Tag: Arian Foster

Longtime Gary Kubiak assistant emerges in Saints OL coach search

A longtime Gary Kubiak assistant has emerged as the frontrunner in the Saints’ search for a new offensive line coach. John Benton could be the right man for the job:

Klint Kubiak’s New Orleans Saints coaching staff is beginning to take shape. Kubiak can’t be formerly introduced as the team’s offensive coordinator until after his San Francisco 49ers compete in Super Bowl LVIII this Sunday, but the Saints are already on the search for key position coaches who know his system.

One name to watch: John Benton, who the Times-Picayune | Advocate’s Luke Johnson reports is a frontrunner to coach the offensive line under Kubiak, replacing the recently-dismissed Doug Marrone. Benton, 60, has a wealth of NFL experience — he came up as Gary Kubiak’s offensive line coach with the Houston Texans from 2006 to 2013, playing a big role in establishing one of the league’s best rushing offenses. Arian Foster, an undrafted rookie, twice led the league in touchdown runs and earned four Pro Bowl nods running behind Benton’s offensive line.

He also played for the Saints as a replacement during the 1987 strike. A graduate out of Colorado State (Klint Kubiak’s alma mater), he’s spent time with the St. Louis Rams early in his career (way back in 2003) and more recently on staff with the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars. Notably, he was one of the first assistants that Kyle Shanahan hired with the San Francisco 49ers (having worked together in Houston) back in 2017. He helped install one of the league’s best rushing attacks before leaving for a promotion on Robert Saleh’s New York Jets staff in 2021, being named the run game coordinator. But he was let go after the 2022 season and wasn’t in the NFL in 2023.

He could be a good get. Balancing out a younger offensive coordinator (Kubiak turns 37 in February) with a position coach who has seen it all through a decades-long career and developed so many young players might be the best path forward. Coaching up embattled left tackle Trevor Penning is just one of the responsibilities that come with the job, but it’s a critical task, and Benton just might be the right guy to see it through. The Saints use many of the same zone-blocking concepts that Benton, Shanahan, and the Kubiaks pioneered, just not as effectively. Maybe he can clean up the mistakes and get them on track.

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Arian Foster must be next in Houston Texans Ring of Honor

If the Houston Texans seek a fourth inductee into the Ring of Honor, former RB Arian Foster must be considered | from @johnhcrumpler

What qualifies someone as a franchise great?

The Houston Texans established their ring of honor during the 2017 campaign. The first member was wide receiver Andre Jonhson, the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Two years later, the franchise inducted the late Bob McNair for his successful efforts in bringing the NFL back to Houston.

Since then, Houston opted to make no additions to their most elite circle. It wasn’t until J.J. Watt, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and five-time All-Pro, retired that the team finally announced their third Red Jacket distribution, which will be a family affair in Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Watt is largely considered the greatest player in franchise history and one of the greatest defenders of the last decade, if not of all time. However, his inclusion into the Ring of Honor has raised a fair question amongst Houston fans. Are there any other players from the team’s 20-year history that deserve inclusion?

Many names have been thrown out. Cornerback Johnathan Joseph is considered the best free agent signing in team history and leads the franchise in interceptions and was fourth in tackles. Matt Schaub remains the team’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. However, one name stands out far more than his peers.

Running back Arian Foster.

Foster played from 2009-15 with Houston as an undrafted free agent and was as dominant. His 6,472 rushing yards are more than double the next closest player, as are his 54 rushing touchdowns. Even coming out of the backfield, his 249 receptions are currently fifth in franchise history. 

Foster was Houston’s offensive engine with an amazing blend of vision, contact balance, and explosiveness to affect both the running and passing games. Simply put, Foster did everything about as well as anyone.

Outside of the young history of the franchise, his career reflects that dominant player. Foster had 4 different 1,200-plus yard seasons and led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in both 2010 and 2012. His emergence, and three-time All-Pro selections during this period, corresponded with Houston’s emergence into relevance after a dreadful expansion era, finally qualifying for the playoffs in the 2011 season.

