Tag: Sports Radio 610

Cal McNair wants Houston Texans fans back

Houston Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair joined @sportsradio610 and shared that the franchise wants to win the fans back.

Cal McNair knows what the fans want.

The Houston Texans chairman and CEO stopped by “Payne & Pendergast” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] to discuss his experience operating the franchise and expectations for the 2022 season.

Since 2018, McNair has had the reins of the franchise since the passing of his father, Bob McNair, the team’s founder, in November 2018.

The father built the franchise from the ground up starting in 2002. In 2022, the son is overseeing a rebuild wherein the team hit rock bottom with four-win finishes over the past two seasons.

“We want to be fearless and try new things and listen to the fans,” McNair said. “We want to respond to them… What we hear most from the fans is they want to win.”

In addition to the losses, Houston also said goodbye to franchise cornerstones. DeAndre Hopkins was traded away in an ill-advised move by former coach and general manager Bill O’Brien. J.J. Watt asked for his release from the franchise after 2020 and followed Hopkins to Arizona. That isn’t even to mention to fiasco at starting quarterback.

This period in the franchise has left many fans feeling disconnected and searching for other sports outlets to cheer on the city. McNair and coach Lovie Smith have made a pointed emphasis to try to bring fans back this offseason.

In regards to the new efforts to re-engage the fanbase, McNair highlighted several things the team is trying this off-season.

“We’ve got these H-Town shirts, we’ve got the red helmets,” said McNair. “We’re reaching out to the fans, we’re trying new things. Some will work, some may not work and that’s going to be the nature of it. We want to be aggressive”

McNair hit the nail on the head acknowledging that the team will have to win more in 2022 to truly win fans back to the franchise. Consecutive finishes in the league’s bottom three teams are unacceptable in a city that features the incredibly well run Houston Astros and the rebuild darling Houston Rockets.

The red helmets and improved aesthetic of the team on the field is a good start. Additionally, McNair hosted “Cal’s Cookout” following training camp practice that featured him joking with the media about how they liked their burgers and and grilling for all fans who came out on Wednesday. These efforts can only help the Texans rebuild trust among the fanbase.

Although merely a preseason game, the Texans can keep the optimism going with a win over the New Orleans Saints Aug. 13 at NRG Stadium.

QB Davis Mills describes how Pep Hamilton changed the Texans’ offense

Quarterback Davis Mills elaborated on how new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton changed the Houston Texans’ offense compared to the 2021 version.

Some fo the Houston Texans’ offensive personnel may be the same as it was in 2021, but the offense is entirely different.

So says quarterback Davis Mills, who joined “In The Loop” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] Aug. 1 to talk about the differences in last year’s offense and the new scheme under offensive coordinator Tim Kelly.

According to Mills, last year’s offense ran by offensive coordinator Tim Kelly was based on the New England Patriots’ offense.

“Completely quarterback-driven pre-snap and the big focus from Pep when he stepped in this role was he wants to take as much off the quarterback as he can so we can play fast,” Mills said. “Obviously we have a lot of control in making sure we’re in the correct protection and the correct mike point, basically confirming or changing anything, but the center does the initial point and making the initial calls. So, that takes a lot off my plate, especially in the run game. We can go out there and play fast when the center is pointing it.”

Hamilton told reporters on Aug. 3 after the fifth day of training camp that part of Mills’ job is to make sure to limit the offense’s bad plays, and to try to score points at the end of drives.

“Big part of his job, big part of our quarterback’s job is to manage bad plays, and that’s going to happen throughout the course of the game,” Hamilton said. “We feel like if we’re not turning the ball over, we just give ourselves another opportunity to score the ball.”

The offense that Hamilton is deploying is from the David Shaw system, which Mills ran when he was quarterback at Stanford.

“I have a lot of familiarity with this system from what I did out at Stanford in my four years of college,” said Mills. “This is the old pro-style system where all the verbiage is the same from what I did in college. A lot of it looking back and installing these new plays was pretty easy going forward.”

So long as the Texans have a system that melds well with the quarterback’s skillset, Houston should be able to improve offensively in coach Lovie Smith’s first season.

Will Jack Easterby leave the Texans after the 2022 season?

The influence of EVP Jack Easterby has lessened throughout the GM Nick Caserio era. Will Easterby leave the Houston Texans after 2022?

Jack Easterby has had quite the ride with the Houston Texans since 2019.

