**Official** 2009 Houston Texans thread

[BSofA04]

Oilers and any team playing the Cowboys so off

heh? Oilers wern't around 8 years ago.

the ans and that SOB Bud Adams.

[ATRAIN]

HOUSTON (AP) -The Texans plan to put the franchise tag on cornerback Dunta Robinson, the first time Houston has used the designation.

A person familiar with the decision confirmed the move to The Associated Press on Thursday. The person requested anonymity because the team had not made an official announcement.

The move gives Robinson a salary for 2009 at the average of the NFL's five highest-paid cornerbacks. Other teams can still make an offer to Robinson, but the Texans could match it or receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.

Robinson, the 10th player taken in the 2004 draft, started each game in his first three seasons and developed into one of the top young cornerbacks in the league. Injuries have slowed him the past couple seasons.

[Dr. Gonzo]

It's official.

http://www.houstontexans.com/news/St...?story_id=5150

The Texans placed the franchise player designation on unrestricted free agent cornerback Dunta Robinson, the team announced Thursday. Robinson is the first player in team history on whom the Texans have used the franchise tag.

The team placed the 2009 franchise player designation for right of first refusal/draft choice compensation. The franchise tag guarantees a player, upon signing the franchise tender offer, a one-year salary equal to the average of the five highest-paid players at his position in the NFL or 120 percent of his prior year’s salary, whichever is greater. For a cornerback, that average is $9.957 million in 2009.

“Dunta is an important part of our team and organization,” general manager Rick Smith said. “We worked extremely hard to try to get a long-term contract done with him; however, we were unable to reach an agreement. We hope to reach a long-term deal that ensures that Dunta will remain a Houston Texan for years to come.”

A player designated with the non-exclusive franchise tag has until the Tuesday following Week 10 of the regular season (Nov. 17, 2009) to sign an offer sheet from another club. If a franchised player signs with a new team, his former club will receive two first-round draft choices as compensation.

Robinson (5-10, 182) is the franchise’s all-time leader in interceptions with 13 in his five-year career. He tied for second on the team in 2008 with two interceptions despite missing the first five games of the season while recovering from a severe knee injury suffered late in the 2007 season.
The Texans' defense saw marked improvement after Robinson returned to the starting lineup for the final six games, allowing 11 fewer points per game than in the first 10 games. Houston went 5-1 in games that Robinson started last season.

"We’re happy we get to keep him in the fold for another year," defensive coordinator Frank Bush said. "We know what type of player he is. We like the way he plays football. We think he’s going to really help this team, help this defense, so we’re excited to get him back."

The 10th overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft out of South Carolina, Robinson has played in 68 games with 63 starts in five seasons. In addition to his franchise-record 13 interceptions, he ranks fourth in team history with 277 career solo tackles, and his 331 total tackles ranks fifth.

Bush said that the hard-hitting Robinson, an emotional leader within the Texans locker room, epitomizes the attacking style that he expects to see out of his defense next season.

"That’s what he brings," Bush said. "He brings passion. He’s a guy that’s accountable. He’s tough. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and has a burning desire to win. You want him to be around; you want him to affect the rest of the players with that type of at ude. You want that type of at ude to permeate throughout your defense. We’re excited as to get him back."

[ATRAIN]

So what do you think Steven for the first round pick? DE or LB?

[Dr. Gonzo]

So what do you think Steven for the first round pick? DE or LB?

Without a doubt it has to be a DE. The LB crew isn't bad. Zack Diles was playing well before he broke his leg and Xavier Adibi played well for a rookie and has tons of promise. Plus we still got DeMeco who is going to be a perennial All-Pro for many years. He played pretty well last year considering he was hurt the whole year. When he's healthy he's one of the best in the league.

The D-line desperately needs a pass rusher opposite Mario.

[IronMexican]

Micheal Johnson would be awesome for you guys. Or maybe Orakpo can fall a little and Ya'll trade up.

[BSofA04]

Micheal Johnson would be awesome for you guys. Or maybe Orakpo can fall a little and Ya'll trade up.

I like Michael Johnson, but in the second round. He has such a negative rap for taking plays off. If anyone falls to us, hopefully Everette Brown does. That guy can play!

About Dunta, it sucks we couldn't get a long term deal done but if he proves to play a Pro Bowl level, the guy will get his money one way or another. Hopefully it's from Bob McNair.

[IronMexican]

No way Johnson falls to the second. Raiders better draft him if he does.

[Jmoney]

I'm really interested to see Amobi Okoye's growth this year. He's fixing to turn 21. This will be the season that I think we will really see this kid shine. It's hard to comprehend that at 19 he was taken in the draft and he was already huge. Now that he's hitting the 21 mark he is really gonna start to mature. I'm with that the Texans are closer than the cowboys. However the O-Line needs to be seriously retooled. It's still horrible.

