by Joe Tailgate on August 3, 2009
in NFL News
Running back Steve Slaton is showing every bit of the tremendous rushing and receiving skills in practice that he displayed last season. Slaton ranked second in the AFC last season with 1,282 yards on 268 carries, and also caught 50 passes for 377 yards. He’d like to have about 20 touches a game, and would have no problem if half were pass receptions. “I warm up, the more I touch the ball,” he said. Slaton reported to camp at about 224 pounds, 9 pounds heavier than he was last year, but figures that most of it will be gone by the end of camp.
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by Joe Tailgate on June 23, 2009
in NFL News
Texans owner Bob McNair, general manager Rick Smith and coach Gary Kubiak left the Methodist Training Center knowing they have more talent than at any time in the team’s eight-year history. They also know fans have playoffs-or-bust expectations.
“The playoffs are why I came here,” Kubiak said. “It’s why I do what I do. “We have high expectations. We’re a better team than any time since I’ve been here. We’re not going to be satisfied with another (8-8 record). I want more, a lot more. The players do, too. I’m looking forward to the journey because I like the guys I’m taking it with. We have tremendous character on this team.”
Houston will have at least two new starters on defense in left end Antonio Smith and strong-side linebacker Brian Cushing, their first-round draft choice out of USC.
“Rookies have to be big contributors to our team, but I don’t imagine you’re going to see three or four of them starting because we’re a better team,” Kubiak said. “Cushing has been a starter since the day he stepped off the bus. We’re very happy with him.”
Second-year LB Xavier Adibi, recovering Zach Diles and newcomer Cato June are expected to slug it out for the third starting spot alongside middle man DeMeco Ryans and rookie strongside linebacker Brian Cushing.
“With Adibi and Zach and Cato, we’re as strong at that position as we’ve been since I’ve been here,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “That position group will have a heck of a battle this training camp,” GM Rick Smith said. “That’s one I’m looking forward to watching.”
Owen Daniels signed a one-year tender with the Texans over the weekend but did not show up for the team’s mandatory mini-camp on Monday. Most of the veterans are not required to attend the three days of practices, but they must go through strength and conditioning workouts at the stadium.
“I think everyone understands the rules,” general manager Rick Smith said. “I’m not going to talk about our conversations, but I think everyone understands that it’s a mandatory mini-camp and that everyone is supposed to be here. We have a lot of goals for the football team this season. And every time you are with your teammates, you are getting better. From that standpoint, I think he would have been better served being here today lifting and meeting with his teammates.” Daniels could receive a fine for his absence. “This is a mandatory mini-camp, so there are ramifications for him not being here today,” Smith said.
Texans Blogosphere
by Joe Tailgate on June 16, 2009
in NFL News
- Brett Favre acknowledged on HBO’s Joe Buck Live that he is considering returning to the NFL in 2009, and that he has spoken to the Minnesota Vikings. Asked if he will play in 2009, Favre said, “Maybe.” and later added, “I am considering it.” Favre said that the renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews performed surgery “about two and a half weeks ago,” and he said Andrews told him that within four or five weeks, he should know whether his shoulder is strong enough to get through a 16-game season. When Joe Buck asked Favre about the offense he would play in with the Vikings, Favre said, “Knowing we can run the ball and complete passes when needed, we should be pretty good.”
- Texans TE Owen Daniels signed his restricted free-agent tender Sunday but was not at the first day of the team’s mandatory three-day minicamp Monday. Daniels is in line for a fine of almost $10,000 for missing the mandatory session while under contract. “We’re happy that he elected to come in and sign his tender and be a part of the football team again; a little disappointed that he’s not here today,” general manager Rick Smith said.
