2009 Houston Texans Draft --- Day One

The Houston Texans have beefed up their defense even a little more on the first day of the 2009 NFL draft. I have to say that I think Rick Smith, Kubiak and company did a great job.

With the 15th pick the Texans picked up USC Outside Linebacker Brian Cushing who should fit right in next to DeMeco Ryans. Cushing should help the front seven become one of the best pass rushing defenses in the NFL. If Xavier Abidi and Cato June and suddenly the linebacking core could really be effective.

Cushing has the ability to play any line backing spot effectively and should prove well worth the 15th pick adjusting quickly to the NFL. He played all around in his career thus far. Defensive End/Linebacker (LEO), weak side Linebacker, strong side Linebacker, middle line backer and even a rover. The best part is: HE'S COMFORTABLE IN ALL OF THE POSITIONS. This could become a real asset to the Texans D and allow for many different looks to try and thwart opposing offenses.

But the Texans smart moves didn't end there. In the second round they picked up a solid Defensive End in Connor Barwin from Cincinnati. Many thought Barwin had a chance to go in the first round and he most certainly has shown first round talent throughout his college career. In 2007, Barwin started for the Bearcats as a Tight End and excelled. He was then asked by Coach Brian Kelly to switch to the defensive side of the ball in 2008, which he did...and took a real liking to. He excelled at defensive end leading the Big East in sacks with 11. Barwin also has the speed, size and talent to play line backer if need be. His efforts will surely add to this seemingly scary Texans Defense.

Although, they were only two picks away from getting Brian Orakpo and one pick away from Michael Jenkins, I think the Houston Texans had an incredible day one of the 2009 NFL draft. I'm really looking forward to day two...after all the Texans always do well on day 2.

I'll be pulling for Texas wide out Quan Cosby and of course Rhett Bomar!

Thanks For the Good Times, Dikembe Mutombo!

Today is a sad day in sports. Four time Defensive Player of the Year, incredible Shot-Blocker and wonderful Humanitarian, Dikembe Mutombo's career has come to an end.

In the second quarter in game two of the first round of the 2009 Playoffs against Portland, Mutombo landed awkwardly and had to be carried from the floor. His leg appeared to shift to unnatural positions and after the game, he said that "it’s over for me for my career".

Beyond simply putting a wrinkle in the Rocket's playoff plans and hopes this year, Mutombo will truly be missed. His career was nothing short of prolific and there is no doubt that the player with the 2nd most blocked shots of all time has a ticket punched straight into the Hall of Fame.

This Georgetown alum spent 18 years in the NBA with 6 different teams, ending his career here in Houston with the Rockets as the "Yoda of the Locker Room" and the man who could give Yao Ming a rest. Even in his early 40's, Mutombo was very successful in doing that.

More notable than his incredible career on the court is his Humanitarian efforts off of the court that even earned him the honor of being invited and included President Bush's 2007 State of the Union. In 2006, his foundation opened the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital (named for his mother) in Mutombo's native town of Kinshasha in the Congo. It was a process that took him nearly 10 years from concept to completion, but through his efforts and a big chunk of his bank account the Hospital has become one of the first modern facility built in nearly half a decade.

On the court, his signature finger shake and wild elbows had him as one of the most feared defenders to face, but off of the court Deke is truly an incredible human being.

Thank, Deke, for all the good games. You will most certainly be missed on the court, but I'm sure we will know you are still around.

Rockets Choke To The Mavs

Choke City is ringing through the streets of Houston again.

The Rockets had to beat the mediocre Mavericks tonight to clinch 3rd place in the West and guess who choked...the Rockets. They let ancient Jason Kidd walk away with a triple double as they let a lead slip away into a loss.

It was a pathetic showing at best, but I have hope for the playoffs. If the Rockets can get their heads out of their behinds...some things may happen. This is a solid team that is almost as strong as the 1997 Rockets. As long as they don't match up with the Lakers...it can happen.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE...ddon't be "Choke City" again. That is miserable as a fan with a Spurs wife to deal with.

Houston Texans 2009 Schedule

Thankfully I now have something to look forward to with the release of the Houston Texans 2009 schedule. The Astros were certainly putting me into a "I hate sports" moment, but finally I can come out of the wood-work.

