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Texans Should Just Stay Away From Larry Johnson

Gary Kubiak and his Texans look like they have a nice thing going in Houston. Why would they risk upsetting that by adding malcontent RB Larry Johnson?Maybe Texans coach Gary Kubiak was just doing the standard NFL coach non-answer thing. When asked yesterday about his team having interest in just-released Chiefs malcontent RB Larry Johnson, Kubiak hemmed and hawed, called Johnson "a good player" and said, "We'll take a look at him." And this might mean nothing, of course. Might mean Kubiak really can't say whether his team is interested, because maybe he doesn't want him but the owner does or vice-versa or something like that. If they do end up pursuing the guy, it won't help negotiations much if the coach is out front saying, "Yeah, we really want him." So Kubiak said basically what he's supposed to say, and reading too much into it is probably a mistake.

But regardless of what's really going on behind the scenes, and regardless of the muddle they have going on right now with Ryan Moats playing on running downs and Steve Slaton playing on passing downs or whatever they're trying to with their running backs, I think the Texans ought to take a pass on Larry Johnson. I think they have too much good stuff going on there right now to bring in his kinds of issues.

Colts Turn Up Tempo to Stay Unbeaten

Peyton Manning and the Colts stayed unbeaten with a win over the Texans, but it sure wasn't easy.INDIANAPOLIS -- You expect the Colts to throw, and throw a lot, but even for Peyton Manning and his band of merry, pass-happy men this was a little bit nuts. Indy ran nine plays -- eight of them passes -- in the first two minutes of the game, averaging one every 14 seconds, completely disregarding the play clock and leaving their star offensive players more than a little bit tuckered out.

"I wouldn't call it fun," said tight end Dallas Clark, who caught 11 passes in the first half and 14 -- for 119 yards -- in the game. "When you run 60 plays in the first half, you're going to feel that on Wednesday and Thursday. But the win makes it feel a lot better."


Summer Scramble: AFC South Position Battles to Watch


It's July, the slowest month of the year for the NFL, and it's driving you nuts. You need a fix. A hit. Anything NFL to pull you through the dog days. FanHouse is here to help with an in-depth look at each division that should have you plenty prepared for training camp. We're calling it the Summer Scramble, and today we look at the AFC South's looming position battles.

Does the Brian Cushing Pick Signal a Run on (USC) Linebackers?

NFL Draft Photos

    Wide receiver Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech University stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the San Francisco 49ers as the 10th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York April 25, 2009. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES SPORT FOOTBALL)

    Reuters

    New York Jets fans react after the Jets selected quarterback Mark Sanchez from the University of Southern California as the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York April 25, 2009. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES SPORT FOOTBALL)

    Reuters

    Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree speaks to the media after he was selected as the 10th overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall Saturday, April 25, 2009, in New York.(AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

    AP

    In this pool photo provided by the Miami Dolphins, Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano, left, general manager Jeff Ireland and Bill Parcells, executive vice president of football operations, look on during NFL Draft day, Saturday, April 25, 2009 at the team's training facility in Davie Fla. (AP Photo/Miami Dolphins, Pool) ** Pool Photo **

    AP

    Defensive end Brian Orakpo from the University of Texas stands with his family on stage after being selected by the Washington Redskins as the 13th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York April 25, 2009. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES SPORT FOOTBALL)

    Reuters

    Defensive end Brian Orakpo from the University of Texas reacts on stage after being selected by the Washington Redskins as the 13th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York April 25, 2009. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES SPORT FOOTBALL)

    Reuters

    Detroit Lions football fans had access to Ford Field while watching the NFL Draft on the big screen on Saturday, April 25, 2009 in Detroit. The Lions chose Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford with the No. 1 overall pick in the first round of the draft. (AP Photo/Jerry S. Mendoza)

    AP

    NEW YORK - APRIL 25: Tampa Bay Buccaneers #17 draft pick Josh Freeman poses with his family at Radio City Music Hall for the 2009 NFL Draft on April 25, 2009 in New York City (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Josh Freeman

    Getty Images

    NEW YORK - APRIL 25: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell poses with Tampa Bay Buccaneers #17 draft pick Josh Freeman at Radio City Music Hall for the 2009 NFL Draft on April 25, 2009 in New York City (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Roger Goodell;Josh Freeman

    Getty Images

    NEW YORK - APRIL 25: Tampa Bay Buccaneers #17 draft pick Josh Freeman poses for photographers at Radio City Music Hall for the 2009 NFL Draft on April 25, 2009 in New York City (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Josh Freeman

    Getty Images


NEW YORK -- San Diego just took Larry English with the No. 16 pick. They apparently didn't get the memo. English went to Northern Illinois. Which is not USC. Which is, as everybody knows, where the linebackers come from.

