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HOT TOPIC
Texans quarterback David Carr bought two motorcycles after he became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 draft. He used to ride in college, and wanted to bring a couple of new bikes to Houston.
The motorcycles made it to town, but Carr has yet to ride them.
"My dad took them away, and said I can ride them when I turn 38," Carr said. "I see him ride them once in awhile."
Soon after Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was hospitalized because of serious injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, the Texans talked about their reactions.
The entire issue is still fresh for the Texans since it was just a few months ago that Pro Bowl kick returner Jerome Mathis sustained minor injuries in a motorcycle accident which caused him to miss some offseason work.
Mathis, now on crutches because of an unrelated foot injury, was the only person to deny interview requests on the subject by repeatedly saying, "I have no comment."
Mathis' accident wasn't as serious and didn't receive the attention of Roethlisberger's, but it did cause the Texans to implement a "No Motorcycle" policy.
"I told them the other day, you only have so many years as an athlete," coach Gary Kubiak said. "You're not going to have this talent for long, so you better take advantage of it. If you do something like that, you're playing with danger.
"Now we say, 'No more motorcycles.' But you can't follow those guys home. They have to be smart. They have to be grown up about what they're doing."
PLAYER NOTES
-- After hearing about Ben Roethlisberger's accident, Texans guard Steve McKinney talked about why he decided to quit riding motorcycles awhile back.
"I had one for a year, but I didn't ride it much," McKinney said. "I enjoyed riding around the neighborhood, but I'd get on the freeway and I'd be like, 'I'm only on two tires. If one of these tires blows out my family is collecting my insurance policy. I don't think I like that.'
"I also didn't have a helmet at the time. My wife was killing me about getting a helmet. Finally, I just said, 'It's not worth it. Helmet or no helmet, something bad is going to happen if I fall off this motorcycle.'"
-- Gary Kubiak said it's not always easy to implement team rules, especially ones that apply to off-the-field issues. It's a matter of simple repetition, and hoping that it sinks in with the entire spectrum of players in the locker room.
"One of the tough things in this business is you're dealing with both ends of the spectrum," Kubiak said. "You have some players that are 30, 31, 32-years-old who are very mature men with families. And they live their life one way and have a different way they go about their business. Then you have a 21-year-old man who walks in and hasn't really grown up yet.
"You're dealing with two types of guys, but you constantly have to preach (the rules). You may think you're saying them too much, but you're never saying them enough."
-- The Texans still have their eyes on New Orleans running back Michael Bennett, who the Saints are interested in trading. New Orleans is in no hurry, though. Reggie Bush missed some of the offseason with injuries and Deuce McAllister is still rebounding from last season's injury, leaving Bennett to take the majority of repetitions in practice with the first team.
"We've talked to them over and over again," Kubiak said. "At this point, they aren't just going to let their starting running back go."
-- Coach Gary Kubiak cut his final mini-camp short and never held practice longer than two hours, but he said he still had plenty of time to get a solid pulse on the personality of his new team.
"Two months ago when we stepped out here, we really didn't know too much about any player other then just talking to them in the office," Kubiak said. "I've learned a lot about their work habits. I feel good about them. I feel good about the way they go about their business. This team still needs to develop leaders and that needs to happen on this field. I think it's starting to happen and I think it's going to have to continue to happen over the summer time."
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--RB Jonathan Wells (not tendered June 1).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS
--LS Bryan Pittman is one of the Texans' most consistent performers.
DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED
--DE Mario Williams (1st): $54M/6 yrs, $26M guaranteed.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--RB Jason Anderson: ERFA; terms unknown.
--WR Derick Armstrong: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--LB Troy Evans: UFA; terms unknown.
--S Jammal Lord: ERFA; terms unknown.
--DE Alfred Malone: ERFA; terms unknown.
--CB Chris McKenzie: ERFA; terms unknown.
--WR Donovan Morgan: ERFA; terms unknown.
--LB Shantee Orr: ERFA; terms unknown.
--LB Antwan Peek: RFA; $1.573M/1 yr.
--LB Kenneth Pettway; ERFA; terms unknown.
--LB DaShon Polk: UFA; terms unknown.
--S Ramon Walker: UFA; terms unknown.
--G/T Seth Wand: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--OG Fred Weary: Potential UFA; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--FB Jameel Cook: UFA Buccaneers; $5M/5 yrs, SB unknown.
--LB Sam Cowart: UFA Vikings; $1.5M/1 yr, $710,000 SB.
--C Mike Flanagan: UFA Packers; $8.85M/3 yrs, $3M SB; 2006 cap: $1.75M.
--LB Barrett Green: FA Giants; terms unknown.
--DE N.D. Kalu: UFA Eagles; $750,000/1 yr.
--OG David Loverne: FA Lions; terms unknown.
--FB Nick Luchey: Not tendered as UFA by Bengals; terms unknown.
--WR Eric Moulds: Trade Bills.
--TE Jeb Putzier: FA Broncos; $7.5M/4 yrs, $1.85M SB.
--LB Wali Rainer: UFA Lions; terms unknown.
--QB Sage Rosenfels: UFA Dolphins; $6.4M/4 yrs, $2M SB.
--OT Ephraim Salaam: UFA Jaguars; terms unknown.
--RB Antowain Smith: UFA Saints; terms unknown.
--S Michael Stone: UFA Patriots; terms unknown.
--WR Kevin Walter: RFA Bengals; Bengals did not match offer of $6.4M/4 yrs and will receive 7th-round pick in 2006 draft as compensation.
--DE Tony Weaver: UFA Ravens; $26.5M/5 yrs, $12M SB.
PLAYERS LOST
--QB Tony Banks (released).
--CB Jason Bell: UFA Giants; terms unknown.
--WR Corey Bradford: UFA Lions; $7.4M/4 yrs, $2M SB.
--OG Milford Brown: UFA Cardinals; $12M/4 yrs, $3M SB.
--LB Frank Chamberlin (released).
--S Marcus Coleman (released).
--NT Jerry DeLoach (released).
--WR Jabar Gaffney: UFA Eagles; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--RB Tony Hollings (released).
--DE Junior Ioane (released).
--TE Matt Murphy (released).
--FB Moran Norris (released).
--QB Dave Ragone (released).
--TE Marcellus Rivers: UFA Raiders; terms unknown.
--DE Gary Walker (released; post-June 1 designation).
--C Tyson Walter: UFA Redskins; $465,000/1 yr.
--C Todd Washington (released).
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