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

Texans hire Bill O'Brien as HC

Copyright = original work of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression (i.e., literature, art, music). It's pretty straightforward and vests automatically, no lawyer required. There can be no copyright in "Johnny Football" because it is not an "original work of authorship."


Trademark= identifier of the source of goods (i.e., word, phrase, symbol, design). This is much more nuanced than copyright.

The story of the "Johnny Football" trademark is fairly interesting:

And his trying to control the "Johnny Football" trademark does not make him some greedy guy who puts fame over football; it's just the smart thing to do.

Oh, but I'm not saying he ISN'T an obnoxious fame-monger whose game won't translate to the NFL. Hope the Texans don't touch him with a 10-foot pole.

Thanks for the distinction. Many of the articles I've read to date have used the term "copyright" interchangeably......confused me.

BTW, from what I've read in the past few days, the Reynolds family still have a few options of appeal before their application is officially dead and Manziel can again pursue the trademark?
 
Thanks for the distinction. Many of the articles I've read to date have used the term "copyright" interchangeably......confused me.

BTW, from what I've read in the past few days, the Reynolds family still have a few options of appeal before their application is officially dead and Manziel can again pursue the trademark?

Yes, technically what the USPTO sent Reynolds was a Final Rejection notice which comes with a 6 month window for response, and an option to appeal to the USPTO's internal review board. Frankly I'm not sure how long Reynolds can/will fraudulently delay JF's rightful ownership: I don't know whether JF's application can now be resumed or whether he must wait until Reynolds exhausts all possible appeals.

I don't know if Reynolds ignorantly thought "if I register first, I will own it and get rich!" or sinisterly tried to delay JF's application enough that he'd pay them off to throw in the towel. Either way, I think Reynolds' attorney should be sanctioned for committing fraud on the USPTO when he submitted an affidavit saying that "JF does not refer to a living person."

In the end, as you'd logically expect, JF will eventually own the mark. When a mark refers to a specific living person (like Shaq, Beyonce, etc.; NOT like "Jimmy Dean" of Des Moines), nobody can own the mark without that person's approval. I'd guess that the volumes of JF news/TV clippings will suffice in proving that JF is the one and only JF (it is, after all, what the USPTO referenced in refusing Reynolds' mark).
 
Jayson Braddock ‏@JaysonBraddock 21h

O'Brien obviously called Arian Foster a three down back, but brought up LeGarrette Blount as the first & second down back he was describing.

Jayson Braddock ‏@JaysonBraddock 21h

When talking about his type of RBs, Bill O'Brien said he likes to have a 3 down back, 1st & 2nd down back, & a 3rd down back. Three types.
...
 
82902362.jpg

Bill O'Brien answers questions at 3/31 Town Hall meeting

tweets read bottom(oldest)-to-top

Deepi Sidhu ‏@DeepSlant/Houston Texans ‏@HoustonTexans
"It's a great city that's passionate about football. It's been a great place for my family, & we are really excited to be here." -O'Brien

You've got to play an exciting brand of football. We're gonna play as a team, have fun doing it & for the fans, play aggressively. -O'Brien

O'Brien asked about quality of draft picks. Mentions the last NE team he was on (2011) had highest # of undrafted FAs that year.

"J.J. Watt, in my opinion, is the best defensive player in the National Football League." -O'Brien #Texans

O'Brien talks about being fiscally responsible after ? on lack of FA action: We're very aware of what's available, that we have 11 picks.

O'Brien commends team for having mentally tough players. "Our practices won't be easy." #Texans

O'Brien: I knew from a very early age that I wanted to be a coach. #Texans

"We have a very aggressive mindset," OB when asked how conservative he'll be in play-calling. #Texans

O'Brien likes accuracy over a cannon of an arm for starting QB in NFL. Wants him to be hardest working guy on team. #Texans

O'Brien on ideal characteristic in QB: "There's not one. He has to be a leader, high character, hard worker, smart, decent arm, & accuracy."

O'Brien says if Clowney is drafted he'll be used in more than one position. #Texans.

O'Brien: This is a team that isn't too far from winning. #Texans

O'Brien says his system will allow QB to make decision at line of scrimmage. Will use "formation indicators" to help him make that decision.

O'Brien on expectations: "To go out there every single Sunday, Monday or Thursday and expect to win." #Texans

"We want to be a big, physical, situationally smart team. We've got to be a disciplined team." -O'Brien #Texans

O'Brien (on DBs): Clemons and Lewis would compete for FS. Swearinger will be the strong safety. #Texans

O'Brien (on Manning's release): Danieal is testing the market right now. May not be the last time you see him in a #Texans uniform.

