As Brooke Bentley at the official site notes, today's the first deadline for teams around the NFL to trim their rosters. By 5 p.m., the roster must be whittled to seventy-five (75) players. While the tough decisions are typically made in the final round of cuts, we could nevertheless see some rather big names hit the waiver wire before the day is through.

So I ask you this: Who do you see getting cut by day's end? I'm betting we see one trumpeted free-agent acquisition on the Texans' cut list today; I just can't see any reason for the Texans to keep Chris Brown on the roster. He hasn't been on the field long enough to show the slightest justification for remaining gainfully employed. When you factor in the low amount of guaranteed money lost by cutting him, the improved play of Chris Taylor, the promise of Steve Slaton, Darius Walker's health, and Smithiak's puzzling continued love affair with Ahman Green, I simply don't see a place for Brown (absent Ahman spraining his index finger in a tragic remote control incident). Doesn't seem to make any sense to keep Brown around for another day, so I think he's gonzo.

Rosevelt Colvin could also be looking for work this afternoon, but I think the failure of anyone else (cough...Anthony Weaver...cough) to show a semblance of productivity opposite Super Mario will buy him a few more days and another preseason game. Thoughts?

In a move that should surprise absolutely no one except his dealer, your Houston Texans advised Jameel Cook that his services were no longer needed. In a related story, I'm setting the over/under of numbers of bags of Doritos sorrowfully consumed in the Cook household today at 8. Narcotics issues aside, this move was coming regardless. Cook was passed on the depth chart by Vonta Leach, and he'd been relegated to a special teams gunner. There are plenty of younger, cheaper, and better options for that roster spot.

The Texans also brought Jon Abbate back, though I think Chris Taylor's ability to back up the starters at both FB and RB likely means Abbate is bound for the practice squad.

Some interesting things are intersecting in the Texans blogosphere...Matt over at DGDB&D has an interesting piece. It's specifically about an argument he's engaged in, but more generally, it's about how the Texans are viewed nationally.

At the same time, Sportsgamer.com just came out with the Madden 09 ratings shown in their graphic to the right.  You can definitely get a sense how the guys at EA Sports feel about the Texans. I bring this up because the Texans are about to enter a watershed season.

Anyone that knows football knows the Texans took a giant leap forward last season. Lots of 2nd and 3rd string players, as well as new starters, established themselves. Guys like Kevin Walter and Fred Bennett put themselves on the map. All but the most hardened man-crushes have let go of the Mario-bashing and decided that Young and Bush are more hype than substance. So with all that, the Texans are poised to make their mark in the national spotlight.

If you read this blog, you're probably a Texans homer.  You know that Mike Brisiel is going to steamroll Albert Haynesworth this year, and that Zac Diles is going to put Goldberg's spear on Maurice Jones-Drew.  So obviously our view of Texans players is probably a little skewed.

That being said, it'll be up to you to set the world right and lead the Texans to conquer the national stage.  Check out the ratings below and see what I mean.

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