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Bobby Fischer Is Lucky Xavier Adibi Opted For Football
"I like to play chess. I always played chess growing up against my father and my brother."
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From The Absurd Speculation Files...
With all the breathless conjecture surrounding the possibility of Brett Favre deciding that, perhaps, maybe, he wants to play football again, it was only a matter of time before a writer, desperate to put out a football column during the doldrums of late June/early July, devoted a whole article to analyzing which team would make the best landing spot for St. Favre should he decide to grace us all with his presence again. That writer's name is Bill Williamson of ESPN.com.
But the article itself isn't why this post is being penned. It's because of one part of said article:
But I do know this: There is no effing way that Brett Favre will be a Houston Texan. No way. Yes, Kubes is a QB guru. And yes, Williamson is correct to note that "[t]he Texans are on the verge of good things." I can see how someone could examine the Texans' roster and think, "Man, look at that WR corps! And that defense has a chance to be nasty this year. The Texans are awfully close to making people sit up and take notice." I get all of that.
What I don't get, however, is why the Texans, a team that is (1) obviously building with youth, (2) emerging out of the salary cap/dead money mess left by the previous regime, and (3) has repeatedly proclaimed that Matt Schaub is their guy, would devote the resources necessary to sign a QB who's going to turn thirty-nine (39) two days before the Sunday of Week Six. The most obvious, guttural response would be: "Tim, pull your head out of your ass and look at Favre's numbers last year." To which I, after removing my cranium from my posterior, would say, "Valid point. But look at Favre's numbers from the 2005 and 2006 campaigns, too. Are you that confident that a thirty-nine year old QB, even one who has been as amazing as Brett Favre was in Green Bay, is going to be able to play at his 2007 level with new personnel, new coaching, and a new (albeit not that different) offense? Are you that confident that Favre will be an upgrade over Schaub/Rosenfels in 2008?"
Because I am not. I love Brett Favre. He was a joy to watch throughout his career, and he was/is one of those rare athletes that appeared/appears not to lose his love of the game as his disposable income grew. That's admirable. So it is with the utmost respect that I write the following: I do not believe that Brett Favre would be better for the Houston Texans in 2008 than Matt Schaub will be.
Frankly though, I don't much care what I think. I want to know if I'm alone on this one, or if Texans Nation is climbing out onto this limb with me. Fire away in the Comments below.
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America! (Expletive) Yeah!
So...how do I tie this seemingly non-football post to your Houston Texans? Through the Red-Headed Stranger, that's how. I'm sure that several of the Texans players and coaches will be on hand tomorrow when Willie brings his annual Picnic to H-Town. Call me crazy, but Jeff Zgonina seems like he'd be a huge Willie fan.
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Jacoby Jones: Ready To Make The Leap?
"I am ready to play. I'm really hungry now."
But first things first: Jacoby is going to have to earn that time, and another spectacular preseason likely won't be enough to cut it this year. So I ask you, BRB...what do you think we're going to get out of Jacoby Jones in 2008?
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Clean As A Whistle
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Playoffs? Playoffs?
Eh, probably not. Houston starts the season with games against four playoff teams from last season in their first five weeks, including the AFC South champion Colts and the AFC North champion Steelers. If they can win three of those five games, they'll be in good shape. If not, it could be another run at 8-8 for the Texans. The truth is, Houston, despite one of the most promising young defensive units in the league and an exciting passing game, still plays in the AFC's toughest division. They'll likely struggle to get past Jacksonville and Indianapolis, let alone Tennessee. It's a matter of timing. And from the looks of it, they may need to wait another one or two years to get over the hump (and out of the cellar), and surpass their rivals in the AFC South.
Yet I don't see us breaking through to the promised land this year. The first five (5) games this season are simply brutal. And the AFC South is the best division in football. Yes, yes...save your e-mails and indignity, NFC East devotees. Your division is stout too. But I think the AFC South is tougher. Ultimately, I think the division schedule is why your Houston Texans fall just short of the playoffs in 2008. I think a playoff berth in the AFC will require an absolute minimum of ten (10) wins, and quite possibly may require eleven (11) victories. I'm just not sure if the boys are Reliant, with that brutal schedule, can get there this year.
That's my feeling right now, anyway. Training camp hasn't started, and anything can happen (including me getting overserved on the Kool-Aid and predicting the Texans go 19-0). I'll save my official prediction of the Texans' record for a later post, but in the meantime...share your thoughts on the Texans' playoff chances in the Comments below.
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And The Last Shall Be...Second? Alex Brink Signs!
While Brink is almost surely destined for the practice squad this season (I'm still not buying Kubes' pitch that he's going to carry three QBs, Quinn Gray or no Quinn Gray), let's all simply rejoice that Smithiak got another one into the fold well before training camp. And let us also note that somewhere, Shane Boyd curses the heavens.
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Tim Bulman: The Road He Traveled

Tim Bulman is the kind of player the Texans want, the Texans need, on their team. All go, no quit. This guy has one gear - flat out balls-to-the-wall. In person, the intensity just radiates off him. He has a guileless smile that betrays his love for the game. If you knew him at any other point in his career, you might not recognize him now. He's a lean 276 lbs and in the best shape of his life.
He's fascinating to talk to. The road that brought him to Reliant is an interesting one, filled with the best kind of football, but to only read the details of his life misses what makes him a great player. The three facets that best define his game are aggression, control and playmaking ability. His coaches and the media compliment him on his high motor, but it's more than that. He has the aggressiveness of an angry wolverine. He believes that the best defensive linemen pursue a play. He makes tackles in the backfield and takes passes away from receivers. No matter the down or distance, Tim Bulman is striving to make a play on the ball.
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NFL Network: Broadcasting Games on a Cable Station Near You

Image details: Green Bay Packers v Dallas Cowboys served by picapp.com
Well maybe.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the NFL and ESPN are in ongoing negotiations to broadcast the package of games that were once exclusive to the NFL Network. For those of us who are a part of the 66% of households who do not receive the NFL Network, the outcome of these negotiations could spell the end of the cable customer lockout.
The NFL has slowly been losing ground in its battle to force cable companies to offer the NFL Network on its own terms. Last year, the NFL yielded to customer outcry when the Patriot's bid to finish the regular season undefeated was originally scheduled exclusively on the NFL Network. To placate customers, they allowed CBS and NBC to simulcast the game.
With the news of a potential partnership in works, fans can begin to breath a little easier. Although it will go down as one of the greatest games in Texans history, many fans had to hit the local watering hole to watch Mario Williams’ spectacular 3.5 sack performance. While it was a glorious night for Texans football, there were millions of potential viewers who were unable to watch the game in the comforts of their own home. With the deal being hammered out between the two sides, there is a renewed hope for cable subscribers everywhere.
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Battle Red Blog: Yahoo FF League
It's official. The Battle Red Blog Fantasy Football League has commenced. It's a Yahoo! PLUS league with all the bells and whistles.
There can be up to 20 teams in this league. Everyone who expressed interest in this league on the Grab Your Cheatsheets post has dibs on teams. After that, we welcome all comers.
After the jump, check out more info about the league.
(images via via farm1.static.flickr.com)
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