Texans' Ryan Will Report

Houston Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans has been avoiding the teams off-season conditioning program, but will report for the team voluntary workouts which begin Monday.

Ryans, who has one-year remaining on his contract has snubbed the team thus far, because he is upset that a long-term contract extension has not been reached yet.

"He's coming to town and he is going to be there Monday and is ready to play football in 2009," said Ryans' agent Ben Dogra in an interview with FOX 26 Sports in Houston.

Dogra, who was recently hired by Ryans, said he has yet to discuss his client's contractual situation with the Texans.

"I have not spoken to the Texans yet. They are in draft meetings right now. I will speak with (general manager) Rick Smith at the appropriate time."

The former 2nd round choice and Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2006 has definately earned an extension, in 3 seasons he has put up 396 tackles, 6.5 sacks along with 2 interceptions.

Texans Okoye May Need MRI

Houston Texans DT Amobi Akoye, a first round pick from 2007, has been suffering from some soreness in his left knee and he may require an MRI.

Okoye said he has developed soreness in his knee while running in the Texans’ conditioning program.

"There's a little soreness there," he said. "Hopefully, it's nothing big. We’re taking a look at it. Going out there and running, it's not really inhibiting me, but I can feel a little bit of soreness. I’ll take it day by day and see if it gets worse or if it gets any better. I wouldn't necessarily say it's worrisome. Let's hope it doesn't get worrisome."

"We’ll do whatever needs to be done for Amobi to be successful,” Kubiak said. “All of our guys are sore right now because they’ve been working so hard in the conditioning program for eight or nine days.”

Okoye said he plans to wait two weeks to see if the soreness goes away. If not, he’ll get the MRI to see if there’s any damage.

"I went to the doctor, and he took a look at it and said it's nothing to worry about right now," Okoye said. "I hope it stays that way."

The Texans have invested heavily in their defensive line and are hoping that Okoye's knee pain isn't a chronic problem. It may be worrisome as Okoye's play fell off significantly, as he suffered a sophmore slump. As a 20-year old rookie Okoye put up 32 tackles and 5.5 sacks but last season only managed 24 tackles to go with 1 sack and missing 2 games due to injury.

Cato June Signs With Houston

The Houston Texans have signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Cato June to a one year contract he will reportedly receive $1.5 million this season, including a $500,000 signing bonus, and his deal could eventually be worth $2 million with incentives.

After spending two sub-par seasons in Tampa Bay, where he played out of position at SLB, June was released along with several other prominent veterans, Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn, Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard.

Galloway recently signed with New England, while Brooks, Dunn and Hilliard have yet to sign with new teams.

June, 29-years old, had 67 tackles last season his lowest total since his rookie year, placing him 5th on the team's leading tacklers list behind FS Tanard Jackson 69, LB Derrick Brooks 73, CB Ronde Barber 75, and the overwhelming leader MLB Barrett Ruud with 137 tackles. For his career, June has notched 498 tackles, 1 sack and 12 interceptions.

Prior to signing with Tampa Bay in 2007, June spent 2003 through 2006 with Indianapolis and won a Super Bowl ring during final year

Texans Sign DT Cody

The Houston Texans, have added to their defensive line depth with the signing of former Detroit Lions defensive tackle Shaun Cody. Terms of his contract were not disclosed.

Cody (6-4, 310) spent the first four seasons of his career with the Detroit Lions. He has played in 53 career games with 12 starts and has amassed 92 tackles, including 63 solos, 1.5 sacks, one career interception, four passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.The 26-year old Cody played in all 16 games and tied a career high with five starts in 2008. He finished the year with a career-high 37 tackles, 26 of which were solos, and a career-best three passes defensed.

The fifth-year veteran will be joining another recently signed free agent defensive lineman, DE Antonio Smith, giving the Texans on paper a formidable defensive line next season. Cody is expected to battle former first rounder Travis Johnson for the starter's spot.

Bears Sign Safety

The Chicago Bears have agreed to terms with safety Glenn Earl, to a one year deal worth the veteran minimum of $620,000. Earl has not played a game in the NFL in two-seasons.

Earl had his career seemingly cut short in the final preseason game of 2007, when he suffered a Lisfranc injury of the foot. Earl was placed on injured reserve for 2007, and was released in 2008. He has not played in the NFL since then, but is healthy again now that the foot is fully healed.