- Titans running back LenDale White defended his friend and teammate Vince Young regarding recent statements made by the quarterback about the possibility of being traded. White, speaking on radio station KLAC in Los Angeles Monday said, “You know, I was with Vince yesterday and Vince is very competitive,” White said Monday. “That’s just the competitive side of him. He wants to play and I understand that. I want to play and be the starter. I feel like if the Titans didn’t want me, there are plenty of other teams that will. That’s just the competitive nature of yourself. Vince is a Titan and he loves that. He loves being in the locker room with us, he loves being around us. But it’s that itch to play – he loves playing football.”
- Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco intends to stay with quarterback Carson Palmer and his family in July to make up for lost time while he was away from the team in the offseason. OchoCinco said, “We do argue all the time like a married couple. I think that is why we have been so successful together, because we have that type of relationship we can get on one another. For the time that I missed with Carson throughout the offseason, I am going to make it up in July.”
- Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart said a sore left Achilles is what caused him to miss all of the Carolina Panthers OTAs, but that he should be ready to practice when training camp arrives in early August. The injury was apparently related to Stewart overcompensating for a toe problem that slowed him down last off-season. “It just kind of flared up,” he said. “I’m pretty much staying off of it to just kind of let it heal.” Stewart, who ran for a Panthers rookie record 836 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, didn’t practice at all over the past four weeks, but did participate in the conditioning sprints Tuesday that marked the end of this summer’s OTAs. “Oh yeah, I’m going to be up and running when camp starts,” Stewart said. “Unfortunately I missed out on minicamp. But I’ll be ready.”
by Joe Tailgate on June 10, 2009
in NFL News
- Ravens running back Willis McGahee said he doesn’t mind being the backup to Ray Rice for now. McGahee had been limited for most of the offseason after having arthroscopic knee surgery. Because Rice has been going with the starters during his absence, McGahee said he didn’t expect to supplant Rice immediately. “It wouldn’t be right,” McGahee said Tuesday during the final minicamp for veterans. “I don’t mind. Work is work. That’s either with the first, second or third.”
- As a rookie, Ray Rice placed third on the team with 107 carries for 454 yards, and he is obviously aiming to increase those numbers. Rice added a noticeable amount of bulk to his upper body to be more of an every-down runner. Head coach John Harbaugh believes Rice can fill that role. “Not that he wasn’t a tackle-breaker last year – he was a tackle-to-tackle runner at Rutgers, that was what he did – but he’s come a long way,” Harbaugh said. “Now, people see him as a third-down back because of the success he had last year, but I don’t think we have any question that he can be an every-down back.”
- The Saints were reported to be interested in Edgerrin James, but today when head coach Sean Payton was asked if he had any more thoughts about bringing in another veteran running back he responded with “No. Right now we’re content with the guys we have.”
- Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha, who did not participate in the Raiders’ last OTA, was present and accounted for Tuesday, according to the club’s Twitter page. Quarterback Charlie Frye, signed Monday, also got in his first work as a Raider.
- Texans TE Owen Daniels has become the second player to skip organized team activities this offseason because of a contract dispute with the franchise’s front office. Daniels, who had participated in the first three weeks of OTAs, did not show up to the team’s voluntary workout Tuesday. While teams cannot make OTAs mandatory, Daniels and Dunta Robinson are the only two missing. “Obviously we’re in the middle of negotiations,” General manager Rick Smith said. “He’s well within in his rights not to be here. We wish he were working out like he had been, but we understand it.”
- Jets QB Kellen Clemens continued to work with the first team Tuesday and outperformed rookie QB Mark Sanchez but head coach Rex Ryan said the quarterback competition is going to be “fierce.” Sanchez has the stronger arm, and was throwing lasers in a one-on-one drill, but he has to avoid mistakes. Ryan wants Sanchez to also improve his voice, as he wants Sanchez to be louder and more inflective with his cadence.
- Cowboys RB Tashard Choice taking snaps at QB in Razorback . Coach Wade Phillips said it was just a matter of the Cowboys exploring their options for the benefit of their offense and their defense. “I like it. I have a chance to get the ball in my hands,” Choice said. “They are looking at it to see how they like it. They’ve got to have somebody who can run and throw. Most times it’s a running back.”
