Keep Texans Talk Google Ad Free!
Venmo Tip Jar | Paypal Tip Jar
Thanks for your support! 🍺😎👍

Payne coming back to Houston

payne_colts111404.jpg
payne_closeup030305.jpg


Payne interview(real player)
Payne press conf (real player)

Payne knows drama
By Carter Toole
Houstontexans.com

In his heart of gridiron hearts, Seth Payne didn’t want to leave Houston.

He liked his teammates and coaches. He liked the city. And his wife, Brandi, is due to have the couple’s first child in May. A major move is not exactly what Payne was seeking at this point in his life. But Payne also understands that this is a business. That’s why he was on a flight to New York Wednesday morning in the first few hours of the free agency period. Payne also had scheduled visits to Cleveland and New Orleans. He was simply performing his due diligence.

Luckily for Payne and the Texans, he was back in Houston Wednesday night. And today he sat before the cameras as the proud owner of a new four-year contract. “I’m just really excited to still be a part of this organization,” Payne said. “It was a little dicey there for a minute. I was starting to worry about going to another team. Yesterday morning I thought the opportunity to come back was pretty much gone.”

Payne was sitting in a doctor’s office on Long Island yesterday, getting checked out before heading to his hotel on Long Island. Dinner with the Jets coaches would follow. New York had lost its nose tackle, Jason Ferguson, to the Cowboys and were eager to talk to Payne. But en route to the hotel his cell phone rang. Agent Ralph Cindrich told Payne to head home. Payne asked his driver, one of the Jets’ trainers, to turn around and head back to LaGuardia Airport. “I felt kind of bad for the guy,” Payne said.

That’s the way free agency works, especially on the first day, when players are scattered all over the country. But let’s just consider the flight to and from the Big Apple as a minor detour on the road back to Houston. “It’s been a great 24 hours,” Payne said. “I think they do things the right way here. I love the guys on the team. I love the way they conduct business. I think we have the potential to be one of those teams that’s a playoff contender every year.”

Count head coach Dom Capers among those excited, and relived, to have Payne returning. And not just for his performance on the field. “Seth means more to the team than just his play,” Capers said. “He is a leader, he has a great work ethic and he knows what it takes to win. He has fought through adversity and gained the respect of his team and the entire organization.”

The Rodeo rides outside the south entrance to Reliant Stadium have nothing on Payne’s rollicking journey the past two years. After enjoying a career season in 2002 with 147 tackles, Payne opened the 2003 season in dominant fashion. But his season ended after just five quarters as he suffered an ACL injury in his left knee at New Orleans. “I got my foot stuck and the knee gave out on me,” Payne said.

His season was over, but the drama was only beginning. Payne had surgery on Sept. 29, 2003, and the initial rehab was proceeding as normal. But his knee flared up a few months later. Doctors first thought it was a staph infection before discovering that Payne’s body was rejecting the cadaver tendon. On Jan. 12, 2004, Payne went under the knife again. This time, doctors took a patella tendon from his right knee and put it in his left ACL.

His rehab delayed, Payne nevertheless remained the hardest-working man at Reliant Stadium. He had been previously caught in the weight room on Christmas Day and sustained that work ethic after the second surgery. He finally hit the field in the Texans’ final preseason game against Tampa Bay.

Payne would be the first to admit it took him a few games to get his sea legs back last season. But soon enough, Payne became the high-motor 3-4 nose tackle they remembered. He started 12 of 16 games, collecting 84 tackles and two sacks, eventually earning the team’s Ed Block Courage Award. But it was that 16th game and 12th start that provided the latest bit of pain and subsequent drama. In Houston’s season finale against the Browns, Payne went down in the second quarter. The first thought for everybody in the stadium was obvious: It’s his knee again.

Actually, it was Payne’s hamstring and it was torn. Even if it wasn’t the left knee, it was still a huge setback for a player two quarters away from free agency. But Payne tackled his latest rehab with the same fervor as his previous rehabs.

Let’s be honest, Payne’s recent history was a factor on the free agent market, whether it was Houston, New York, Cleveland or New Orleans. But his determination and leadership were also factors, and the Texans had a window into those dynamics that the other teams did not. (Except perhaps the Browns, where former Texans defensive line coach Todd Grantham is now defensive coordinator.) It’s one thing to hear how hard a player works. It’s another thing to see it day in and day out with your own eyes.

Payne’s press conference today was at 11:30 a.m. We expected him to arrive and sign his contract maybe a half-hour before heading downstairs. Payne walked though the lobby before 9 a.m. We should have known better. Payne is as punctual as his head coach and now he’s back in the Texans fold. Both men couldn’t be happier.

