Battle Red Blog

"It's amazing how well people in Houston have treated me. Everywhere I go . . . I truly appreciate...

2012-05-27T18:35:30Z

"It's amazing how well people in Houston have treated me. Everywhere I go . . . I truly appreciate it and want to help bring them a championship back. Houston's great."

-J.J. Watt

Saturday Night's Alright For Commenting: BRB Open Thread (05/26/12)

2012-05-26T21:23:28Z

It's a gorgeous holiday weekend, so you may be out and about, relaxing and enjoying the day. Or maybe, just maybe, you're refreshing BRB every thirty seconds, waiting for the Saturday Night Open Thread to post. If it's the latter, good news, friend.

Discuss whatever you're up to or thinking about on this wonderful Saturday evening, Texans-related or not. Maybe you want to weigh in on the Bradie James v. DeMeco Ryans debate. Maybe you want to reminisce about Memorial Day Weekends past. Maybe you want to elaborate upon the pros (because there are no cons) to grilling.

It's an open forum, though the community guidelines are always in effect, so use your good judgment in what you post for public consumption.

Justin Forsett To Work Out For Texans

2012-05-25T21:20:06Z

With a vacancy at that third RB spot, bringing in a young veteran like Justin Forsett to audition makes a whole lot of sense for the Texans. If anything, I'm a bit surprised that trying out for a RB3 spot in a place like Houston, where RB1 and RB2 are so firmly established, is already in the cards for Forsett. He had some buzz surrounding him in Seattle a couple of years ago before Marshawn Lynch arrived on the scene; of course, unemployed is unemployed, so you go where the jobs are.

Some quick analysis about Forsett's possible fit in Houston by Danny Kelly at Field Gulls and SB Nation Seattle is after the jump.

Still, if Forsett sticks in Houston, they'll be getting a reliable running back in pass protection on third downs that has a lot of experience in the zone-blocking scheme that Gary Kubiak runs down there. He's a consummate pro and I'm sure Seattle fans are rooting for him to find himself a home in with the Texans.

Seems like a good fit to me. You?

Checking The Pulse: Matt Schaub And A New Contract

2012-05-25T19:54:01Z

It's Friday afternoon, and we're headed toward a long holiday weekend. Before we get there (if you're not there already), let's throw out a topic for discussion. Namely, the future of your Houston Texans at QB.

Matt Schaub is about to enter the final year of the six-year contract he signed after being traded to Houston in 2007. He's coming off a season-ending foot injury, and he'll presumably be looking for the last big pay day of his career. How do you see things shaking out for Schaub and the Texans?

Will Matt Schaub get an extension to stay in Houston? If so, what will be the terms of said deal?

Will the Texans tag him for the 2013 season? Keep in mind that this doesn't occur in a vacuum; the Texans have other players they need to address as well.

Will they let Schaub walk after the 2012 campaign? Are you that confident in T.J. Yates as Schaub's long-term replacement? If not Yates, then who?

These questions need answers. Share yours in the Comments below.

Bob McNair Talks Texans, The Universe, and Everything (But Mostly Texans)

2012-05-25T13:01:22Z

As Texans fans, we're pretty damned lucky in some respects. One that doesn't get mentioned a whole lot is ownership. While some other teams have owners who cannot keep from meddling (you know which ones I'm talking about), we have an owner who knows how to leave well enough alone. In fact, he does this so well, that whenever he does make a public appearance, it's rather a newsworthy event; like Groundhog Day or something.

Or at least Yahoo seems to think it is. Unlike every February 2nd, the appearance of Uncle Bob is actually interesting. What does an appearance by Bob McNair portend? My guess, it portends he wanted to say something.

You could click the link and read it yourself, but that would lead you away from here. And that would be a bad thing.

Or...

You could hit the jump and read poorly hacked out portions of the article. Jump with us. You'll be happier that way.

On Houston hosting another Super Bowl:

Houston Texans owner Bob McNair says civic leaders should orchestrate efforts in trying to land the Super Bowl, and that the team should have little involvement.

On Wednesday, Harris County Sports Convention Corp. chairman Edgar Colon said the county and Reliant Park plan to bid on the 2017 Super Bowl.

''That's fine,'' McNair said Thursday after the Texans' morning workout. ''It's really a city effort, and it's a big effort, so I'm glad there are some people interested in jumping in there and getting something started.''

I'm not going to pretend I know how bidding for a Super Bowl works, but I was always under the impression that the city was mostly responsible for bringing in the Super Bowl. He also says that having a winning team would help improve the odds for the Bayou City. So, you know, no pressure or anything.