O'Brien says he brought Fitzpatrick in to compete with Keenum and Yates, and will "draft a QB, maybe two." #Texans

O'Brien (on parting ways with Schaub): Both parties came to the conclusion that it was time for a fresh start. #Texans

"We really want to build the team through the draft. We believe in developing young players." -O'Brien pic.twitter.com/8zcFmLcIcZ

O'Brien: We've signed some guys but what we're really trying to do is build the team through the draft. #Texans

No media at this event. "Why don't I just announce the first pick while I'm here then?" O'Brien jokes to room of cheers.
Drew Dougherty ‏@DoughertyDrew
"Best player in the National Football League."- O'Brien on J.J. Watt. #Texans

"I really think he's going to enjoy playing in this offense."- O'Brien on Andre Johnson. #Texans

Cheeseburgers, pizza & "whatever my 9-yr old son wants."- O'Brien on what he eats after a game. #Texans

O'Brien: slot WR is important in our offense. We don't really have one right now. #Texans

O'Brien: J.J. Watt will be moved around a lot in Romeo Crennel's 3-4. But #Texans will be in nickel 70% of time.

"We haven't coached any games yet, so everybody's a big fan."- #Texans HC Bill O'Brien at town hall. pic.twitter.com/JPGAwRm6ad

“If we decide to draft this guy, we’re not just going to play him at one position,” O’Brien said. “We may start him off at one position but use him in a lot of different ways. He’s a unique talent but again, that’s if we draft him.”
http://www.houstontexans.com/news/a...e-talent/1f4b76e8-71f9-4e75-8507-c11f6210008c
 
I am so excited about Obrien as a coach.

I share a lot of his thoughts and I think he's more in the mold of what I like as a coach.

O'Brien: slot WR is important in our offense. We don't really have one right now. #Texans

Keyshawn Martin has not been that guy. He is afraid of contact. You cannot be afraid of getting dirty playing in the slot. He's not aggressive enough. He's not strong enough.

He's really more suited as 5th or 6th WR.

Based on those comments I guess there's a good chance we could see a slot type WR taken in the draft.

Just checked and there are some decent WR's out there on the FA market.
 
I am so excited about Obrien as a coach.

I share a lot of his thoughts and I think he's more in the mold of what I like as a coach.



Keyshawn Martin has not been that guy. He is afraid of contact. You cannot be afraid of getting dirty playing in the slot. He's not aggressive enough. He's not strong enough.

He's really more suited as 5th or 6th WR.

Based on those comments I guess there's a good chance we could see a slot type WR taken in the draft.

Just checked and there are some decent WR's out there on the FA market.


This draft is deep, deep, DEEP in WRs. The question is whether OB is as mistrustful of rookies as Kubiak was.

I don't think he is.

Personally, I am not really enamored of the left-overs in the FA market at WR.

Because of the depth of the WR class, there might be some really good ones that don't even get drafted. I think it was interesting that OB mentioned how many UDFAs were on the Patriots squad when he was there.
 
This draft is deep, deep, DEEP in WRs. The question is whether OB is as mistrustful of rookies as Kubiak was.

I don't think he is.

I don't think Kubiak was mistrustful of rookie WRs. Martin got lots of looks early but tries to use butter as stickum. Hopkins was getting tons of looks for a rookie even with the QB position imploding.

But yes, no need to go into the remaining FAs instead of the draft to get a slot WR.
 
I like what I hear from O'Brien. It's easy to get excited about the guy even though we have not seem him coach a game for the Texans.
 
I don't think Kubiak was mistrustful of rookie WRs. Martin got lots of looks early but tries to use butter as stickum. Hopkins was getting tons of looks for a rookie even with the QB position imploding.

But yes, no need to go into the remaining FAs instead of the draft to get a slot WR.

Martin was one of the few guys other than a first rounder to get that sort of trust from Kubes. He generally worked his rookies in slowly and built up trust. He did that with Martin but at an accelerated rate and then Martin totally and completely let him down.
 
I hope he changes our flavor from vanilla to Rocky Road with big nuts!

"We have a very aggressive mindset," OB when asked how conservative he'll be in play-calling. #Texans

Losing will never be accepted in Houston. If we lose a game we're going to figure out why and fix it. You don't want to get into a situation where you lose a game and then lose another. You address the problem. -- paraphrased from Town Hall.

:logo:
 
Last edited:
Martin was one of the few guys other than a first rounder to get that sort of trust from Kubes. He generally worked his rookies in slowly and built up trust. He did that with Martin but at an accelerated rate and then Martin totally and completely let him down.

Or you could say he is slow with other positions. Jacoby got his fair share of targets as a rookie but like Martin wasn't making the catches. I just don't think there is a track record on WRs but hey Kubiak's gone anyway.
 
Martin was one of the few guys other than a first rounder to get that sort of trust from Kubes. He generally worked his rookies in slowly and built up trust. He did that with Martin but at an accelerated rate and then Martin totally and completely let him down.

Demeco played every snap from game 1. Connor & Reed played a lot for 2nd rounders as well.

Eric Winston started 7 games as a rookie. Owen Daniels started 12

Wali Lundy was our starting running back week 1 of 2006.

Steve Slaton started 15 games as a rookie.

