Rackers Beats Brown For Kicking Job

The last original Texan is done. Kris Brown, who had been with the team since the franchises' 2002 opening season lost out as the kicker to Neil Rackers (pictured above).

This was probably the right decision. Neither football jersey
stuck out during preseason, but if Brown would have been chosen and he missed a potential game-winning field goal early in the season, Houston fans would want his head.

Houston first to contact Leinart
Backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky's poor performance in the Texans' preseason finale left the coaching staff a little concerned. With the recent announcement of former Arizona quarterback Matt Leinart being released, Houston was the first to speak to the former Heisman Trophy winner.

If starting quarterback Matt Schaub were to Minnesota Vikings jersey
get injured, the team would be in big trouble with Orlovsky or possibly John David Booty as a replacement. Orlovsky is in the second year of a three-year $9 million contract, but has not proven to be worth since his arrival in Houston. Leinart would give the Texans a much needed boost just in case Schaub were to get injured.

Four-week vacation for Cushing
Due to his suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, linebacker Brian Cushing is not allowed to be anywhere near the team for the first four games of the season. Head coach Gary Kubiak is hoping Cushing won't be missed too much as the Indianapolis Colts jersey
Texas have to go up against strong offenses in Indianapolis, Washington, Dallas and to a lesser extent Oakland.