Speaking of Sept. 12 at Houston, more than a few Colts have noticed how inflamed the Texans are about the game. “It’s like the most important game in the history of their franchise, from what we’re hearing out of there,” said one Colt veteran. “They might be putting a little too much emphasis on it.”

I think the Texans have been taking it like a big brother-little brother competition; and the 2004 win was not enough.  The Texans will keep putting too much emphasis on this game until they’re able to consistently take 1, and mabye 2 games every other season, away from the Colts.

Quarterback Matt Leinart signed a one-year contract with the Houston Texans, the team announced Tuesday. Leinart, who was cut by the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, received a base salary of $630,000, and the deal could grow to $1 million, The Houston Chronicle reported via Twitter. “We’re getting a very smart player who has been productive, and we’ll see if we can kind of get the motor going again and all that back. So it’s a nice try for us as a football team and it makes us deeper at the quarterback position.” The Texans were looking for insurance at backup quarterback after Dan Orlovsky threw two interceptions in Houston’s last preseason game last week. The Texans cut backup quarterback John David Booty, another former USC quarterback, over the weekend despite his two touchdown passes in the preseason finale. The Cardinals took Leinart with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2006 draft, after he guided the Trojans to two national championships and a third title-game appearance.

HoustonTexans.com reported that the Texans have signed seven players to their practice squad, including former Strake Jesuit and Texas Longhorn running back Chris Ogbonnaya:

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Age	Exp.	College
Isaiah Greenhouse	LB	6-2	239	23	R	Northwestern State
Brett Helms	C	6-2	301	24	1	LSU
Chris Ogbonnaya	RB	6-0	225	24	2	Texas
Cole Pemberton	T	6-7	306	23	R	Colorado State
Malcolm Sheppard	DT	6-2	289	22	R	Arkansas
Bobby Williams	WR	6-2	198	24	1	North Alabama
Torri Williams	S	6-2	210	24	R	Purdue

ESPN says that it is a one-year contract, which shows just how little interest the former USC star really had on the open market being available to all 31 teams (minus Arizona of course).

He will take a physical, sign the contract and join the team Monday. Leinart will become the Texans’ third quarterback behind starter Matt Schaub and backup Dan Orlovsky, who will remain the No. 2 at least until Leinart has some command of Houston’s offensive scheme, sources said.

The Texans cut John David Booty, another former USC quarterback, when they trimmed their roster to the mandatory 53 limit on Saturday, leaving Schaub and Orlovsky as the two quarterbacks. Leinart will be working with some of the NFL’s best receiving talent, including All-Pro Andre Johnson.

The Texans are one of the teams interested in Matt Leinart and could end up signing him if reports are true that Seattle isn’t interested in the former Arizona quarterback who was placed on waivers Friday. On a day in which they made three roster moves and signed seven players to their practice squad, the Texans decided they’re interested in Leinart, according to NFL people familiar with the situation.

If the Texans sign him, he’ll join a team that has Matt Schaub as the starter and Dan Orlovsky as the backup. On Sunday, the Texans didn’t re-sign quarterback John David Booty to the regular roster or sign him to the practice squad, but they have a roster spot open and one spot available on the practice squad. If they sign Leinart, it’s not likely Booty would return.

Also placed on waivers were fullback Jack Corcoran, tight end Derek Fine, linebacker Isaiah Greenhouse, center Brett Helms, offensive tackle Steve Maneri, cornerback Mark Parson, linebacker Will Patterson, offensive tackle Cole Pemberton, safety Nicholas Polk, defensive tackle DelJuan Robinson, defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard, offensive tackle Adam Stenavich, receiver Derrick Townsel, defensive tackle Mitch Unrein, center Chris White, receiver Bobby Williams and safety Torri Williams.

Many of the cuts will most likely include eight different practice squad players whom could make an impact if any injuries hit the Texans. Additionally, tight end Anthony Hill was placed on the physically unable to perform list and out for a minimum six weeks, and wide receiver Andre “Apostrophe” Davis was placed on the injured reserve, making room for running back Derrick Ward.

Running back Arian Foster owners and scouts took a big hit Friday when the Texans announced they will be drafting recent free agent back Derrick Ward.  Ward’s resume is impressive, serving as 1,000 yard rusher as Wind for the Giants’ successful Earth, Wind and Fire committee.  He could serve very useful in a reserve role for the Texans, especially early as the Texans wait on Slaton and Johnson’s toe injuries.

Fantasy Outlook:  Ward will most likely be thrown in as the immediate backup to Arian Foster.  If he can regain his “Wind” presence, expect him to make an impact on the Texans run game and also put a dent in Arian Foster’s chance at a single back running back situation. Slaton and Johnson’s toe injuries will clear up early, and Slaton will quickly make an impact on third downs and passing situations.  Johnson should go undrafted and Slaton may be a mid to late round pick in some leagues (if they’re not autodrafts).  Foster was known to Tennessee Volunteer fans as Arian “Fumbling” Foster and he’s only really played in three NFL games.  Expect him to be good for 900 rushing yard and 4 TDs and 250-yards receiving and 4 TDs.  Foster’s good for a 5th round pick if you’re on the bandwagon.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

A seventh-round pick (235th overall) of the New York Giants in 2004, Ward turned a 1,000-yard season in 2008 into a four-year, $17 million contract with the Buccaneers in 2009. In fourteen games, including just one start, Ward rushed for 409 yards and a touchdown.

After a lackluster pre-season, the Buccaneers included him on their initial roster cuts on August 31st.

Ward will be expected to be the third running back for the Texans, playing behind starter Arian Foster and Steve Slaton.