Houstontexans.com
 
unfortunately, I'm still not sold on Payne being much of a presence in the middle this year. He's coming off some injuries and is on the wrong side of 30. But hopefully he'll prove me wrong and give us a great year.
 
I read on your home page that you guys resigned Seth Payne, but from what I have read on this board alot of you guys don't think to highly of Payne, so whats the deal, I would imagine that there would be more complaining about this signing then from what I have seen so if someone could tell me about their feelings on Payne and his new deal that would clear up alot of questions for me :confused:
 
Payne is half and half.

On one side, he is great when healthy, and already knows the system.

On the other side, he hasn't been healthy lately, and we passed up Pat Williams.

To me, I didn't mind..... Payne may not have been the best we could have gotten, but we could have done worse.
 
Payne is a dominant force on our line when he's healthy. He makes our defense better. However as gg no re mentioned he hasn't been healthy alot lately. If he remains healthy next season you should see a big jump in our defensive play.
 
what alternative was/is there to payne right now? the draft dosent have a lot to offer in the early rounds in the way of nose tackles and free agency didnt provide a lot of options either (maybe 2 players). we know when payne is healthy and not recovering he can be a good player. i dont think the contract was outrageous. it pretty much fits....and we had to have a nose tackle.
 
Supposedly, we were close to a deal with the top free agent NT Pat Williams....

I'm glad we didn't sign him.... his bonus at Minnesota is CRAZY.
 
i still like payne, and am kidan glad we re-signed him, i'm just glad it wasnt his knee again, he should rehab well from his previous injury. Lets be thankful it wasnt his knee again, a hamstring injury has a lot less afect on a player long term and short term than a knee injury does. He should become dominant once again next season !
 
the latest...

Texans | Payne Still Recovering - from www.KFFL.com
Tue, 22 Mar 2005 19:46:50 -0800

Katie Lewis, of HoustonTexans.com, reports Houston Texans DL Seth Payne (hamstring), who suffered a hamstring injury in the 2004 season finale, is still recovering from the injury and is expected to be limited in the team's offseason workouts. Payne may be ready to go at full speed by minicamps in June.
 
I really hope he regains his old form next year and stays healthy...

He's the key to our defense's success...
 
thats great for the 4th round but we could use more than 1 DL out of this years draft. We need D Lineman that can possibly push our 3 starters for playing time come opening day.
 
I'd be all for taking a DE and a NT, but I'm not too sure if we would do it after bringing back all of our FAs on the D-Line...
 
Just because we brought them back doesnt mean they will automatically make the roster. I think we did that as insurance if we dont get the DL we want.
 
outofhnd said:
Just because we brought them back doesnt mean they will automatically make the roster. I think we did that as insurance if we dont get the DL we want.

:hmmm: One can only hope...The D-Line didn't get the job done last year, and if they aren't doing their job, it's nearly impossible for the LBs to do their job...
 
Here is the full blurb on Payne from the original article on HoustonTexans.com

Also in attendance was nose tackle Seth Payne who courageously returned during the 2004 season after missing most of the 2003 campaign to undergo and recover from ACL surgery. Though he injured his hamstring in the Texans season finale against Cleveland, his prognosis for the spring looks very promising.

The players exercise quick body reflexes and coordination.
Always a grinder in the weight room and in rehab, Payne has once again worked hard during his time away from the field to return to his old form.

On March 3, Payne solidified his status for next season when he re-signed with the Texans. The Texans welcomed back a leader and anchor on defense while Payne was relieved to remain on Houston soil and in a system he strongly believes in.

Payne took it easy during the team’s workout but his presence alone reflected his support and commitment to his teammates.

“I spent half of the workout giving moral support,” Payne smiled. “It’s nice to get back out here and do some things with these guys.”

Though his participation status for May coaching sessions and June mini-camps still remains uncertain, Payne is fully confident that his contributions will not be an issue when it comes time to buckling the chinstrap for season play.

“We realize that we have six months before our first game so we’re being conservative and taking it easy right now.”

This is not the long-term kind of injury the knee injury he was coming off of last year was and part of the benefit of having character guys on the team is their dedication to doing everything they can to make it back. Personally, I want him in the weight and rehab programs until training camp. Payne knows everything he needs and just needs to be sure not to have a set back from overeffort.
 
infantrycak said:
Personally, I want him in the weight and rehab programs until training camp. Payne knows everything he needs and just needs to be sure not to have a set back from overeffort.

Totally agree. I think he is right on track with his projected recovery and I wouldn't mind him having a limited role in training camp. Just get healthy for the opener.
 
yeah payne needs to hold out for a while, and make sure he is healthy for the season opener ! He is a big part of our defense if we want them to be succesful !
 
Back
Top