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NFL LEGEND JUNIOR SEAU DEAD

No Author — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:40:00 EST

Police investigate shooting at Seau home

SAN DIEGO, CA � Junior Seau, 43, a 12-time Pro Bowler and 6-time First-Team All-Pro is dead today. Police are investigating a shooting at Seau�s home and initial reports indicate a possible suicide.

TEXANS RELEASE WIDE RECEIVER JACOBY JONES

No Author — Wed, 02 May 2012 05:57:00 EST

HOUSTON, TX - The Texans released wide receiver Jacoby Jones on Tuesday.

The move came days after the Texans selected wide receivers DeVier Posey from Ohio State and Michigan State in the third and fourth rounds, respectively, of the 2012 NFL Draft. Jones was rumored to be on the trading block during the draft.

�We�ve added a couple of receivers to our team,' Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said Tuesday in his office at Reliant Stadium. 'We�ve got a couple of kids that we think a lot of, Lestar Jean being number one, and then also a lot of it�s about doing right Jacoby � our football team but doing right by him, too. [General manager] Rick [Smith] and I talked about it, and he�s handled himself with class.'

TWO LONGHORNS SIGN FREE AGENT CONTRACTS

No Author — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 06:23:00 EST

Former Longhorns S Christian Scott and OL David Snow sign free agent contracts with NFL teams.

AUSTIN, TX - Former Longhorns S Christian Scott and OL David Snow have signed free agent contracts on Sunday. Scott signed with the Tennessee Titans and Snow has signed with the Buffalo Bills.

Scott played in 34 career games, including 14 starts at safety when he recorded 89 tackles (62 solo), two TFL, eight PBU, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception during his career. He recorded 21 tackles, one tackle for loss, one caused fumble, one fumble recovery, four pass breakups and one pressure in 2011 and also underwent wrist surgery, causing him to miss the 2011 Holiday Bowl. He appeared in 11 games at safety (10 starts) and on special teams in 2010 where he posted 53 tackles (36 solo), one TFL, two forced fumbles, one INT and one PBU.

FORMER UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON QUARTERBACK CASE KEENUM JOINS THE TEXANS

No Author — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 07:36:00 EST

HOUSTON - Former University of Houston quarterback Case Keenum has agreed to a free agent contract with the Houston Texans. Keenum did not get drafted, but agreed to a deal with the Texans after the draft ended yesterday. He will vie for playing time behind starter Matt Schaub and backup T.J. Yates.

'It means a lot,' Keenum said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. 'It was a pretty crazy day. 'If you would've told me this is where I would be at the end of today yesterday or last week, I would be with the Texans, I couldn't have been happier. I'm absolutely thrilled, not only to stay in Houston. There's so many things that mean a lot to me and it's just one of those things where God just makes the right place for so many reasons.'

Gary Kubiak, Texans head coach, said, 'He was my first call. We had a lot of conversations over the course of the last month, just talking football, and talking about life a little bit. I wasn't sure if we were going to be in position to draft a quarterback or what was going to happen with him, but I told him, 'let's just stay in touch,' and we end up working it out.'

TWO LONGHORNS SIGN FREE AGENT CONTRACTS

No Author — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 06:34:00 EST

Former Longhorns S Blake Gideon and PK/P Justin Tucker have signed free agent contracts with NFL teams.

AUSTIN, TX - Former Longhorns S Blake Gideon and PK/P Justin Tucker have signed free agent contracts with NFL teams. Gideon signed with the Arizona Cardinals and Tucker with the Baltimore Ravens.

Gideon started all 52 games during his career at safety and those 52 consecutive starts rank second-most all-time at Texas.

'We started fielding calls from different teams about midway through the seventh round with them saying that if I wasn�t drafted, they�d like to be first on my list,' Gideon said. 'We were just weighing the different opportunities, and we figured that Arizona would be the best situation for me to go into.

RICE'S SOLOMON SELECTED BY TENNESSEE IN 7TH ROUND OF NFL DRAFT

No Author — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 05:38:00 EST

211th player taken

Rice defensive end Scott Solomon had to wait until late Saturday afternoon, but the phone call he was hoping for finally came when the Tennessee Titans selected the Owls defensive end with the fourth pick in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

Solomon bounced back from a broken foot that held him out of all of the 2010 season to post career highs in sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (13.5) while tying the school career record with 24 sacks and earning second team All C-USA honors.

