"Texans players say they had illegal contract drills at 2008 mini-camp"

[GP]

Isn't that a crime to take a camera in the film room and record it??? If so would the tape be admissable as evidence in his suit since he aquired it illegaly?

I believe the recording of a conversation, whether it's audio or video or both, is permissable as evidence. The only question is this: Did the person recording the conversation "bait" or somehow entrap the offender?

I think, if I remember right from my journalism days in college, that at least one person in the recording must give permission to be recorded. So the player doing the recording obviously gives his permission.

I know we have at least one person on here who is a lawyer, so maybe he can provide insight.

Here's the link to a site dealing with recording TELEPHONE conversations:Laws On Recording Phone Conversations

Texas is a state where at least one person must give consent to being recorded. The person recording their own conversation with others thus counts as the one person needed. If you set up a recorder, then leave the room; however, you have committed a felony. I suppose the reasoning is that when YOU are present, the other parties are aware of your presence and can guard against doing something...but, if you hide the camera and go away--You are capturing private moments; moments you're not a part of. That whole "peeping tom" thing I suppose.

....having a hard time finding the law on video, though.

 

[BSofA04]

I have a feeling this could hurt us when FA's begin looking at the Texans. I don't want a negative feeling of "Will the Texans protect me?"

 

[GP]

Yeah, this is not good.

Especially if it ends up costing us a 4th rounder.

What possible GOOD could have been gained from doing those drills? Just as a "I'm the boss and you'll do what I say" sort of thing? Trying to get an early jump on other teams?

Seems pretty dumb, if you ask me. The reward does not outweigh the risk, IMO.

 

[FirstTexansFan]

Looks like little Dickie is having a field day with this one. *LINK*

I responded to his drivel, but I'm sure it won't make it past his editing capabilities LOL So I'll double post it here for our own laughter

"You're well on your way to getting that job in Nashville Richard. All you need is to get your hair cut in a mullet. Your IQ and writing skills meet the qualifications. Good luck with that!"

 

[GP]

Looks like little Dickie is having a field day with this one. *LINK*

I responded to his drivel, but I'm sure it won't make it past his editing capabilities LOL So I'll double post it here for our own laughter

"You're well on your way to getting that job in Nashville Richard. All you need is to get your hair cut in a mullet. Your IQ and writing skills meet the qualifications. Good luck with that!"

Uhh...LOL...yeah, your comment is not going to make the cut.

I like your style, though!

 

[FirstTexansFan]

Yeah, mine won't go through, but he lets every retard Longhorn fan scream fire Kubiak because he's an Aggie, and they wonder why folks think they're asshats?

 

[disaacks3]

FWIW - This doesn't look good and will almost certainly cost the team "something". If it does cost them the 4th-rounder it has to stop immediately and forever.

"Sour Grapes" from Injured/IR/Cut players or not, it's in the CBA and all players involved have a case. Most people on the board have no issue with fining a player for violating the terms of his contract - I think the standard needs to go both ways.

While we may all argue that athletes, entertainers, etc. all get paid too much for their "body of work", it IS still a contract agreed to by BOTH parties. The players have a right to expect the 'other side' to live up to their end of the bargain.

Even if it was a freak accident, a jury would likely say that if the Texans weren't engaging in (as far as the contract goes) illegal behavior, then these gentlemen might NOT be contemplating the end of their careers.

As much as it pains me to say this.... Except for the required swipe at Rick Smith that RJ felt the need to take, his article is fairly spot-on. The Texans try to portray themselves as the "White Knights" without character issues. This event calls that perception into question.

My guess is that the Texans are getting ready to be 'stung' by the NFL for this infraction, but little more. In the grand scheme of things, the public lawsuit could do FAR more damage to the teams' reputation than the loss of (at most) a 4th rounder.

 

[GP]

FWIW - This doesn't look good and will almost certainly cost the team "something". If it does cost them the 4th-rounder it has to stop immediately and forever.

"Sour Grapes" from Injured/IR/Cut players or not, it's in the CBA and all players involved have a case. Most people on the board have no issue with fining a player for violating the terms of his contract - I think the standard needs to go both ways.

While we may all argue that athletes, entertainers, etc. all get paid too much for their "body of work", it IS still a contract agreed to by BOTH parties. The players have a right to expect the 'other side' to live up to their end of the bargain.

Even if it was a freak accident, a jury would likely say that if the Texans weren't engaging in (as far as the contract goes) illegal behavior, then these gentlemen might NOT be contemplating the end of their careers.

