BREAKING NEWS: Texans Under Investigation For Illegal Contact Drills

by Riott on Feb 5, 2009 11:34 AM CST in News Comment 30 comments

According to ESPN's Outside The Lines, former offensive guard Dan Stevenson is suing the Houston Texans for being required to participate in illegal drills in minicamp.

According to the report, players wearing only their helmets were instructed to do live one-on-one blocking drills, despite not wearing any pads. Dan Stevenson, Jordan Black, and Chukky Okobi all claimed to have been injured during the drill, with Stevenson tearing a shoulder labrum, Black suffering a labrum injury, and Chukki Okobi injuring his triceps. Fred Weary also signed a notarized affidavit supporting the claim.

Stevenson has allegedly tried to intervene through the NFLPA once before, but his claim was rejected.

Apparently holding unsanctioned drills is pretty common, but to have 3 season ending injuries in one drill? That's kind of ridiculous. We will keep an eye out on what's going on with this story.

[UPDATE BY TIM]: From John McClain:

If the Texans are found to have violated the NFL’s offseason workout policy, they will lose one week of their organized team activities, and coach Gary Kubiak could be fined.

If a league investigation finds more than one violation during the league year, the Texans could be fined a fourth-round draft choice, according to the collective bargaining agreement.

Losing a mid-round draft choice? This is serious.

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Uh-oh

Something tells me there is a bit of a scramble back at Reliant… Curious to see how this unfolds.

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by SOLIS on Feb 5, 2009 11:45 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

hmm

Why the hell did they wait until the end of the season? I feel bad for those players if it’s true, but still, it makes you wonder how much of it is accurate.

And I wonder what kind of precedent there is for this? Could we lose draft picks?

by fiddycent on Feb 5, 2009 12:26 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yes

If there is more than one infraction in a season they could lose a 4th round pick. As it stands with the illegal contact drills, they could be fined and lose a week of OTA’s.

by ~Buck on Feb 5, 2009 1:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Very unusual

This is not like Kubiak and the entire Texans organization, quite frankly. This isn’t good news for us regardless of how it plays out. Even if it turns out that the Texans did nothing wrong, they’ll no longer be under the radar.

by Leein3D on Feb 5, 2009 12:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I don't know

With looking around the league, it’s like no one cares. I think it’s safe to say that we are still predominantly unnoticed.

Let's get the Texans a better fight song.

by Jake on Feb 5, 2009 4:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Gonna be very interesting...

GO TEXANS!!!!

www.houstonsportsrule.blogspot.com

by Texanmaniac on Feb 5, 2009 1:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Little Dickie is at it again

http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2009/02/kubiak_messed_u.html

What a summer’s eve.

by Leein3D on Feb 5, 2009 1:26 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

agreed...

it was all I could do not to post a big ’ol " SHUT THE FUCK UP DICKSTER!!"

GO TEXANS!!!!

www.houstonsportsrule.blogspot.com

by Texanmaniac on Feb 5, 2009 1:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

why wouldn't you?

by cubic on Feb 5, 2009 1:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Right?

I mean, I posted a comment…

by Leein3D on Feb 5, 2009 1:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

right?

Bacon tastes good... Pork chops taste good.

by beefy on Feb 5, 2009 1:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

btw...

Can someone summarize dickie’s view because I’m still refusing to click any link to any story that that fuck wrote?

Bacon tastes good... Pork chops taste good.

by beefy on Feb 5, 2009 1:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sure!

eh hem…

like omg the Texans are so stupid. If Dumbiak and Smith weren’t so busy hiring “their people” and firing my buddies, maybe they could have seen this. God they are soooooo duuuuuuumb. And if the offensive linemen are cheating, how come they still suck? omglulz amirite?

by Leein3D on Feb 5, 2009 1:42 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs

Nice! Recap

GO TEXANS!!!!

www.houstonsportsrule.blogspot.com

by Texanmaniac on Feb 5, 2009 1:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

so much more succinct than dickie

maybe you should replace him

by cubic on Feb 5, 2009 2:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Rec'd

Nicely done sir.

So you're saying that now I have to think of some witty Sig that will be applicable across all the SBN sites? Go Texan Horn Stros!

by Shake on Feb 5, 2009 4:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Is...

this type of drill, no pads only helmets, allowed at other times?

GO TEXANS!!!!

www.houstonsportsrule.blogspot.com

by Texanmaniac on Feb 5, 2009 4:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Apparently

You can do that, just no contact.

by Leein3D on Feb 5, 2009 5:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

I bet Dan the man is going to get signed a new team post-haste after this.

My level of care has only risen when it was announced that we could possibly lose a draft pick.

by b0ng on Feb 5, 2009 6:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I dunno, I think the team should apologize if they did wrong. Kubiak’s all about accountability, so I hope we see some – even if this isn’t as big of a deal as it’s about to be blown up into.

Chris - www.HoustonDiehards.com

by HoustonDiehards on Feb 5, 2009 6:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t really see the heinousness of this crime. Truth be told the end result of the drill was: The guys who couldn’t hack it didn’t make it out. Sucks that they got injured, but I find it hard to feel really sorry for a guy who has never made a team before, got IR’d and then stayed on the teams IR all throughout the season (getting paid) and is now talking about how his “career” is over. If Kubiak does or doesn’t apologize for this is kind of a moot point for me because I could really give a shit less that a player is bitching about getting hurt in a “1/2 speed” drill.

If Dan Stevenson is doing this so the Texans actually don’t do those drills this year (Which I highly doubt), more power to him. I have to figure that effect will last one year or two at best, and then things will go right back to the way they were in mini-camp.