These numbers are comparable to the best players of his era at his position. The 2010’s All-Decade team at running back included Adrian Peterson, Frank Gore, LeSean McCoy and Marshawn Lynch. Of that group, Foster’s four Pro Bowl appearances are just one less than Lynch and Gore. His two-time All-Pro selections were equivalent to Lynch and McCoy and actually one more than Gore.

It was a shorter career for Foster, with only six starts after the 2014 season, but his peak was as dominant as almost anyone in his era.

There’s a fair argument to be made that running back is largely the one position where longevity cannot be too heavily accounted for. The shelf life of the position is short and that reality has never been more exposed than in today’s NFL where statistically savvy general managers are now largely refusing to dole out second contracts to the position.

Foster’s dominance during the most productive time in franchise history creates a fierce argument for his eventual inclusion in the ring of honor. It would take a borderline Hall of Fame career from Dameon Pierce or any future Houston back to supplant No. 23 as the best in franchise history.

Foster’s off-the-field presence, from imitating dinosaurs while at the Tennessee to his comments that the NFL is “scripted” this past year, makes him the most unique personality that’s come through the franchise in their short history.

What his current relationship with the franchise looks like remains unknown. Foster made it clear in 2018 he was disappointed in comments made by McNair and ultimately declined to attend Johnson’s induction.

Who knows if the interest would be mutual if Houston did decide to pursue an induction?

What is crystal clear, despite all of that, is Foster’s success on the football field easily places him among the franchise’s best players ever. Maybe one day Houston will circle back to the star running back of the Gary Kubiak era.

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Chad Johnson praises Ja’Marr Chase with big comparisons

Chad Johnson makes some big comparisons while praising Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase.

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Former Cincinnati Bengal star wide receiver Chad Johnson gave some high praise to current phenom Ja’Marr Chase on Twitter.

“Steve Smith Sr., Arian Foster & Chase are the only ones who can transition (pick up speed) in a relaxed state effortlessly, it’s like they’re gliding as opposed to running damn near.” Johnson said.

Getting compared to Smith Sr., who ended his career catching almost 15,000 yards and 91 touchdowns is getting a lot of respect from Johnson.

Foster is another guy Chase should be honored to be compared to when it comes to his speed. Foster finished his career with almost 9,000 total yards and 68 touchdowns with four seasons rushing for over 1,000 yards.

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NFL scripted conspiracy theory is relatively popular among Seahawks fans

Conspiracy theories have become even more popular than professional football with some folks.

Conspiracy theories have become even more popular than professional football with some folks.

Near the end of the 2022-23 season, the idea that the NFL is scripted was born out of an elaborate joke that former Texans running back Arian Foster told on a podcast. He claimed the league literally sends players scripts for what’s going to happen before the season begins. Though hilariously and obviously untrue the idea took off, especially with the… imaginative crowd on social media that thinks Bills safety Damar Hamlin died from taking the COVID-19 vaccine and has been replaced by a clone.

Don’t laugh too hard – because the rigged NFL storyline is a relatively popular idea with Seahawks fans. The data comes from BetOnline.AG, which shows they have the fifth-highest percentage of tweets about it.

via BetOnline.AG

There’s a lot to unpack here, from the comical entitlement of Cowboys fans, to the fact that the Rams literally won the Super Bowl the previous year. Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that Jets fans have suffered enough to know that a loss is a loss.

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Former Dolphins RB Arian Foster explains abrupt retirement in 2016

He knew it was time to stop.

2016 feels like a lifetime ago.

For the Miami Dolphins, Adam Gase was the head coach and Ryan Tannehill was the starting quarterback. Nobody knew it would be the last time the team made the postseason during the decade.

Prior to the season, Miami signed former Houston Texans running back Arian Foster to a one-year deal to join a group of backs that included Jay Ajayi, Kenyan Drake and Damien Williams.