As much as it pains me to say this.... Except for the required swipe at Rick Smith that RJ felt the need to take, his article is fairly spot-on. The Texans try to portray themselves as the "White Knights" without character issues. This event calls that perception into question.

My guess is that the Texans are getting ready to be 'stung' by the NFL for this infraction, but little more. In the grand scheme of things, the public lawsuit could do FAR more damage to the teams' reputation than the loss of (at most) a 4th rounder.

Brilliantly said. Bravo.

Rep your way.

And all it does is give RJ a boost, btw, for the Texans to have pulled this stupid stuff. I don't think it goes deeper than this. But if it does, then I will be very saddened that my team operates this way. If we can't go out and get some guys with questionable and shaky character issues, then why are sitting there breaking rules as if character and integrity DOESN'T matter.

Dumb move. Period.

 

[steelbtexan]

Schlereth & King say this is a standard practice in all NFL mini camps.

These guys are bitter because they got cut. Stephenson recorded practices hoping to get paid once he saw that he couldn't cut it & was going to be cut.

I'm not suprised by Dick Justices response because he is a pansy.

All of the good teams do hand-chicken fighting. I dont consider these to be contract drills anymore than 2 kids playig slap jack on the playground.

 

[Errant Hothy]

Schlereth & King say this is a standard practice in all NFL mini camps.

These guys are bitter because they got cut. Stephenson recorded practices hoping to get paid once he saw that he couldn't cut it & was going to be cut.

I'm not suprised by Dick Justices response because he is a pansy.

All of the good teams do hand-chicken fighting. I dont consider these to be contract drills anymore than 2 kids playig slap jack on the playground.

The team saw enough in Stevenson to keep him on IR all yaer, so in other words he was not cut.

 

[Texans_Chick]

My take is here...."Hey the Texans are featured on ESPN! Oh wait, this is ungood."

On its face, this looks not good. That being said, I figure we should let the whole process come out because we don't have everyone's point of view. I can't fathom an innocent reason for the video, but who knows, maybe there is one.

Oh, and this is another illustration of a story becoming a bigger one if there is video. ESPN wouldn't have run this story but for the hidden video. Stories with video always get bigger run than stories without video.

 

[The Pencil Neck]

I'm still pissed that this could cost the team a draft pick.

I thought the NFL had already investigated this and rejected it.

 

[dtran04]

Fred Weary is going against Stevenson. Makes it much more interesting. He's backing the Texans. There are alot of good quotes so give it a read.

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/020509_Texans_Drills_Offseason

 

[Errant Hothy]

I thought the NFL had already investigated this and rejected it.

I think the Management Commitee denied one of Stevenson's claims, but I don't think the NFL has investigate the team for this yet.

 

[Wolf]

I never have been to any of the practices, my first thought is that you have a bunch of guys going through drills, And esp the ones that are fighting to make the team, get a little competitive or tries to make a first impression on the coaching staff (even without pads) and the competitive fire starts going between players and they start to do a little more... Coaches see this and even though it is no contact, don't condone it or doesn't encourage it..

could I be off here?

silly as this may sound , when I go out and practice softball now, even at 38, I say before practice, that I won't do this or do that, but once I am out in the outfield, I end up going full out, diving for balls if I have to. As a kid playing other sports, even messing around, I went full out.. Dad had taught me that "you practice how you play"

Now I know this is apples and oranges to an NFL player and what they do, I just wonder if some of the guys mindsets are about the same. Non contact drills and once you get someone going against you, one DE is going through the motions and wants to just "show a bit more and get past the OL", the offensive linemen shows a little more competitiveness "shows a little more" to keep the DE in check , so to speak

I may be misunderstanding the whole process that goes on in the non-contact drills, so someone ,please, set me straight if my thinking is wrong

this was my thoughts earlier and I am not saying it is right or wrong

Regarding the alleged rules violations by the Texans, Weary acknowledged they happened, but he also said the Texans tried to take precautions against anyone getting hurt.

"It did happen," Weary said. "Guys did get hurt. The coaches stopped them after that.

"In the Texans' defense they did tell us what was going on. They did give us parameters, like going half-speed during the drills. But when guys are trying to make the team, those parameters go out the window."

Weary recalled one such instance involving Texans defensive tackle Tim Bulman.

"Coaches will say we're not trying to hurt anyone and they would ask the offensive guys to let the defensive guys finish the drill," Weary said. But you've got guys like Tim Bulman, who was a practice squad guy at the time.