He had at least one TFL in eight of his last nine games and closed the season ranked among the top five active players in sacks, solo sacks, tackles for loss and solo tackles for loss. He was one of 19 defensive ends who were named to the final Ted Hendricks Award Watch List.

NFL LOOKING TO KILL THE PRO BOWL

Ethan Edwards — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:19:00 EST

NEW YORK - ESPN reports that NFL sources say the Pro Bowl, the annual game pitting the elite players from the AFC and the NFC in a showcase of their talent, is �DOA � Dead on Arrival.� The currently scheduled Pro Bowl is set to be played on February 3^rd the week before the Super Bowl, but no location has been set. Observers are now saying that no location is set because the NFL wants to kick the Pro Bowl off its schedule.

'No determination has been made yet about this season's game,' NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told The Associated Press.  'We have been in discussions with the union about the future of the Pro Bowl.'

Ultimately the fate of the Pro Bowl may be determined by the players, many of whom have contracts that allow for bonuses to be paid if they perform well enough in the season to be selected for the Pro Bowl.

NIKE TEXANS JERSEYS ON SALE AT GO TEXAN STORE TODAY

No Author — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:54:00 EST

HOUSTON - New Houston Texans jerseys produced by Nike will go on sale at the Go Texan Store at Reliant Stadium on this morning beginning at 10:00 a.m. The Go Texan Store is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 - 5:30 p.m. CDT.

The Texans ran a contest on the team�s official Twitter account, @HoustonTexans, in which one follower received a chance to skip the line and be the first to purchase a new Nike jersey at 9:45 a.m. The team tweeted a message on Monday and asked fans to retweet the message to enter the contest. The winning fan was selected

The Go Texan Store�s initial stock includes jerseys featuring WR Andre Johnson, LB Brian Cushing, QB Matt Schaub and DE J.J. Watt in Deep Steel Blue. Liberty White and Battle Red jerseys, along with additional player options including RB Arian Foster�s No. 23 jersey, will be available soon. The white and red jerseys are available for pre-order in the Houston Texans online shop.

TEXANS NAME CAL MCNAIR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, PROMOTE SUZIE THOMAS

No Author — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:48:00 EST

HOUSTON- The Houston Texans announce Vice Chairman D. Cal McNair has assumed the additional duties of Chief Operating Officer and Suzie Thomas has been promoted to Executive Vice President/General Counsel.

�Cal and Suzie both occupy very important positions in our organization,� Texans Founder, Chairman and CEO Bob McNair said. �I am pleased that they will represent the Texans in these very important leadership roles.�

Cal McNair was named vice chairman of the Houston Texans in January 2008. He has been instrumental in working with Executive VP/General Manager Rick Smith and Head Coach Gary Kubiak in the management of the Texans football operations and represents the Texans at NFL meetings.

TEXANS 2012 SCHEDULE, NATIONAL TV AND THANKSGIVING DAY APPEARANCE

Ethan Edwards — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:31:00 EST

What a difference the playoffs make

HOUSTON -The defending AFC South Champion Houston Texans will be featured on Thanksgiving Day this year and will make a total of five national television appearances. It�s good to be champions.

The Texans will appear on national television on ESPN�s Monday Night Football against the New York Jets on September 8 and again at New England on December 10^th. The Texans will take the Sunday Night Football stage on NBC on October 14 at home against Green Bay and again playing at Chicago on November 11^th.

On Thanksgiving Day the Texans will face Detroit on the road in a game slated to begin at 11:30 am CST. It is the first Thanksgiving Day appearance in Texans franchise history.

TEXANS SIGN INSIDE LINEBACKERS BRADIE JAMES AND TIM DOBBINS

No Author — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 06:53:00 EST

HOUSTON � The Houston Texans added a pair of inside linebackers to their roster, re-signing Tim Dobbins and signing unrestricted free agent Bradie James, it was announced Friday. Terms of their contracts were not disclosed.

A fourth-round draft pick by Dallas out of LSU in 2003, James served as the Cowboys� signal caller on defense from 2005-10, recording more than 100 tackles and leading the team in tackles a franchise-record six times. James started 111 of 142 games and recorded 1,099 tackles, 15.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries and two interceptions in his nine seasons in Dallas. In 2008, James had a career-high led the team with 202 tackles, becoming the second Cowboys player ever to record more than 200 tackles in a season.