The only part that bugs me is that it looks like we will lose a draft pick over it, but that’s it. The rest of the junk that is going on registers no significant changes in my mood one way or another, but hopefully we’ll do a better job not letting this stuff getting out. I’m going to have a real hard time feeling really sorry for a guy who was doing the same stuff he’s been asked to do since he was 11 years old.

by b0ng on Feb 5, 2009 9:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Saw this story covered by Bob Allen, local ABC sports director, on the 5 PM news

and he said that these types of workouts are commonplace in the NFL. They are an opportunity for marginal guys like the 3 injured to show that they have what it takes to make the team. The injuries suffered were unfortunate but not uncommon. What is unusual is the shitstorm that Dan Stevenson has started. He won’t be missed in the NFL.

by oiler-texan diehard on Feb 5, 2009 10:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I understand that

But what I don’t want to happen, is for us to sound like Belichick for the last two years, where we deny we did anything, and use that LAME excuse that “oh, everyone else does it.”

I don’t think it’s severe – but rules are rules. When you outwardly project an air of accountability and high character, as the Texans undeniably do – you can’t not hold the coaches to the same standard.

Accountability is a huge, huge thing for me – and when I hear “everyone does it so we can do it too,” I think that’s weak. I mean, you can say it – but you best also admit you’ve done wrong and accept the consequences for it.

I’m not in any way defending Dan Stevenson. As someone said previously – I don’t think his true intent is to right the wrongs – I think he’s a guy who knows he can’t hack it, and sees an opportunity.

But really – I hope the team does better than “everyone does it,” because I think that’s weak.

Chris - www.HoustonDiehards.com

by HoustonDiehards on Feb 5, 2009 10:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Also

I saw the clip on the ESPN website, and there’s just not a lot there that looks severe to me. I mean, come on. When you ~~suck~~ are a fringe player, you only have so much time to make an impact. A part of me would think that the players that ~~suck~~ are fringe players would want as much a chance as possible.

Chris - www.HoustonDiehards.com

by HoustonDiehards on Feb 5, 2009 10:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That was my impression exactly

Those drills were nothing more than I used to see in high school football in the 70’s. In fact I remember some semi serious contact going on in just shorts and t-shirts back then. That clip just shows (to me) guys practicing speed edge rushing techniques. There was no contact that was automatically built into a drill like that. It was just a case of marginal guys wanting to make a good impression on the coaching staff. No more, no less. Football is a game of attrition. The Texans have had particularly bad luck with injuries from day one. Guys get hurt in non contact drills; it’s just part of the game. Look at Zac Diles. He was having a breakout season, leading the team in tackles. He ends his season in a non contact drill running down the field in kickoff coverage. One leg kicked the other resulting in a freak fractrure, and now his future is uncertain.

On the surface this story sounds bad for Kubiak. Let everyone view the evidence before we start crucifying Kubiak. It would be poetic if someone had a non-contact drill with Dickie J. That trash he wrote was way over the top.

by oiler-texan diehard on Feb 6, 2009 2:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yup.

We used to call it “Rudy Syndrome” on the basketball team. The scrubs would use the walk-through and half-speed drills to bust their asses and try to impress the coach. It’s REALLY fuggin’ annoying. “Oh, look at you…you can anticipate where the pass is going to go in a drill where we are passing to a certain spot. You’re Magic fucking Johnson. Die in a fire.”

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Feb 7, 2009 9:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The O-Line had a great year

God Forbid Alex Gibbs makes the o-line practice blocking technique. Personally I’m glad these losers got weeded out. Our team is better with out them.
Dan Stevenson …YOU SUCK!!!

- tyler

by bullpen116 on Feb 6, 2009 10:07 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I agree the only reason I care is if we lose a draft pick

I think Kubiak will do/say the right things re:accountability. He’s a good dude.

But I saw if we did it multiple times we could lose a pick, and I saw that we will lose a pick. Which one? Is this allegation of several drills ONE incident, or multiple infractions?

I don’t want to lose a pick. That would suck.

Belichick spied on other teams and said “everyone does it.” This is not even in the ballpark of that type of violation. This is a CBA violation. Players vs. Teams. I don’t think a draft pick should be on the table, just a fine. Belichick violated NFL rules. Draft pick makes sense.

Please draft some defensive stars for the next DC.

by texanphil on Feb 6, 2009 10:17 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

espn has a couple interesting points

Here.

1. “NFL and NFLPA officials said there is no specific punishment defined for a team that holds prohibited drills during a minicamp.”

I trust them more than Pancakes.

2. Ok, this quote is going to quote a quote of a quote, but my keyboard doesn’t have the ’"’"’’""" key, so try to follow along:

“One portion of the rejection letter, Stevenson said, read, "the Texans deny … that ‘players were required to participate in drills which are explicitly prohibited.’” "

So if Kubiak said, " these drills are not required" to these players, as this statement seems to imply, the ‘evidence’ of a taping of a videotape would not convince me that Kubiak ‘required’ his players to participate in this drill. I’m cool with that. Stevenson is a tool either way.

But I agree that how Kubiak handles this will go a long way to how his current players view him and his accountability sermon. So if the above is in fact true, lay it to DS. If its not, then his players might not take it so well.

Please draft some defensive stars for the next DC.

by texanphil on Feb 6, 2009 10:35 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I actually think it's cool....

I was at work today and a tv was on ESPfukN and I noticed The Logo of the Greatest NFL team on planet Earth and I thought cool, we getting some exposure……cause when it’s all said and done none of this crap really matters.

GO TEXANS!!!!

www.houstonsportsrule.blogspot.com

by Texanmaniac on Feb 8, 2009 9:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs