifty sophomore gives Houston something it has been missing from its backfield since the team entered the league: An explosive playmaker that can score every time he gets his hands on the ball. As long as the extra weight he put on in the offseason doesn’t slow him down, Slaton should avoid a sophomore slump and help open things up for Matt Schaub and the passing game.

Team Strength: Thanks to ends Mario Williams and Antonio Smith, as well as tackle Amobi Okoye and 17-year coaching vet Bill Kollar, defensive line should be a strength this season for the Texans. But it’s hard to talk about this team without focusing on its offensive skill position players. Schaub could shine in head coach Gary Kubiak’s offense, but he has to stay healthy. If he can, he has a plethora of weapons at his disposal, most notably Slaton, Pro Bowl receiver Andre Johnson and tight end Owen Daniels. Slaton is a home run threat every time he gets his hands on the ball and Johnson is one of the best playmakers in the game. When they’re both healthy, Schaub and Johnson make an excellent pair and have developed good chemistry with one another. Daniels is upset about his contract, but he hasn’t let the situation become a distraction and he could once again post Pro Bowl numbers this season. As long as the line continues to improve, the offense has enough weapons to get the Texans to the playoffs.

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Does Seymour want a new contract before reporting to Oakland?

According to NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora, he does:

Given what I have heard today, I’d be very surprised to see Richard Seymour in Oakland without a new contract. Seymour has one year left on his existing deal and is less than thrilled about being dealt from New England to Oakland yesterday.

Short of agreeing to a long-term deal, this situation remains sticky. The sides have a few days to figure things out, and contrary to what Raiders coach Tom Cable said today, there are no issues between Seymour and the Patriots to resolve, according to New England and league sources. It’s the norm for veterans of Seymour’s stature to get new deals as part of such trades, and given how much the Raiders parted with to get him — a 2011 first-round pick — there is not much disputing his worth.

One would think that if Al Davis was willing to give up a first round pick to acquire Seymour then he’d also be willing to pay the defensive end what he wanted. Chances are that Davis would have tried to overpay for Seymour once he became a free agent this offseason, so it would be a little surprising to see him not work out a deal now with the defensive end.

Merriman claims he did nothing wrong

In an update to an earlier story, Shawne Merriman denies harming his “female acquaintance” Tila Tequila.

Per ESPN…

In a statement late Sunday, Merriman said he was worried for the safety of Tila Tequila because she appeared to be intoxicated and he didn’t want her to drive.

Merriman also said paramedics who were called to his home in Poway, north of San Diego, reported no injuries to Tequila, best known for “A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila,” which ran for two seasons on MTV.

His attorney told the AP via phone that there are numerous eye witnesses that will corroborate Merriman’s version of events.

Fired coordinator takes shot at Jauron

Following his firing over the weekend, former Bills offensive coordinator Turk Schonert took a parting shot at head coach Dick Jauron.

From ESPN.com:

“He wants a ‘Pop Warner’ offense,” Schonert said in a phone interview with WIVB. “He limited me in formations, and limited me in plays. He’s been on my back all offseason.”

Both quarterback Trent Edwards and receiver Lee Evans supported the move after the team returned to practice Sunday to start preparing for its season opener at New England on Sept. 14. Both indicated players had voiced their concerns about the offensive sputters to coach Dick Jauron, who ultimately made the decision to fire Schonert on Friday.

“I think everybody had concerns about it,” Evans said. “I think the basis of it was that things weren’t getting done the right way. And that was the cause of the change.”

Well that’s a good way to get yourself hired by another team, Turk – burn down bridges. The Bills offense has been anemic this preseason and if the players support the move, then it’s hard to criticize Jauron for his decision to let Schonert go.

Broncos lift Marshall’s suspension

According to a report by the Denver Post, the Broncos have lifted disgruntled receiver Brandon Marshall’s suspension.

The Broncos formally turned in the paperwork to the league office Sunday to lift wide receiver Brandon Marshall’s suspension.

Marshall was at the team’s Dove Valley complex for meetings and took part in a practice as well.

We’ll see if Marshall can turn this issue into a positive one and get his career back on track. It’s a shame for a player to have that much potential and waste on such a horrible attitude.

Of course, Marshall could have gone into training camp after his hip healed and been a model citizen in order to avoid all of this. But he didn’t – he decided to act like a child and sink his trade value to an all-time low.

Time will tell if the light bulb went off in his head.

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