Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien says life is always busy in the NFL. Well, the week his football team just went through is a perfect example of it.
"We're just trying to put together as competitive of a football team as we can," O'Brien said Sunday.
The first steps in doing just that were taken when the team elected to re-sign corner back Kareem Jackson and offensive lineman Derek Newton over the weekend.
Jackson received a 4-year, $34 million deal while Newton signed a 5-year, $26.5 million contract.
"What we try to do is do the best we can to keep our core players together," O'Brien said. "Kareem and Derek are two guys that are core players."
Along with being those "core players", O'Brien says the two exemplify what the organization is looking for when they evaluate future additions to their locker room.
"I think it's a great example of hard work and perseverance," O'Brien said. "Guys that come into this organization and are good citizens, and play hard and do everything they're asked of, they're going to get rewarded and that's what happened to Kareem and Derek."
That "core player" distinction is an interesting one. Many would argue wide receiver Andre Johnson and center Chris Myers fit that same description. There is, however, one noticeable difference.
Youth.
O'Brien had nothing but great things to say about the two veterans the team is parting ways with, especially when it comes to Johnson. Despite the assertions the wide receiver has made publicly about being asked to take a "reduced role" in the upcoming 2015 season, O'Brien appreciates what #80 brought to the team.
"I've said this over and over again, Andre Johnson will go down as one of the best receivers to ever play this game," O'Brien said. "I have a ton of respect for Andre. Andre did everything we asked him to do and then some, just a great player. He'll always be a Houston Texan."
The Texans continue to be linked to several free agents, but quarterback continues to be the one position everyone is looking at.
O'Brien didn't comment directly about their pursuit of a signal caller only to hint that the team is always open to multiple options.
"It's a fluid situation. Every decision we make is trying to point towards winning," O'Brien said. "Every hour it changes, who's out there, who's available. Everything we do we try to think about the most competitive roster we can have."
The Texans head coach was a guest at an event benefiting the Special Olympics, an organization which the O'Brien family has strong ties to dating back to his days at Penn State.
"It hits close to home for us," O'Brien said. "Our son Jack was born with a disability. Any time you can put a smile on these kids faces, it means a lot to these kids."