James started 104 consecutive games from the start of the 2005 season through last October. He will be reunited with Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, linebackers coach Reggie Herring and assistant linebackers coach Bobby King, who all coached him in Dallas.

TEXANS RE-SIGN QUINTIN DEMPS

No Author — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 12:49:00 EST

HOUSTON � The Houston Texans have re-signed free agent S Quintin Demps, it was announced Thursday. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Demps posted career highs of 22 tackles, two interceptions and four passes defensed in nine games with the Texans last season after signing with the team in October. The fifth-year veteran also returned five kickoffs for 169 yards (33.8 average), including a team-long 50-yard return against Carolina. He originally signed with the Texans in December of 2010, playing in the final two games of the season.

NIKE UNVEILS NEW TEXANS, NFL TEAM UNIFORMS

No Author — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:15:00 EST

HOUSTON - Nike formally unveiled the new uniform designs for the Houston Texans and 31 other NFL teams at a launch event in Brooklyn, N.Y., Tuesday morning. The apparel and equipment manufacturer took over as the official provider of NFL Equipment on April 1.

In addition to the equipment contract, Nike will produce a wide range of apparel for NFL teams and their fans. New Era is now the officially licensed producer of on-field and draft-day hats for all 32 teams, and Brand 47 will produce premium team-branded hats and apparel as well.

New Texans merchandise from Nike, New Era and Brand 47 is already available in the Go Texan Store at Reliant Stadium and at the Houston Texans Online shop.

TEXANS ANNOUNCE 2012 PRESEASON OPPONENTS

No Author — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:20:00 EST

HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Texans 2012 preseason schedule features two division champions from a year ago and a nationally-televised game, at New Orleans on Aug. 25 (Preseason Week 3) at 7 p.m. on CBS. Houston will play the San Francisco 49ers (Preseason Week 2) and Minnesota Vikings (Preseason Week 4) at home, and will open the preseason on the road against the Carolina Panthers.

Dates and times for Houston�s non-nationally-televised preseason schedule will be released at a later date.

Houston opens the preseason at Carolina in what will be the first preseason meeting between the two teams. The Texans and Panthers last met in Week 15 of the 2011 season at Reliant Stadium, a 28-13 Panthers win.

HOUSTON TEXANS DRAFT PARTY SET FOR APRIL 26

No Author — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:07:00 EST

HOUSTON, TX - Texans fans who are in need of a football fix are invited to come out to the 2012 Houston Texans Draft Party presented by Miller Lite on Thursday, April 26, in the Verizon East Club at Reliant Stadium. The party begins at 6 p.m. CDT and the 2012 NFL Draft begins at 7:00 p.m.

The Draft Party is free but requires a ticket, which can be downloaded from HoustonTexans.com by the general public beginning today. Parking at the Draft Party is free as well and will be located in the Blue Lot on the south end of Reliant Stadium.

NFL Network�s draft coverage will be shown on the HD televisions throughout the Verizon East and West Clubs. Fans will also be able to venture into the seating bowl to watch the NFL draft on the large video boards inside the stadium.

TEXANS SIGN PUNTER DONNIE JONES

No Author — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 09:20:00 EST

HOUSTON, TX � The Houston Texans have signed unrestricted free agent P Donnie Jones, it was announced Friday. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Jones ranks fourth all-time among NFL punters with a 45.3-yard gross average and a 38.8 net average in eight NFL seasons. The former LSU punter was selected by Seattle in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played in seven games with the Seahawks in 2004 before serving as the Miami Dolphins� punter from 2005-06. Jones spent the last five seasons with the St. Louis Rams.

Jones� 50.0 gross average in 2008 led the NFL and was the highest gross average since 1940 at the time. He owns two of the top nine single-season net punting averages in NFL history, ranking fourth with a 41.7 average in 2009 and ninth with a 41.1 average in 2008.

TEXANS PROMOTE BOBBY KING TO ASSISTANT LINEBACKERS COACH

No Author — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:43:00 EST

HOUSTON � The Houston Texans have promoted Bobby King from defensive assistant to assistant linebackers coach, it was announced Thursday.