Foster had played in only four games the season prior before rupturing his Achilles tendon in a game coincidentally against the Dolphins. The injury was a tough blow to the Texans’ all-time leading rusher.

In 2016, he played in just four games for Miami before announcing his retirement following a Week 7 victory over the Buffalo Bills.

Foster talked about the abrupt decision during a recent appearance on the “I Am Athlete Tonight” podcast on SiriusXM Radio (transcribed by Sports Illustrated).

“When I was a kid, I asked my dad, ‘How did you know when you didn’t want to play anymore, you wanted to walk away,’ ” Foster said. “And he told me one time and I’ll never forget. He said, ‘You’ll know.’ And we were playing, I believe the Browns or the Steelers, and I was battling some small nicks and injuries and stuff, and I was standing on the sidelines.

“It was right before we went into halftime, and it’s just a vivid thought that at the time I was reading this book by Brian Greene, who’s a physicist. And I was really into the book. And I remember thinking, I was looking up at the stands and I thought vividly, I was like, I do not give a [expletive] who wins this game, like, I don’t care at all. I want to go home and I want to read my book. I want to finish reading my book. I would rather do that right now. That’s the thought that ran through my mind. Once that thought crossed my mind. I was like, it’s time to leave.”

In his four appearances in 2016, Foster rushed for just 55 yards on 2.5 yards per attempt and brought in six receptions for 78 yards. This was a far cry from the 4.5 yards per carry that he averaged in his seven seasons with the Texans.

“So we finished the game, the next day, I went to Coach (Adam) Gase’s office, and I told him exactly how I felt,” Foster said. “I said, ‘Listen, I don’t want to waste your time and I don’t want you to waste my time. I don’t play a position where it’s like you can haphazardly kind of just, you know, fake the funk. Like I could get hurt or somebody else could get hurt, right? He’s like, ‘Take a couple of days. I appreciate you talking to me about it. Take a couple days and you come back, if you still feel like that, we’ll rock with you. I did. I took a couple days. I got on one of those boats on a little river thing. I enjoyed my two days and I came back, I was like, that was the worst thing I could have done. I’m definitely done.”

Since retiring, Foster had done a little bit of everything. He hosted his own podcast called “Now What?” for a while before co-hosting “Macrodosing” with PFT Commenter of Barstool Sports. He’s worked his way into the music industry, and he’s even appeared on an episode of MTV’s “The Challenge.”

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7 Texans who should have played their entire careers in Houston

The Houston Texans have let their fair share of legends and fan favorites leave. Here are seven who should have finished up as Texans.

The Houston Texans have had some legends and fan favorites since the franchise’s 2002 inception. However, some of the biggest names in team history have rarely played their entire NFL careers in Houston.

In no particular order, here are seven players who should have spent their entire NFL careers with the Texans.

Arian Foster says Texans should bend to the will of QB Deshaun Watson

Former Houston Texans running back Arian Foster says the franchise should bend to the will of quarterback Deshaun Watson to keep him around.

Arian Foster believes the Houston Texans should do whatever it takes to keep Deshaun Watson happy, even if it means giving him increase organizational input.

Foster joined Sports Radio 610’s Edward Gilliard on the “Gems & Juice Podcast” to talk about the tension between the Texans and their three-time Pro Bowl quarterback.

“If I’m the organization, I bend to his will,” Foster said. “There’s no way you don’t. He’s a generational quarterback. You never had a quarterback like him. You’re not going to have a quarterback like him in the next who knows how many decades. You bend to his will. What do you need to keep you here? What would keep you here? What do you want? What do you need?”

The former All-Pro running back, who spent 2009-15 with the Texans, wasn’t throwing unprecedented ideas around. According to Foster, the Indianapolis Colts allowed quarterback Peyton Manning to have similar type of influence.

“I remember when Peyton Manning was with the Colts,” said Foster. “He was in the draft room. He had that much pull because that was his squad. You’re not going without Peyton. And, so, if you have that kind of generational talent, get him involved. What do you think this team needs?”