[Dr. Gonzo]

http://www.houstontexans.com/news/St...?STORY_ID=5148

Last year did not go according to plan for Amobi Okoye. After recording 32 tackles and 5.5 sacks in his rookie season, the defensive tackle suffered a high ankle sprain and finished with just 24 tackles and one sack in 2008.
“I started out the season just OK, but as soon things stared getting right for me was when the injury occurred,” Okoye said. “I came back earlier than most expected because the team needed me to come back and I toughed it out for the season. Toward the end of the season, I was happier with my play. Overall, I think the 2008 season wasn’t the season I wanted statistically, but play-wise, I think I took a step forward.”

Okoye, the Texans’ 10th overall draft pick in 2007, would like to make a giant leap forward next season. A month off has allowed his ankle to heal, and since he returned from the Pro Bowl, he has been hitting the gym with newfound motivation.

“I took January all the way until the Pro Bowl off,” Okoye said. “I went to the Pro Bowl with Mario (Williams), and obviously with that, there is a lot of motivation to go on your own.
“Last year, coming off my rookie year, I didn’t want to do something unless I was forced to do it. So last year, I didn’t do anything until April. I’m taking a different approach this year. Like I said, I went to the Pro Bowl and it motivated me seeing the guys there knowing that I could be there also. So after the Pro Bowl was over, I came back and started working out.”
Okoye has been focusing on improving his conditioning and increasing his core strength and is working his way toward heavy press lifting sessions. On Tuesday, he met with new defensive line coach Bill Kollar to review his offseason program.
Kollar is regarded by many in the league as a hard-nosed coach who gets the most out of his players, and Okoye thinks Kollar can help get him to the next level, especially when it comes to technique.
“I watched the work he (Kollar) did with the D-line in Buffalo,” Okoye said. “I like the way they came off the ball. I liked the way they got after it. I am looking forward to working with him. I think he’ll be a great addition to the team.”
Okoye plans to ramp up his workouts until mid-March, when he leaves for a community-building trip in is native Nigeria. InVictus91 Sports Marketing group and the Amobi Okoye Foundation are sponsoring a second mission to the country en led, "Athletes in the Diaspora:Community Interventions (ADCI)."
“This program is dear to my heart,” Okoye said. “We have five parts of this program, which include scholarship programs and health care programs. We are starting in Nigeria, but we are planning to expand to different countries.”
This year, Okoye will be joined by his teammate linebacker Xavier Adibi, as well as Chicago’s Tommie Harris, Israel Idonije and Adewale Ogunleye, the New York Giants' Osi Umenyiora and Oakland’s Nnamdi Asomugha.
“The program is getting bigger and bigger,” Okoyw said. “When I meet athletes, a lot them say that they want to go back to Africa, and our program is one way they can do that and give back.”

[djohn2oo8]

Cowboy fans =

[traitoravery]

Derrick Ward listed Houston as a possible Team he wants to go to.

http://www.examiner.com/x-778-Housto...le-destination

[ATRAIN]

Derrick Ward listed Houston as a possible Team he wants to go to.

http://www.examiner.com/x-778-Housto...le-destination

That would be a nice compliment to Slaton.

[traitoravery]

Him or Fred Taylor but I am tired of the old washed backs the Texans bring in. Gimme some Derrick ward

[traitoravery]

Texans trading Rosenfails to the Vikings for a fourth rounder.... meh I wish we could get a little bit more for him...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/s...e=NFLHeadlines

[stretch]

LMAO texans

[IronMexican]

traitoravery, you say no washed up backs, but mention Fred Taylor. I personally think he is done. I hope not, since he is one of my favorite players. But I personally think he is done.

[Dr. Gonzo]

Texans trading Rosenfails to the Vikings for a fourth rounder.... meh I wish we could get a little bit more for him...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/s...e=NFLHeadlines

I think a 4th is decent but it makes me wonder who will backup Schaub now. Brink wasn't all that great in the preseason last year and I can't remember who else is on the roster as a QB.

[djohn2oo8]

LMAO texans

ROFLMAO Cowboys

[stretch]

ROFLMAO Cowboys

LMAO 5>0

however, I'm actually a raiders fan, therefore...

LMAO 3>0

[traitoravery]

LMAO 5>0

however, I'm actually a raiders fan, therefore...

LMAO 3>0

Actually you're a bag...

[stretch]

Actually you're a bag...

LMAO texans

[ATRAIN]

I think a 4th is decent but it makes me wonder who will backup Schaub now. Brink wasn't all that great in the preseason last year and I can't remember who else is on the roster as a QB.

Yeah I think they are prob going to draft someone. Either that or try to get a free agent.

[djohn2oo8]

probably pat white, to run some wildcat offense with slaton

[Dr. Gonzo]

probably pat white, to run some wildcat offense with slaton

He would be a good pickup. Hopefully he falls to round 3. Before the trade I thought there would be a greater need for a DB in the second round but now I think backup QB is a great need.