For the second year in a row, the Texans will get to play a Monday Night Football game. This time around the game will be against the Tennessee Titans at home. That will be an incredible game to go to. It shall go down as a Battle Red victory and I predict that is the game that Kerry Collins goes down and Vince Young gets his comeback chance for the Titans. The full regular season Texan's schedule is:

9/13 - New York Jets
9/20 - @Tennessee Titans
9/27 - Jacksonville Jaguars
10/4 - Oakland Raiders
10/11 - @Arizona Cardinals
10/18 - @Cincinnati Bengals
10/25 - San Francisco 49ers
11/01 - @Buffalo Bills
11/8 - @Indianapolis Colts
11/15 - Bye
11/23 - Tennessee Titans
11/29 - Indianapolis Colts
12/6 - @Jacksonville Jaguars
12/13 - Seattle Seahawks
12/20 - @ St. Louis Rams
12/27 - @ Miami Dolphins
01/03 - New England Patriots

While the Texans should fair well against most of these teams and I believe will finish with a 10-6 or 11-5 record, it really sucks as a schedule. 3 times throughout the season the team has to play back to back road games compared to only 2 sets of back to back home games. 1 of the back to back home stands is against Tennessee and then Indianapolis on a short week! How fair is that?!??! THEN...the Texans are forced to play on the road both 12/20 and 12/27...during Christmas...away form their families. Do you think they are going to be completely focused on those games while their families are eating turkey, opening presents and singing Christmas carols without them? It's a bunch of bull. This schedule will be a challenge for "those boys on Kirby" (thanks Larry)...so they had better step up their game and be ready.

How do I think the season will go? I am glad you asked!

Through the end of October I put them at 5-2...dropping a hard fought game to Tennessee and getting blown out by a surprising Cincinnati Bengals team.

They'll take a loss to Buffalo at the beginning of November as well as the Colts at the end, but win the rest of the month ending at 7-4. December will be a promising month as the Texans will gain 3 more wins at the hand of Seattle, St. Louis and Jacksonville. Both the Miami and New England games have the potential to be heart breakers, so I will predict at this point that they split.

If all this goes according to plan, that finishes them at 11-5. Possible? Yes. Probable? Probably not, but it is possible and I like to be optimistic. They may drop one more to either the Colts or the Titans, but that should be it.

I'll have my fingers crossed, my rabbits foot, my socks inside out, and my lucky drawers on all season!

Go Texans!

What, Oh, What Will Happen to Michael Vick ?

After his short vacation in the clink, Michael Vick is somewhat of a free-man. That is...for now. He still has a number of legal matters at hand before one could completely deem him "free."  Once these legal matters are resolved, what will become of the man, the myth and the legend of Michael Vick.

In his initial plan for bankruptcy, he would become a Construction Worker in order to gain full employment status to get his bankruptcy filing approved. This plan was all, but laughed out of Bankruptcy Court as Vick was told to come up with a more realistic plan. A more realistic plan would include selling one of his THREE houses for money to pay to creditors. Several months ago, Vick tried to sell one of his mansions, but it was pulled off the auction block when bids failed to reach the 3 million dollar minimum. 

Let's pretend, Vickster get's all of these matters settled in a timely manner. Then what?

I can tell you this for sure: HE WILL BE BACK IN THE NFL.

Commissioner Goodell isn't stupid. In fact, he is a pretty saavy business man which is what has gotten him in the position he is in in the first place.  Turning Michael Vick down for re-entry into the NFL would be like looking a gold mine in the face and saying, "No thanks!"

PacMan Jones was nothing compared to the amount of money and attention Vick brings to the NFL and whatever team he ends up playing for. Add his controversy on-top of that and jersey sales, butts in seats and memorabilia sales will be out the roof. Media coverage for Vick, the NFL and his team will be incredible, which also translates into more revenue.  Remember...any publicity, whether positive or negative is good publicity. 

Tack on to this the fact that he is in better shape than he was before prison and suddenly...Vick could make a difference for a team, fans, and the NFL as a whole. 

He's done some bad things that I certainly don't agree with. I love dogs...more than most people. But I also love football and I welcome Michael Vick back with excitement. As a person, he will always be held as terrible to me, no matter what he says or does to redeem himself. But as a football player...he will always be the most exciting and markatable player to play the game.

More than likely, I imagine he will end up with Detroit. It would be fun to see him in Cleveland with the DogPound too. When asked if I would take him on the Texans, my response is: You bet your ass I would.

Tickets, merchandise and media out the roof! Plus, you could bring him on as a hybrid player and really use him in the wildcat offense. Could you imagine having he, Slaton, and Schaub in the backfield running the wildcat? Defenses wouldn't know what to do.

Even scarier is the thought of him going to Tennessee and building a wildcat similar offense around Vince Young, Michael Vick and Chris Johnson.

Aye, yay, yay.

Only time will tell what is instore for Michael Vick...Time and the decision of Roger Goodell. Roger, don't be a friggin' stubborn idiot. Let Vick play!