Texans earning respect of their peers at Pro Bowl

[CloakNNNdagger]

Hmmm......Watt at TE?........he is probably joking, but that would definitely be interesting for a couple of plays here and there during a game........a throw back to the 2-way iron man........

Posted on January 26, 2013 at 11:16 pm by Tania Ganguli in Pro Bowl



AIEA, Hawaii — During one Pro Bowl practice, Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph covered Texans receiver Andre Johnson. A few plays later, J.J. Watt lined up on offense.

“I’m trying to get coach (Gary) Kubiak to let me play tight end,” Watt said before putting his finger to his lips in a shushing gesture — can’t give away top-secret elements of a Pro Bowl game plan.

The pass that Denver quarterback Peyton Manning threw for Watt sailed over his head and out of the end zone with Watt unable to make the grab.

“My play was better than Arian’s attempted pass,” Watt countered of Foster.

Texans players have detected a bit of jealousy from others in the Pro Bowl this week.

“You get in the huddle and you look and you have two of your fellow linemen,” left tackle Duane Brown said. “Starting running back, quarterback, receiver in the same huddle. Lot of familiar faces. Lot of guys are jealous of that. They envy it. It’s a great feeling, and it says a lot about our team.”

The “no respect” mantra is one athletes use across the NFL and other sports. It can be a motivating factor for teams, sometimes players work to prove they or their teams are deserving of more respect than they get. Even when the Texans were 11-1, they talked of having to earn respect nationally.

Perception, they said, constantly maligns them.

(Well, not everyone said that: “Another man’s opinion of me is none of my business,” Foster said.)

The Pro Bowl is entirely about perception.

And even with a season that ended before they wanted it to end, and before internal and external expectations needed it to end, the Texans got heaps of respect from peers, coaches and fans.

Kudos to coaching staff
Quarterback Matt Schaub, Brown, Wade Smith and Chris Myers, Foster, Johnson and tight end Owen Daniels, who was an injury replacement, are in Hawaii. Watt and Joseph joined them on defense.

“Offense, it’s seven out of the 11 guys (in a huddle); that’s pretty impressive,” Myers said. “That’s something that’s a form of respect to the team. To both sides with J.J. and (Joseph) here. … Hat’s off to our offensive staff and the whole staff in general to get quality guys and get guys the recognition they deserve.”

REST OF THE STORY

[ESAD2-14]

Feel good story, but if I had the chance to go on an expense paid trip to Hawaii with some of my buds like that I'd take it.

Lot of Negative Nancy running around in the comments section though, you'd think we just came off of 2-14 again.

[bOODRO87]

So many Pro Bowlers on offense. How did we get so bad in the red zone down the stretch? Frustrating.

[Playoffs]

I imagine Peyton's reflex was to throw it over J.J.'s outstretched arms,

And had Peyton thrown it within reach Watt probably sWatts it down!

[rolyat93]

I can think of a better Bowl to earn respect in.

[BullBlitz]

Originally Posted by bOODRO87

So many Pro Bowlers on offense. How did we get so bad in the red zone down the stretch? Frustrating.

I look at it with a different perspective.

We were pretty bad in the red zone. Do these players really deserve to be held out as exceptional? Not really, but someone has to play.

[Bulls on Parade]

Originally Posted by bOODRO87

So many Pro Bowlers on offense. How did we get so bad in the red zone down the stretch? Frustrating.

I blame the playcalling above all else.

[dream_team]

Originally Posted by ESAD2-14

Feel good story, but if I had the chance to go on an expense paid trip to Hawaii with some of my buds like that I'd take it.

Lot of Negative Nancy running around in the comments section though, you'd think we just came off of 2-14 again.

I think there are some people that would actually prefer it, if it led to getting rid of Kubiak & Schaub.

[Carr Bombed]

Originally Posted by dream_team

I think there are some people that would actually prefer it, if it led to getting rid of Kubiak & Schaub.

I'm still up in the air with Kubiak so I'll leave him out of this..

However, I would prefer a step back if it led to a bigger step forward. The worst thing that can ever happen in sports is being stuck in mediocrity dying a slow agonizing death. That was the Rockets for the longest time and it killed me, but they made a big move with the James Harden trade and hopefully it'll be the big move that starts to pull them out of the mediocrity zone.