"He bull-rushes a guy and the offensive lineman has to be a football player and understand this is not half-speed. He becomes competitive and sometimes people get hurt."

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/020509_Texans_Drills_Offseason

 

[TexanSam]

Why has this story just now come out?? It happened in May 2008 and now Dan Stevenson decides to go public with it?

 

[The Pencil Neck]

Why has this story just now come out?? It happened in May 2008 and now Dan Stevenson decides to go public with it?

The whole thing seems fishy to me.

 

[HOU-TEX]

The whole thing seems fishy to me.

That's why I think many are over-reacting. It probably would be a non-issue if espn wouldn't have gotten ahold of it.

 

[b0ng]

I'm not worried about it. Losing a draft pick would suck, but these are the kinds of things that get forgotten after a little while.

And no, this won't stop me from rooting for the team, or even looking at them in a different light.

Fred Weary respect-o-meter status: Stratospheric

 

[Texans_Chick]

Why has this story just now come out?? It happened in May 2008 and now Dan Stevenson decides to go public with it?

Most people who have been done wrong by their employer would prefer to work it out with them. If that doesn't work, then they take the next step.

 

[Errant Hothy]

Most people who have been done wrong by their employer would prefer to work it out with them. If that doesn't work, then they take the next step.

But what hasn't worked out for Stevenson? He's still on the roster.

 

[TimeKiller]

Most people who have been done wrong by their employer would prefer to work it out with them. If that doesn't work, then they take the next step.

Yikes, who wants in on that conversation?

"I think I should be paid for what my career was going to amount to."

"You were."

 

[b0ng]

Yikes, who wants in on that conversation?

"I think I should be paid for what my career was going to amount to."

"You were."

*Alex Gibbs appears in the corner*

*Cut-blocks Dan Stevenson*

 

[Runner]

But what hasn't worked out for Stevenson? He's still on the roster.

There is a big difference between being on an NFL roster for a couple of years and earning real playing time. In the latter case, you have a chance to end up making millions in bonuses. Whether we believe he would have earned playing time or not, he didn't get a chance due to the team's actions.

=================================

Case 1:
Team holds drills prohibited by collective bargaining agreement and player gets injured for season.

Case 2: Player crashes motorcycle he shouldn't have been riding according to his contract and is out for season.

In case 2 fans blame the player. In case 1, it appears many think it is OK because those are the risks the player takes. I disagree and think the team does have responsibility.

==================================

This doesn't appear to be just sour grapes from the injured players - apparently the team's player rep told Kubiak it was against the agreement at the time. That tells me other players must have complained to him and asked him to take action.

 

[Texans_Chick]

There is a big difference between being on an NFL roster for a couple of years and earning real playing time. In the latter case, you have a chance to end up making millions in bonuses. Whether we believe he would have earned playing time or not, he didn't get a chance due to the team's actions.

=================================

Case 1:
Team holds drills prohibited by collective bargaining agreement and player gets injured for season.

Case 2: Player crashes motorcycle he shouldn't have been riding according to his contract and is out for season.

In case 2 fans blame the player. In case 1, it appears many think it is OK because those are the risks the player takes. I disagree and think the team does have responsibility.

==================================

This doesn't appear to be just sour grapes from the injured players - apparently the team's player rep told Kubiak it was against the agreement at the time. That tells me other players must have complained to him and asked him to take action.

There's a process in place to take care of that player who gets injured while playing. Something evidently broke down in that process. Sometimes there are disputes as to when someone got injured.

 

[Runner]

There's a process in place to take care of that player who gets injured while playing. Something evidently broke down in that process. Sometimes there are disputes as to when someone got injured.

Yes there is a process, and it is being followed right now, I'm sure. The issue I see here is if he was injured in a drill the team shouldn't have been running. I don't think this is that big a deal as far as a rules violation. I'm sure there are interpretations of non-contact, and I know many many teams violate this rule. That isn't my point.

I just get irritated by the way most teams - not just the Texans - treat these non-star players as interchangeable pieces of meat. If these guys were injured in drills they shouldn't have been in, then the team is at fault. It isn't a matter of these guys "manning up" or whatever. It is a matter of the team not following the agreement they negotiated and signed.

There will always be people defending the team because as fans they can't fit the team doing anything wrong into their world view. I am pretty darn sure the players don't see it that way, and issues like this should considered when fans discuss the players' loyalty (and lack thereof) to their teams.