The 2010 NFL rushing champion opined that one of the problems with the NFL is ownership and front office personnel “have so much egos.”

Foster also took issue with the trade scenarios floating about, pointing out that no draft compensation could be high enough to account for losing a franchise cornerstone, especially at the most significant position in the sport.

Said Foster: “I heard recently he’s worth three first-rounders. Like, dog, you can have five first-round picks and you’re not going to get a talented quarterback like that. You can have a first-round pick every year for the next 10 years and you’re not going to get a talented quarterback like that. Maybe, but you already have one. So, why not invest in this one? It don’t make no sense.”

The Texans will have to figure out a way to smooth things over with Watson quickly. A recent ESPN report indicated the former 2017 first-round pick would seek an exit from the club no matter who they hired as coach.

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Ron Rivera compares rookie Antonio Gibson to Arian Foster

Through 11 games of his career, Antonio Gibson reminds Ron Rivera of former Texans RB Arian Foster.

We’ve all been extremely impressed with what we’ve seen from rookie RB Antonio Gibson so far through the first 11 games of his career.

Washington head coach Ron Rivera seems to be equally, if not more impressed than we have been, throwing out that the young back reminds him of Arian Foster, a great former running back in the NFL who was absolutely dominant for several years during his prime.

Through the first handful of games for Gibson in Washington, he has out-performed all expectations, leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns for rookies, and he seems to be getting better with each and every week. If the trajectory that he is on would see him become Arian Foster levels of great, that would be incredible news for Washington.

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Eagles’ Miles Sanders hoping to link-up with former Texans star RB Arian Foster

Eagles’ Miles Sanders hoping to link-up with former Texans star RB Arian Foster

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Miles Sanders has been compared to some really good running backs early on in his career and after shattering the records of one former Eagles great, the former Penn State star is hoping to get a tutorial from another comparable star.

Last season, Jason Peters compared Sanders to another former Eagles great, now signed in Tampa Bay.

“He is on that Shady level. He’s smooth,” Peters said. “He can catch, split him out, same as we did with Shady. He’s going to be a good one.”

Brandon Brooks took it a step further, comparing him to his former teammate in Houston, Arian Foster.

“Arian at his peak, there was nothing he couldn’t do: receive out of the backfield, making guys miss, taking the ball [the distance]. We ran a zone back then — one cut downhill. He reminds me of him a lot,” Brooks said.

Now Brooks is trying to help Sanders and Foster link up according to the Eagles star running back who stated that he’s hopeful the meeting will happen.

“He’s really smooth and great at that stretch game,” Sanders said of Foster.

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Former Texans RB Arian Foster among Touchdown Wire’s 43 best undrafted free agents of all-time

Former Houston Texans running back Arian Foster landed on Touchdown Wire’s list of the 43 greatest undrafted free agents in NFL history.

Much of the focus in the NFL is turned to April’s NFL Draft. However, there has historically been talent that has fallen through the cracks and proved to be catalytic in the NFL.

According to Barry Werner of the Touchdown Wire, one of those players was former Houston Texans running back Arian Foster.

Arian Foster somehow was not drafted out of Tennessee. He erupted in his second season with 1.616 yards for the Houston Texans. In eight seasons, Foster rushed for 6,527 yards and 54 touchdowns.

The former Tennessee Volunteer won the NFL rushing title in 2010 and was instrumental in establishing a balanced attack in coach Gary Kubiak’s offense. The Texans won their first two AFC South titles in 2011-12 and made their first two playoff appearances with Foster in the backfield.

However, it wasn’t just Foster’s talent in the run game that made him dynamic. Coach Bill O’Brien said on Aug. 21, 2019, that Foster was a “tremendous receiving back.”

“He was, really, an excellent running back but his passing-game ability was unbelievable,” said O’Brien.

Foster caught 255 passes for 2,346 yards and 14 touchdowns in his seven-year career with Houston from 2009-15.

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