The Astros flat out suck, that's something nobody will argue about, but it doesn't bother me. I'm willing to let them suck and hopefully all that sucking will lead to us drafting some future star players (See Wash. Nats) and we can restock our farm system.

So in short, if we had a wheel fail off the wagon season that made us start looking for another QB, I wouldn't be cheering (I never cheer for my teams to lose), but I wouldn't exactly shed a tear either. Hell look what the Colts got out of their fall on their face season.

[thunderkyss]

I haven't given up on these Texans yet. Sure, this season was a failure; a disappointment.

But I'm over it. Can't wait to see what they do next year.

[dream_team]

Originally Posted by Carr Bombed

I'm still up in the air with Kubiak so I'll leave him out of this..

However, I would prefer a step back if it led to a bigger step forward. The worst thing that can ever happen in sports is being stuck in mediocrity dying a slow agonizing death. That was the Rockets for the longest time and it killed me, but they made a big move with the James Harden trade and hopefully it'll be the big move that starts to pull them out of the mediocrity zone.

The Astros flat out suck, that's something nobody will argue about, but it doesn't bother me. I'm willing to let them suck and hopefully all that sucking will lead to us drafting some future star players (See Wash. Nats) and we can restock our farm system.

So in short, if we had a wheel fail off the wagon season that made us start looking for another QB, I wouldn't be cheering (I never cheer for my teams to lose), but I wouldn't exactly shed a tear either. Hell look what the Colts got out of their fall on their face season.

Are we stuck in mediocrity though? We just made it to the 2nd round of playoffs 2 seasons in a row. That means 24 teams finished worse than us. We are in the top quarter of the league. If we were stuck in the middle for a few seasons... like the Eagles, Cowboys or Chargers, then I'd fully agree with you.

[Carr Bombed]

Originally Posted by dream_team

Are we stuck in mediocrity though?
We just made it to the 2nd round of playoffs 2 seasons in a row. That means 24 teams finished worse than us. We are in the top quarter of the league. If we were stuck in the middle for a few seasons... like the Eagles, Cowboys or Chargers, then I'd fully agree with you.

The second half collapse took a lot of shine off our early season success with me. Even the wins we had in the second half were worrisome, mainly the Lions game and the Jags game. It goes back to the whole expectations thing and the reason why this was a failed season imo. It's time to step up and play with the big boys. I can take a loss to a top team as long as you're competitive, but getting blown out three times to top teams in unacceptable for any team that considers itself a "contender".

[Texan_Bill]

Originally Posted by ESAD2-14

Feel good story, but if I had the chance to go on an expense paid trip to Hawaii with some of my buds like that I'd take it.

Lot of Negative Nancy running around in the comments section though, you'd think we just came off of 2-14 again.

Brother, you should know better than reading "comments", no??

[PapaL]

Yay it's our Super Bowl! FML.

[Vance87]

Just in case people forgot, there are 29 other teams not playing in the Super Bowl this year.

[BullBlitz]

Originally Posted by Vance87

Just in case people forgot, there are 29 other teams not playing in the Super Bowl this year.

Ah. The "misery loves company" approach.

Not working for me. Repeated chances at home field advantage slipped through our fingers.

That sure didn't happen to 29 other teams.

[Hervoyel]

Nevermind.

[badboy]

Originally Posted by Vance87

Just in case people forgot, there are 29 other teams not playing in the Super Bowl this year.

Yep, but I do not buy their merchandise, scream my lungs out in support and stay up nights mocking drafts for them. IMO, those other team are not beating us, it is the team I root for that is beating us. sigh

[Vance87]

Originally Posted by badboy

Yep, but I do not buy their merchandise, scream my lungs out in support and stay up nights mocking drafts for them. IMO, those other team are not beating us, it is the team I root for that is beating us. sigh

How many Super Bowls has PFM made it to in his 14 year career? How many Super Bowls has Baltimore made it to, a perennial playoff team?

Make the Super Bowl is damn hard. And some of you whine and ***** like we shoulda been there 5 times already.

Get over 2012 already, it's done with.

[PapaL]

Originally Posted by Vance87

Just in case people forgot, there are 29 other teams not playing in the Super Bowl this year.

And we care about those teams why? Loser mentality.

Yay we're better than 26 other teams. Lets sing kumbaya and celebrate.