 

[Tailgate]

Yes there is a process, and it is being followed right now, I'm sure. The issue I see here is if he was injured in a drill the team shouldn't have been running. I don't think this is that big a deal as far as a rules violation. I'm sure there are interpretations of non-contact, and I know many many teams violate this rule. That isn't my point.

I just get irritated by the way most teams - not just the Texans - treat these non-star players as interchangeable pieces of meat. If these guys were injured in drills they shouldn't have been in, then the team is at fault. It isn't a matter of these guys "manning up" or whatever. It is a matter of the team not following the agreement they negotiated and signed.

There will always be people defending the team because as fans they can't fit the team doing anything wrong into their world view. I am pretty darn sure the players don't see it that way, and issues like this should considered when fans discuss the players' loyalty (and lack thereof) to their teams.

What is it all about anyway? Winning.... thats it. Its obvious now pretty much every team does this same type of stuff. Why? I guess they feel it betters their team and keeps them in tune with everyone else as far as preparations go. We were just unfortunate to have these guys...our guys... really take it the next step with the recording,etc. And now already points in the media are taking this waaaay deeper than it really is. I am not going to buy into it one bit.

 

[Errant Hothy]

My biggest concern at this point is that the Commish is going to see that this behaviour is starting to run rampant in the NFL, and to get it to stop it's time to make an example out of one team, or in other words it's time to Pac-man a team. In turn we get hit with the max penalty and it costs us a 4th round draft pick.

We all know that Roger loves to bring the hammer down.

 

[Tailgate]

My biggest concern at this point is that the Commish is going to see that this behaviour is starting to run rampant in the NFL, and to get it to stop it's time to make an example out of one team, or in other words it's time to Pac-man a team. In turn we get hit with the max penalty and it costs us a 4th round draft pick.

We all know that Roger loves to bring the hammer down.

Absolutely a possibility. As well as the danger from the pressure the NFL may face due to a possible media snow ball. I think thats why the Texans are taking extra time on making sure they get their response in the best position possible.

 

[b0ng]

I just realized something that pisses me off about this. Kubiak gave that "journalist" Richard Justice something to spew about until the regular season begins.

 

[mexican_texan]

Why has this story just now come out?? It happened in May 2008 and now Dan Stevenson decides to go public with it?

Because he realizes the Texans won't bring him back. Chukky Okobi is the only guy I would expect to make the roster and guess what? He's the only one not complaining. I think it has more to do with these guys realizing they don't have a future in the NFL, especially after trying to sue an NFL team. They might as well get a paycheck before fading into obscurity.

Also, Mark Schlerith, who played under Coach Gibbs in Denver, says this is how he ran things and Shaun King said successful NFL teams do the same. He actually credited offseason contact drills for our improvement.

 

[barrett]

For what it's worth the story isn't listed anymore on their headlines section at espn.com. An hour ago when I first read this story it was about half way down.

However, the quarter-pounder with cheese ad is still going strong.

Go Texans.

 

[mussop]

whoop de doo!!!!!

 

[BigBull17]

My biggest concern at this point is that the Commish is going to see that this behaviour is starting to run rampant in the NFL, and to get it to stop it's time to make an example out of one team, or in other words it's time to Pac-man a team. In turn we get hit with the max penalty and it costs us a 4th round draft pick.

We all know that Roger loves to bring the hammer down.

Yeah, and we are just the Texans... They will find a way th take more.

 

[TEXANS84]

Yikes, who wants in on that conversation?

"I think I should be paid for what my career was going to amount to."

"You were."

But you could also reference players like Brisel and Bullman, players that rode the practice squad for years and eventually made it to either the starting lineup or regular rotation swing man.

 

[HoustonFrog]

My biggest concern at this point is that the Commish is going to see that this behaviour is starting to run rampant in the NFL, and to get it to stop it's time to make an example out of one team, or in other words it's time to Pac-man a team. In turn we get hit with the max penalty and it costs us a 4th round draft pick.

We all know that Roger loves to bring the hammer down.

And this is what I said earlier in this conversation when people were saying it wasn't a big deal and that everyone does it. It is a big deal when injuries have hurt your line in the past. It doesn't matter WHO got hurt as much as the repeated warnings and that others could have gotten hurt. Well the league might know that people do this but it is never out there for public consumption and they don't catch everyone. So Roger could easily set an example for those who are doing it.

 

[AcresHomesTexan]

And this is what I said earlier in this conversation when people were saying it wasn't a big deal and that everyone does it. It is a big deal when injuries have hurt your line in the past. It doesn't matter WHO got hurt as much as the repeated warnings and that others could have gotten hurt. Well the league might know that people do this but it is never out there for public consumption and they don't catch everyone. So Roger could easily set an example for those who are doing it.