King came to the Texans in 2011 after serving as the defensive quality control/assistant linebackers coach for the Dallas Cowboys in 2010, where he worked directly under Texans linebackers coach Reggie Herring and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. In 2011, Houston�s defense ranked second in the NFL with a franchise-record 285.7 yards allowed per game. The Texans also set franchise records for fewest rushing yards, fewest passing yards and fewest points allowed, and for most sacks in a season.

NFL ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT DISCIPLINE IN SAINTS' 'BOUNTY' MATTER - PAYTON SUSPENDED FOR 2012 SEASON WITHOUT PAY

No Author — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:21:00 EST

Commissioner Roger Goodell notified the New Orleans Saints today of the discipline that will be imposed on team management for violations of the NFL's long-standing 'bounty' rule that endangered player safety over a three-year period.

Discipline for individual players involved in the Saints' prohibited program continues to be under review with the NFL Players Association and will be addressed by Commissioner Goodell at a later date. The program included 'bounty' payments for 'knock-outs' and 'cart-offs,' plays on which an opposing player was forced to leave the game. At times, the bounties even targeted specific players by name.

NFL GETS TOUGH ON GETTING TOUGH, SAINTS HEAD COACH SUSPENDED FOR ALL OF 2012

Ethan Edwards — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:19:00 EST

NEW ORLEANS, LA � Sean Payton will not be paid and will not coach in 2012. At issue was a New Orleans Saints program that paid their players a �bounty� if they could knock specific opposing players out of a game. The NFL was not amused. Commissioner Roger Goodell has suspended Saints Head Coach Sean Payton without pay for the entire 2012 season. Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams was banned from NFL football indefinitely.

Drew Brees is not happy, the Superstar QB Tweeted:

TEXANS TRADE DEMECO RYANS - STATEMENT FROM GM RICK SMITH

No Author — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:47:00 EST

�DeMeco Ryans contributed significantly toward helping us build the foundation we hope will bring a world championship to the city of Houston. His professionalism and leadership cannot be over-exaggerated. This move was mutually beneficial for the Texans immediate and long-term goals, DeMeco�s career, and the Philadelphia Eagles. We appreciate all the hard work and effort DeMeco invested in our organization and wish him only the best moving forward. He is a class act.�--Texans general manager Rick Smith

MANNING GOING TO DENVER, TEBOW ON THE TRADING BLOCK

Ethan Edwards — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:30:00 EST

ESPN�s Chris Mortensen is reporting that Peyton Manning will remain in the Equine realm transforming from Colt to Bronco.

Mortensen reports that Manning has told his agent Tom Condon to wrap up negotiations on what is expected to be a 5-year, $95 million deal.

Additional reports say that the Broncos will attempt to trade Tim Tebow to make room for Manning.

TEXANS SIGN CENTER CHRIS MYERS TO LONG-TERM CONTRACT

No Author — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 07:33:00 EST

HOUSTON � The Houston Texans have re-signed Pro Bowl Center Chris Myers to a long-term contract, it was announced Saturday. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Myers became the first offensive lineman in franchise history to earn a trip to the Pro Bowl following last season. The eighth-year veteran served as a captain and started all 18 regular season and postseason games for Houston�s second-ranked rushing offense, which posted 11 100-yard rushing performances and a franchise-record 2,448 yards rushing (153.0 per game) in the regular season.

Myers has started 64 consecutive regular season games and two playoff games at center for the Texans since being traded to the team from Denver in 2008.

TEXANS RELEASE MATT LEINART, LAWRENCE VICKERS, ERIC WINSTON

No Author — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:03:00 EST

The Texans have released the following players prior to the start of the 2012 League Year:

NAME POS HT WT AGE NFL EXP COLLEGE
Matt Leinart QB 6-5 227 28 6 USC
Lawrence Vickers FB 6-0 250 28 6 Colorado
Eric Winston RT 6-7 302 28 6 Miami

COLTS, MANNING SAY GOODBYE; ISRAY: TEAM PLANS TO RETIRE NO. 18

No Author — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:58:00 EST

During an emotional news conference in which both Peyton Manning and Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay fought back tears, the team announced the conclusion of Manning's playing career with the only franchise he's known in his NFL career.

'For 14 wonderful years, the only pro football I've known is Colts football,' Manning said during Wednesday's news conference.

'My team won a lot of games here, I played with so many great players here. ... Times change, circumstances change and that's the reality of playing in the NFL.'

Manning added: 'Our circumstances make it best for us to take this next step. It certainly has not been easy for me.'