Earl, 27, will likely be competing to play on special teams, and as a nickel defender, as he re-adjusts to the speed of the game after his two-year lay-off.

A four-year veteran, Earl was originally a fourth-round pick of Houston in the 2004 draft. The former Notre Dame standout provided size and play-making ability to the Texans' secondary before his injury. And in 2006, he had a career-high 74 tackles.

For his career, Earl has 153 tackles, two sacks, three interceptions, and four passes defensed. He has 31 starts and has played in 37 games. Earl has a good shot to adding to his career start total by joing the Bears, who recently released veteran safety Mike Brown.

Orlovsky Will Now Be Getting Safety's for Houston

The Houston Texans hosted QB Dan Orlovsky on Saturday, by Sunday they have signed him.

Dan Orlovsky of "Pulling an Orlovsky" fame will join the Houston Texans, who were in the market for a back-up QB after trading Sage Rosenfels to the Vikings on Friday.

Terms of Orlovsky's contract were not disclosed.

Let's hope if Orlovsky gets into a game for the Texans he gets the ball outside of his own 10 yard line.

We realise we are shameless and keep plugging this video, but we still laugh everytime we see it. If only Orlovsky also had a likeded for Scripp Clubz, he would be our favorite NFL player.

Texans Sign Antonio Smith

The Texans have signed Arizona defensive lineman Antonio Smith. According to Smith's agent Drew Rosenhaus he signed a five-year contract worth $35 Million contract and $12.5 Million is guaranteed.

Smith, 27, spent his first five seasons with Arizona and started for the Cardinals in their Super Bowl loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He finished the regular season with 41 tackles and 3.5 sacks

Arriving in Houston on Friday night, Smith spent Saturday meeting with Texans coach Gary Kubiak and his assistants while general manager Rick Smith negotiated with Rosenhaus.

Texans Hire Hall of Famer

The Houston texans have hired Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthews as an assistant offensive line coach.

The 47-year-old Matthews was a first-round pick by the Oilers in 1983. He appeared in 296 games, starting 292. He started at all five positions on the offensive line. Matthews was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

Vikings/Texan Complete Trade for Rosenfels

A deal that was two-years in the making has finally come to fruition, the Minnesota Vikings officially completed a trade with the Houston Texans to acquire Sage Rosenfels by reaching a two-year contract extension with the quarterback on Friday.

According to a source, Rosenfels agreed to a two-year, $9 million extension with the Vikings, who gave up a fourth-round draft choice to acquire him. Rosenfels had one year remaining on his deal with the Texans that would have paid him $1.35 million.

He flew to Minnesota on Thursday and was scheduled to undergo a physical Friday morning.
Rosenfels is expected to compete with Tarvaris Jackson for the starting role in Minnesota.

Texans Cut Three

The Houston Texans have released three players from their roster as they prepare for free agency. The players looking to catch on with a new team are defensive end Anthony Weaver, safety Will Demps and offensive tackle Ephraim Salaam.

After 3 largely unsuccessful seasons, Weaver, who started each game last season opposite Mario Williams and finished with 45 tackles. Though he started all but four games in his time with the Texans, Weaver leaves the team with just one sack.

The 32-year-old Salaam became expendable after he spent this past season as a backup to 2008 first-round pick Duane Brown the starting left tackle. Salaam started 30 games his first two seasons in Houston.

Demps, who has also played for the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens, started five games last season and had 32 tackles. He came to Houston in 2007 and started eight games that year.

Green and Bennett Cut By Rams

Not to be left out the St. Louis Rams have released some veteran players as well. Quarterback Trent Green and wide receiver Drew Bennett got the Axe on Wednesday.


The release of Green is expected to save the Rams about $1.3 million in salary cap space. The team saves a whopping $50,000 by cutting Bennett.

Bennett signed a six-year, $30 million deal two years ago after six seasons with the Titans. But he struggled in 2007 and broke his leg in the first quarter of this season's opener, missing the remainder of the season.