On what to do with the Astrodome:

The Harris County commissioners will look at the consultants' recommendations at a meeting June 26. McNair says the process of deciding what to do with the Astrodome and Reliant Park are still ''very preliminary,'' but he's happy to see some progress.

''Certainly, something needs to be done with the Astrodome,'' he said. ''It's just gone downhill. That's fine. I'm glad the commissioners will be looking at it. If they deem it the right thing to do and want to submit something to the voters for them to make a determination, that's fine.''

My guess: McNair wants to turn the Astrodome into the largest paintball arena on the planet. Although I've been wrong before.

On the new rules changes:

The NFL voted to make thigh and knee pads mandatory equipment for the 2013 season, a rule that's drawn criticism from the players' union.

''I don't think there's a legitimate complaint,'' McNair said. ''We're for player safety, and I thought that's what the union was for. I don't know why they're complaining.

''What's happened is, from a technology standpoint, you have padding now that's very light, very thin and is more protective than what we've had in the past,'' he said. ''I don't think it will have much impact on a player's performance. If everybody is having to wear the same equipment, then it's equal. I don't see that as being bad at all.''

So the players are concerned about safety, but their union gripes about additional protection? Sense...this makes none.

And now we turn it over to y'all for the whole writing of comments and such. Enjoy.

What Should Houston Do With The Astrodome?

2012-05-24T14:56:44Z

Every few years, there seems to be a bit of an uproar about what should be done with the Astrodome. Everyone has an opinion. Tear it down to create additional parking. Renovate it so it can be used as a stadium again. Turn it into a convention center. Or hotel. Or casino. Leave it alone entirely.

Yesterday, the debate raged anew, thanks to a fancy new study that suggested the Dome be renovated (in conjunction with a complete replacement of Reliant Arena) to the tune of $523,000,000.00 in taxpayer money. I'm curious as to what you think should be done with the Astrodome.

I realize keeping politics out of the discussion is asking a lot, but I'm asking you to keep politics out of the discussion. You can discuss the price tag, feasibility, and your opinion of the different options without making this a debate about the propriety of someone's political views. With that in mind, it's yours in the Comments.

Wade Phillips Talks About Saints Bounty Program, Whether He Wants To Be A Head Coach Again

2012-05-23T17:00:58Z

Your beloved defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips, was on Sports Radio 610 the other day. SRI has a link to the entire interview, as well as a partial transcript of the conversation. Looks like the chat encompassed several topics; I'll hit on a couple of 'em after the jump.

Do you have a desire to be a head coach again?

“I enjoyed being a head coach. I still feel like I did well as a head coach. I still have one of the winningest records in the league. At this point I am really happy being here. They have been great to me here and this has been…like you said being here I am more popular than anywhere I have ever been and I thought I did a good job in a lot of places.”

Never leave, Wade. Never. If you do, I'll hold my breath until you come back.

What were your first thoughts when you heard the Gregg Williams audio?

“Well I mean it made me sick. I just don’t believe in that. It’s something completely against what I believe in. I knew it wasn’t right certainly and I think that’s where you go.”

Wade Phillips don't need no bounty program. Wade simply lays out the game plan in a calm manner, walks out of the locker room, lets Brian Cushing run around headbutting and tackling his teammates for two minutes, and then watches the results once the game starts.

NFL Rule Changes Passed By Owners

2012-05-23T14:43:06Z

Tweeted about this last night, but I think a post here is in order as well. The NFL owners passed three (3) proposed rule changes yesterday, and these new rules have the potential to have an impact on what we see from your Houston Texans in the coming seasons. Details after the jump.

SBN has a nice summary of what the owners passed. Here's a summary of the summary:

1. The trade deadline will be moved from after Week Six to after Week Eight. Pulling an example out of the clear blue sky...if a team happens to lose the first two QBs on its depth chart before the end of Week Eight, it would have the opportunity to complete a trade for a replacement starer at QB instead of having to turn to a rookie third-stringer. Had this rule been in place last season, your 2011 Houston Texans would never have contemplated such a move because, at least as MDC has repeatedly declared, T.J. Yates is a homeless man's Aaron Rodgers.

2. For one player on each team, being placed on injured reserve does not mean the player is out for the year. Now, one designated player can be placed on the IR, begin practicing after Week Six, and be eligible to return to action after Week Eight. I have a hard time seeing a downside to that change.

3. Finally, the owners also voted to mandate the use of leg and thigh pads beginning in 2013. Even with all the concerns about player safety, I'm not sure that the players will agree to that change. They may argue that speed, comfort, and free will trump safety. Waivers for everyone!

Your reaction to the proposed rule changes?