When the Texans picked Brian Cushing at No. 15, it felt like there was about to be a run on USC linebackers. Cushing, as you know if you got this week's Sports Illustrated, is one of three Trojan linebackers projected to go in this year's first round. And if you think that sounds unusual, that's because it is.

Gary Kubiak on Texans: Playoffs?! Playoffs?!

The above YouTube is obviously NOT Gary Kubiak, but rather Jim Mora in the ever entertaining classic "playoffs?!" rant. (It is infinitely amusing to me so I thought I'd share).


Gary Kubiak in the April 9, 2007 issue of Sports Illustrated demonstrated a non-rantish frankness about the Texans playoff chances that isn't often seen in coaching ranks:

"Our supporting cast isn't good enough right now, and we're not going to put everything on [quarterback] Matt [Schaub]. We feel good about our recent drafts and our offseason moves, but we still need a couple more drafts and off seasons before we're a playoff caliber team. We see Matt as one piece of the puzzle."

Brutally honest in a season ticket holders just shelled out a bunch of jack for a team that its head coach says isn't going to be playoff caliber for a couple of years kind of way. Linebacker DeMeco Ryans in this great interview, and cornerback Dunta Robinson in this Texans TV interview both expect to be competing for the playoffs in 2007. Even if they are semi-delusional in thinking playoffs, both of the interviews are worth checking out if you are a Texan fan.

Price Of Victory: Freeney, Vinatieri, Stokley Hurt In Colts' Win

The Colts victory over the Texans came at a price today. Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney, wide receiver Brandon Stokley, and kicker Adam Vinatieri all left the game with injuries.

After making 3 field goals in the first three quarters, kicker Adam Vinatieri left the game. It is an apparent groin tweak and/or ankle injury but it doesn't seem to be very serious. The details are pretty vague at this point, but apparently Adam was seen with a big smile on his face, waiving to fans after the game. He should be fine.

The biggest scare was Dwight Freeney leaving the game. He went down and left the game with an apparent upper leg injury (hamstring maybe). He seemed to leave the field in some pain. He walked off under his own power but then went to the locker room.

Brandon Stokley also left the game and returned to the sideline in the second half with street clothes on and he had a boot on his foot. It is the same ankle that has been bothering him all season. He was quoted as saying he wanted to go back into the game, but that doesn't seem to match his situation.

Marlin Jackson and Ben Utecht also left the game with injuries.

I'll update this once more information comes out on the injuries. There isn't much right now.

Colts' Week 2 Recap

Well, that was easy. As expected, the Colts dominated the Texans in nearly every aspect of the game on Sunday. The game was over after David Carr fumbled on the first play of the game which led to a Brandon Stokley touchdown. Peyton Manning was unstopable, he went 26/38 for 400 yards with 3 TD's and 0 INT's. He spread the ball to 9 different receivers (2 of which had over 100 yards).

The most postive part about the win in my mind was the run game. Joseph Addai looked great, carrying the ball 16 times for 82 yards while also having 2 receptions for 22 yards and a touchdown. Dominic Rhodes contributed 37 yards and a touchdown. The Colts ground game comined had 119 yards and 2 TD's.

This is a great sign from the Colts after last weeks sloppy win against the Giants. Yes, it was against the Texans, but the team was finally clicking on all cylanders. I'd like to see Addai start to get the bulk of the carries. I think he is going to be the real deal. He's very quick to the outside and has great hands. His long rush on the day was 16 yards, I don't think Colts fans have seen a rush that long in 3 years. The Colts should find a new punt return man however. Wilkins is doing fine on kick-offs but he looks pathetic on punt returns.

2-0 and counting.

Colts Sign Jonathan Wells

The Indianapolis Colts signed former Texans' running back Jonathan Wells on Tuesday. This is according to Indystar.com. Just last week James Mungo went down for the year with a knee injury. This signing obviously comes in a response to Mungro's injury.

However, it is somewhat uncertain as to what roll Wells will play...
"I haven't even met with the coaching staff,'' Wells said. "I don't know what they're going to try to do with me. I have no idea. We'll see how it goes.
That said, if I had to guess, I would say that he will be the 3rd string back behind Rhodes and Addai. He is a power back (weighing 252 pounds), so don't be surprised to see him in during goal line situations. With Dominic Rhodes at 203 pounds and Joseph Addai at about 215, a presence of a big back could fare well for the Colts.

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