Bunches frats haze, and everybody knows frats haze, but as long as no one really gets injured or the injured are taken care of properly, it is ignored. Once the issue gets into the public, the offending frat is going to get punished and maybe more severely than they should, even if they are not the worst offenders.

 

[TexansLucky13]

Much ado about nothing. ESPN ran out of news material a day after the Super Bowl, because no one gives a **** about the Steelers.

 

[TimeKiller]

I just get irritated by the way most teams - not just the Texans - treat these non-star players as interchangeable pieces of meat. If these guys were injured in drills they shouldn't have been in, then the team is at fault. It isn't a matter of these guys "manning up" or whatever. It is a matter of the team not following the agreement they negotiated and signed.

You act as if the players aren't willing participants in the practices. It's been stated that the coaches gave a guideline to go "half speed" during the work-out and the players are the ones who took it a step too far...and then another step....and another....then "oops, I'm hurt". What is Kubiak to do? Get in between them and wave a copy of the CBA in their face?

Dan Stevenson holds as much responsibility for his injury as the Texans do, however he seems to think the Texans should be the only ones held accountable. He's gone to great length to embarass the franchise, to get himself ahead on a technicality and let everyone else deal with the repercussions including the people who backed his original complaint but don't back this mess he's brought up now. I call that a snake-in-the-grass.

But you could also reference players like Brisel and Bullman, players that rode the practice squad for years and eventually made it to either the starting lineup or regular rotation swing man.

Oh, you mean guys like Brisel, who MANNED UP when mofo's broke his nose during practice?

Guys like Bulman who said, "Now or never, do or die" and DID.

Dan Stevenson chose "die" because he knew he didn't have half the toughness of Brisel or half the attitude and will of Bulman.

 

[Texans_Chick]

I just get irritated by the way most teams - not just the Texans - treat these non-star players as interchangeable pieces of meat. If these guys were injured in drills they shouldn't have been in, then the team is at fault. It isn't a matter of these guys "manning up" or whatever. It is a matter of the team not following the agreement they negotiated and signed.

There will always be people defending the team because as fans they can't fit the team doing anything wrong into their world view. I am pretty darn sure the players don't see it that way, and issues like this should considered when fans discuss the players' loyalty (and lack thereof) to their teams.

I think there are two issues. Illegal drills. And player injuries.

The team is supposed to pay for injuries that occur during practice whether or not a drill was illegal.

Stevenson clearly was wanting his injury taken care of. It wasn't.

So this is when the whole illegal drills stuff comes up.

If I were to completely speculate based on public information, it appears that something was screwed up in Stevenson's paperwork on his grievance. That whoever screwed up that something wanted to fix their goofup by leveraging the illegal drills information in a way to get the Texans to actually pay up.

I think it is wrong when teams or fans think of players as pieces of meat. I do think that especially in comparison to the past, Kubiak doesn't care where you are drafted--he wants the best players on the field. He has a history of giving no name players a chance.

 

[Dread-Head]

who snitched!?!?

 

[HoustonFrog]

Bunches frats haze, and everybody knows frats haze, but as long as no one really gets injured or the injured are taken care of properly, it is ignored. Once the issue gets into the public, the offending frat is going to get punished and maybe more severely than they should, even if they are not the worst offenders.

Exactly....its the whole..."if you aren't cheating, you aren't trying" mentality..until you get caught and then you are on your own. But they had their fair warning in this case..if I read it correctly.

 

[Errant Hothy]

I think there are two issues. Illegal drills. And player injuries.

The team is supposed to pay for injuries that occur during practice whether or not a drill was illegal.

Stevenson clearly was wanting his injury taken care of. It wasn't.

So this is when the whole illegal drills stuff comes up.

If I were to completely speculate based on public information, it appears that something was screwed up in Stevenson's paperwork on his grievance. That whoever screwed up that something wanted to fix their goofup by leveraging the illegal drills information in a way to get the Texans to actually pay up.

I think it is wrong when teams or fans think of players as pieces of meat. I do think that especially in comparison to the past, Kubiak doesn't care where you are drafted--he wants the best players on the field. He has a history of giving no name players a chance.

Maybe I'm missing something here, but if Stevenson's injury wasn't atken care of; what was he/the team doing while he was on IR for all of last season?

 

[Yankee_In_TX]

But you could also reference players like Brisel and Bullman, players that rode the practice squad for years and eventually made it to either the starting lineup or regular rotation swing man.