Trent Green, 38, is in his second stint with the team played in three games last season, completing 38 of 72 passes for 525 yards with no touchdowns and six interceptions. Green has a long history of injuries, specifically concussions which will likely end his career. One of such concussions came after Trent Green, who at the time was a Miami Dolphin, tried to cut block Houston Texans' Travis Johnson only to be left unconscious on the field from a knee to the head.

Vikings Trying To Get Some Sage... Again.

The Texans and Vikings are close to a trade that would send quarterback Sage Rosenfels to Minnesota, possibly for a fourth-round draft pick, the Houston Chronicle reported Monday.

This is the second consecutive year in which the Vikings have been interested in acquiring Rosenfels, to be their starting quarterback.

Rosenfels wanted to be traded to the Vikings last season in hopes of starting for a team that has Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor at running back and has led the NFL in run defense for two straight years.

Last season, the Vikings reportedly offered a third-round draft choice, but the Texans wanted a second-round pick. Both teams denied an offer was made.

The Vikings currently have both Tavaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte on its roster, but both have struggled as the teams starter. If the trade is completed Minnesota will want to extend Rosenfels' contract.

*UPDATE* It was reported on NFL Networks Total Access that the trade is completed and will be announced at 12:01 AM Friday at the beginning of Free Agency.

Lions Plan to Have #1 Pick Locked-Up Pre-Draft

Although the pick won't be made until Commissioner Roger Goddell announces it on stage April 25th, that doesn't mean the Lions won't have already decided who the pick will be, and hopefully have him under contract.

Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said Friday he'll follow the lead other teams have set in recent years, targeting multiple players as the potential No. 1 overall choice and using that as leverage in hammering out a deal before the draft.

"I think probably even more than a week before," Mayhew said. "It's going to be a complicated contract, so I think we have to get out ahead of that at least a couple weeks and start narrowing it down and start talking to people. I envision us talking to at least three different players, at least that, and trying to see where those guys are and trying to get something done prior to the draft. It's pretty important that we have the contract done prior to the draft."

Several teams have had success with this strategy, the Miami Dolphins agreed to terms with No. 1 pick Jake Long several days prior to the draft. The Houston Texans had Mario Williams signed before they selected him No. 1 in 2006. Both players are off to promising careers.

In 2007, the Oakland Raiders didn't get JaMarcus Russell signed and he ended up being a contract holdout who missed all of training camp as a rookie, and has yet to get his career on track.

Asked if a contract agreement would be a prerequisite for their No. 1 pick, Mayhew said, "I don't know if I'd use the term 'deal-breaker' but it's of critical importance that we have a contract done prior to the draft. That's very, very important to us."

Texans Tag Robinson

The Houston Texans have placed their non-exclusive franchise tag on CB Dunta Robinson. Making Robinson the first player in franchise history to recieve this designation.

After failing to agree on a long-term contract, the Texans were forced to use the tag to improve their chances of Robinson remaining in Houston. Under the non-exclusive tag teams will still be able to negotiate for Robinson's services, but the Texans have the right to match that offer, or recieve 2-first round draft choices for him.

Robinson, who earned $2.4 million in 2008, will receive a one-year contract worth $9.957 million.

Texans Release Green and Greenwood

The Houston Texans have announced the release of 2 players, RB Ahman Green and LB Morlon Greenwood.

Ahman Green has been a dissapointment in Houston since his arrival in 2007, he was signed to be the saviour for the running game. In 2 seasons he rushed for a combined 554 yards and missed 18 games due to injury, both his season in Houston ended with Green on IR. The 31 year old RB was replaced by rookie Steve Slaton who turned out to be a pleasant surprise in the backfield.

Morlon Greenwood, 30, an 8 year veteran out of Syracuse, was a staple in Houston's linebacking core and registered over 100 tackles in 4 straight season, that streak ended last season as his playing time diminished. Greenwood started 10 games and notched 45 tackles.

Texans TE Daniels to Replace Gates at Probowl

Houston Texans TE Owen Daniels, will replace San Diego TE Antonio Gates in this seasons Pro Bowl. This will be Daniels' first trip to Hawaiin All Star Game.

Daniels a 3rd year pro will join two teammates WR Andre Johnson and DE Mario Williams. Johnson and Daniels were a very prolific WR-TE combination in the NFL this season combining for 185 catches and 2,437 yards and 10 touchdowns.