Houston Texans Newswire: DeAndre Goes To School

Houston Texans News

THE SKY IS FALLING!

As previously reported on BRB, Arian Foster strained a calf muscle during yesterday's OTA session. Foster is listed as day-to-day.

*****

Hopkins Taking His Licks.

DeAndre Hopkins is getting his schooling in against Johnathan Joseph and asked questions of Andre Johnson. The learning curve is steep for an NFL wide receiver, but Hopkins is well on his way.

*****

Cushing and Texans Aren't Talking Contract Just Yet.

By all accounts, Brian Cushing's rehab has been a success far. Cushing is entering the final year of his rookie contract. In previous cases, the Texans have offered a contract to players they want to keep before the season starts on the final contract year. Cushing isn't worried about it talking contracts at the moment.

"No, you know, if they have, I wouldn't even know because my main concern right now is just getting healthy and that'll take care of everything else," Cushing said. "If they have, I wouldn't even know. I try to stay out of that stuff. Obviously, I would like to get that done but it's not really up to me."

*****

Watt in HD.

J.J. Watt will check in from the team cam on "NFL Total Access", on NFL Network tonight.

*****

Around the League

I know AP, and Sir You Are No AP

As DeMarco Murray was sitting out of the Cowboys OTAs, he talked about the upcoming season. The Oklahoma product stated he was going to play the entire NFL season this year.

"I am going to play all 16 (games) this year, and I'm excited," Murray said. "It's going to be a great year for us."

Murray's track record says otherwise. In 2007, he dislocated a kneecap. In 2008, he suffered a hamstring injury during the Big 12 Championship. In 2010, he had lingering knee ailments that threatened to keep him out the Big 12 Championship. The NFL hasn't been much kinder to Murray; a fractured ankle ended his rookie season. This past season, he was on the shelf from Week 7 through 12 with a foot injury. The Cowboys can't afford to lose Murray. It should be interesting to see how Dallas handles his workload in 2013.

*****

Nerd Alert!

The same tracking technology that is being used by 15 NBA teams may soon be coming to a NFL stadium near you. SportsVu is a system of cameras set up in a sporting arena to track the X, Y, and Z coordinates of every object on the court/field. Currently only one team has the system installed in their stadium. Of all places for the new technology, it is installed on the hallowed ground of Lambeau Field. For the past two seasons, 20 cameras have tracked the movement and acceleration of the play on the field. If teams are able to quantify each play into a number, will there soon be a sabremetric-like revolution in football?

*****

MJD Finally Venting His Frustrations With Jacksonville.

There will be no charges filed against Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew after he allegedly struck a security guard at restaurant in suburb of Jacksonville. If MJD were charged, I'm sure the event would read more like this:

"MJD knocked out a security guard with one punch, then keeps churning his legs as he stomped him into pulp."

*****

Brown Back with Browns.

Jim Brown was previously removed from his position as special advisor by former team president Mike Holmgren. As of today, Brown will be back with the origination that he led to the 1964 NFL Championship. Brown's role with the organization is unspecified. Closer to home, a similar story has happened with the Astros. Larry Dierker returned to the organization that he has been a ‘player, manager, broadcaster, salesman and goodwill ambassador for 47 of its 52 seasons'. During the short tenure as President, George Postolos drove Dierker out of the organization. With the arrival of new president Reid Ryan, Dierker is back.

*****

NEVER...Maybe...Soon.

The ongoing battle over the name of the Washington football team has reached the United States Congress. Ten members of Congress have written letters to Redskins owner Dan Snyder, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and the other 31 NFL franchises urging Washington to change it's name. Snyder's concept of "NEVER" changing the name may be altered to 'soon' if the cries are loud enough.