'Must spread rep'

Fair counter-argument.

 

[AcresHomesTexan]

Exactly....its the whole..."if you aren't cheating, you aren't trying" mentality..until you get caught and then you are on your own. But they had their fair warning in this case..if I read it correctly.

It seems that way and there is some question about how the Texans handled the injuries.

 

[Runner]

You act as if the players aren't willing participants in the practices.

Since the players - and from what I know of these situation not just the ones that got injured - had the union rep complain to Kubiak at the time, I'd say they were less than willing participants. Any player could refuse to participate, of course, but they'd likely be cut later on. The problem is the teams have a lot of unchecked power.

Football teams are companies and players are employees. The fact that it is a dangerous profession means the employer should take more care, not less. I don't think any of us would be happy if our companies put us in dangerous or "illegal" situations where we had to comply or lose our jobs. I don't see why football should be any different. The players really are people with lives and families and concerns just like us.

I'd be willing to bet that if this story was about the Titans rather than the "good guy" organization of the Texans it would be seen in a different light.

 

[b0ng]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but if Stevenson's injury wasn't atken care of; what was he/the team doing while he was on IR for all of last season?

This is what I don't get. Why is stevenson acting like he was done wrong when he wasn't cut after his injury? Did he sit on IR without being compensated? Did he not get his shoulder surgery paid for? Did his rehab cost him money? Is he that mad that he got hurt during a football drill because I don't see where the team just used him up and tossed him to the side. Out of the 3 players bringing this up, Stevenson stayed on IR, Black signed with the Jags, and Okkobi is the one I see as having a real beef because he was cut AND not signed by another team.

I think it's interesting that Weary doesn't want to support this guy. And he's a fellow player.

 

[Errant Hothy]

From everything I can gather surgery is not always needed to fix a torn labrum.

Which is leading me to think that Stevenson wants the surgery and the team is taking a more conservative approach, and this is causing the issue.

Update:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6249413.html

Weary refused to be interviewed by ESPN and said he didn’t know his affidavit was going to be part of a story on ESPN.

“I signed the affidavit to help Dan’s grievance,” Weary said. “I was contacted by ESPN, and I wouldn’t do an interview with them. Dan texted me that he’d already done an interview and that the team needed to get what they deserved. That wasn’t the kind of situation I wanted to put myself in.”

Stevenson underwent surgery on his right shoulder on June 11 in Los Angeles.

“I’m not healthy,” he said. “I’m still rehabbing my shoulder. I’d love to play again. This is something I’ve been doing since I was a kid."

Ciapciak said the Texans sent Stevenson, who spent last season on injured reserve, to Los Angeles to continue his rehabilitation.

“Two days ago, they bought him a one-way ticket to L.A. and didn’t give him a choice,” Ciapciak said.

To me this is sounding more and more like Stevenson is out for a pay day and nothing more. He doesn't care what effects this has on the team. Not that his motives excuse the team from any wrong doing.

 

[Honoring Earl 34]

In my opinion the Texans have fairly mild practices ... as far as hitting goes ... when I've attended training camp . I can't see the coaches wanting them to kill each other but as been mentioned someone wants a job and someone is out of the league .

Having played highschool football in the late 70's , these guys would be amazed at what we had to do . We were just on the good side of the Junction Boys . We played both ways in Aug/Sept and getting a drink was for sissies but salt tablets were ok . In the offseason , if the weather was bad , you paired up with someone your size , grabbed the community mouthpiece out of the igloo , put on boxing gloves and beat the hell out of each other for two minutes . Where was Richard Justice back then ?

 

[dalemurphy]

In my opinion the Texans have fairly mild practices ... as far as hitting goes ... when I've attended training camp . I can't see the coaches wanting them to kill each other but as been mentioned someone wants a job and someone is out of the league .

Having played highschool football in the late 70's , these guys would be amazed at what we had to do . We were just on the good side of the Junction Boys . We played both ways in Aug/Sept and getting a drink was for sissies but salt tablets were ok . In the offseason , if the weather was bad , you paired up with someone your size , grabbed the community mouthpiece out of the igloo , put on boxing gloves and beat the hell out of each other for two minutes . Where was Richard Justice back then ?

I understand Stevenson's grievance. He's a fringe player that has never gotten paid and is trying to work himself into the league. If he was injured in a minicamp and was not being financially taken care of, he should do what he needs to in order to be compensated. I get that. Selfishly, as a fan, I just don't want to lose a draft pick.