Glover Quin started 12 games & Brice McCain played an awful lot as a rookie


But other than that, I think you're right.
 
Certainly a different practice philosophy than the prior HC's...

Jayson Braddock ‏@JaysonBraddock
Interesting to see if players "buy-in" w/ new staff. Hearing that the team is bracing to be pushed hard, but everybody is buying in. #Texans

Clarifications on "college" atmosphere during #Texans offseason work: Tons of cardio. Again, O'Brien wasn't impressed with practice habits.

Reportedly, O'Brien wasn't too fond of the way the #Texans practiced in 2013. Hearing this year's early cardio has been like "college".

I'm hearing that Bill O'Brien is looking for his team to become a "family". Respect seems to be his chief principle. #Texans
 
Jayson Braddock ‏@JaysonBraddock

Quote:
Interesting to see if players "buy-in" w/ new staff. Hearing that the team is bracing to be pushed hard, but everybody is buying in. #Texans

Clarifications on "college" atmosphere during #Texans offseason work: Tons of cardio. Again, O'Brien wasn't impressed with practice habits.

Reportedly, O'Brien wasn't too fond of the way the #Texans practiced in 2013. Hearing this year's early cardio has been like "college".

I'm hearing that Bill O'Brien is looking for his team to become a "family". Respect seems to be his chief principle. #Texans
That runs anathema to BOB running things like Belichik. That dude is the ultimate "all business" coach, except for Brady and maybe...well, Brady...

I'd rather see the business model than the family model again. 8 years of the family model kinda soured me on it.

On second thought, I'll take the winning model and I don't care how BOB does it, just as long as he does it!
:fans:
 
Tania Ganguli ‏@taniaganguli
Watt on Bill O'Brien's new regime. "You better come in willing to work and willing to learn. ... Every day you come to work." #Texans

James Palmer ‏@JPalmerCSN
Watt said playing for O'Brien is all about work. Said he respects the hell out of him because of his work ethic & what he expects. #Texans
 
Tania Ganguli ‏@taniaganguli

Quote:
Watt on Bill O'Brien's new regime. "You better come in willing to work and willing to learn. ... Every day you come to work." #Texans

James Palmer ‏@JPalmerCSN

Quote:
Watt said playing for O'Brien is all about work. Said he respects the hell out of him because of his work ethic & what he expects. #Texans

I sure like the sound of that. That's what this team has needed for a while I guess.
 
I sure like the sound of that. That's what this team has needed for a while I guess.


I'm sure Kubiak had a strong work ethic. I'm guessing the difference now is that the players pretty much know they will lose their jobs if they're not up to speed. Under Kubaik, as has been discussed ad nauseum, no one was accountable for anything.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I'm sure Kubiak had a strong work ethic. I'm guessing the difference now is that the players pretty much know they will lose their jobs if they're not up to speed. Under Kubaik, as has been discussed ad nauseum, no one was accountable for anything.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

All we can do is sit back and watch but if the bolded is true, which I think it will be, is a great change of direction. O'brien made his mark right off the bat by taking all the "ME" decorations down. TEAM is his focus and I applaud him for that.

I can't wait for kick-off! :texflag:
 
I fully expect OB to be stern and maintain high standards for his roster.........while still being fair, and not heartless in his final actions........

cartoon329.JPG
 
I've come to believe, after reading a ton of posts on the guy, that I now haven't the slightest idea of what to think of him. He'll either impress me in the preseason or I'll posting $hit on him all year. :lol:
 
I've come to believe, after reading a ton of posts on the guy, that I now haven't the slightest idea of what to think of him. He'll either impress me in the preseason or I'll posting $hit on him all year. :lol:
He's going to get a lot of leeway from me in his 1st year as HC. Next year, I will be much harder on him and expect to see a more polished product on the field. And I have no idea what to think of him, either. All in all, I'm ok with that as long as he's his own man ( as many, in the know, have stated he will be) and not try to be a Belichik clone.
 
Love the way OB talks about these draft picks, including Clowney. Rookies need to come in and shut up and learn... and they all have a lot to learn to play in this league. The rookies, they have a long way to go. Not pumping any smoke up our skirts.

The most competitive teams have the most competitive rosters -- we're going to create competition at every position.
 
Yeah, that was a good interview. Liking what's happened since his hiring. Still it's all talk at this point let's see the product on the field!
 
Love the way OB talks about these draft picks, including Clowney. Rookies need to come in and shut up and learn... and they all have a lot to learn to play in this league. Rookies, they

That thing about competition is big.

You don't just pencil guys in as starters year after year. They need to prove it every snap, every practice, every game, every month, every year.

It sounds good, but hopefully BOB won't develop favorites like Kubiak did.
 
That thing about competition is big.

You don't just pencil guys in as starters year after year. They need to prove it every snap, every practice, every game, every month, every year.

It sounds good, but hopefully BOB won't develop favorites like Kubiak did.

No, the above sounds good to fans. There isn't a single team in the league that has the competition you describe.
 
Back
Top