The organization hired Easterby as executive vice president of team development on April 2, 2019. The club later promoted Easterby to executive vice president of football operations on Jan. 28, 2020. Even before Easterby had to be the club’s interim general manager after the firing of coach and general manager Bill O’Brien on Oct. 5, 2020, Easterby played a part in negotiating contracts in 2020.

With the hiring of former New England Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio as general manager on Jan. 7, 2020, Easterby’s influence throughout the Texans has waned.

According to John McClain, who has been as much a staple of the NFL scene in Houston as any franchise, Easterby could be through with the Texans after the 2022 campaign.

“I think Jack Easterby will be gone after this season,” McClain told “In The Loop” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] June 28. “That’s just my opinion.”

McClain’s opinion wasn’t merely a hunch as it was rooted in observations and conversations with individuals inside the organization.

Said McClain: “Based on some things that he did that they’re not doing anymore — roster with no numbers. And one of the things that he did last year that I just noticed is he scrubbed their website, made it like the Patriots, the worst in the league. And I had several people in that organization tell me how unhappy they were that they were no longer on the website. And they like to show their grandpa and their grandpa liked to show people, ‘Here’s my son or daughter.’ And it was like they were wiped from the face of the Earth. They now put it back. So, that comes under the auspices of president Greg Grissom. So, congratulations to Greg Grissom or whoever did that because there’s a lot of people that are happy now that what Easterby did last year is no longer. Now, I can’t wait to see if other things that happened, like in training camp and stuff, if they’ll get away from that as well.”

The decline of Easterby’s presence throughout the organization is identifiable. Even Easterby clarified his role as being more of a support role than anything related directly to football.

McClain reiterated it is simply his prediction that Easterby will be gone.

“He may get a contract extension,” said McClain. “I’m just saying I think he will be gone after this season. He will ‘resign to pursue other opportunities.'”

Easterby has been a lightning rod since the 2020 offseason. Caserio has found the scrutiny Easterby has been under curious.

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Mike Meltser breaks down Texans being named as defendants in lawsuit related to Deshaun Watson

On Sports Radio 610, attorney Mike Meltser explained the Houston Texans’ involvement as defendants in the latest Deshaun Watson lawsuit.

For Houston Texans fans, the lawsuits involving quarterback Deshaun Watson wherein multiple women have accused him of sexual assault became the Cleveland Browns’ problem after the trade.

However, attorney Tony Buzbee, who is representing all of the plaintiffs in the civil suits, filed a civil suit naming the Texans as plaintiffs in Harris County district court on Monday.

In a statement from the Texans via Aaron Wilson from the Pro Football Network, the club says, “We are aware of the lawsuit filed against us today. since March 2021, we have fully supported and complied with law enforcement and the various investigations. We will continue to take the necessary steps to address the allegations against our organization.”

Attorney Mike Meltser, a sports radio host for SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Radio, joined “In The Loop” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] Monday to talk about the implications of what the Texans’ involvement in the lawsuit as defendants could mean.

Here is a transcript of John Lopez and Landry Locker’s interview with Meltser.

Lovie Smith introductory press conference: Time, radio, streaming info

The Houston Texans will introduce Lovie Smith as their new coach. Find out how to catch all of the action.

The Houston Texans have settled on their next coach.

The team will be introducing defensive coordinator and associate head coach Lovie Smith as the team’s new coach in a press conference at NRG Stadium.

Smith, 63, last coached in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2014-15, going 8-24. The Texans are hopeful they can have the success Smith had with the Chicago Bears from 2004-12 when he collected three NFC North titles, pushed Chicago into two NFC Championship Game berths, and led the Bears to a Super Bowl appearance at the end of the 2006 season.

To get ready for the introduction of the fifth full-time coach in Texans history, here is important information so you can catch the presser. Follow the @TheTexansWire and the crew (@therealmarklane  @TexansDoc) on Twitter as there will be plenty of reaction.

Lovie Smith Introductory Press Conference — Tuesday, Feb. 8, 11:00 a.m. CT

Live stream: HoustonTexans.com

Radio: Sports Radio 610 (KILT-AM)

Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

Forecast: Rainy, 72 degrees, 9 mph wind (indoors)

Texans GM Nick Caserio says he is on headsets as a resource

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio told @sportsradio610 that he is on the headsets during games as a resource to the coach.

Nick Caserio wearing a headset during the Houston Texans’ games is the only instance of a current general manager being a part of the game day communication.

However, the second-year general manager told “Payne & Pendergast” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] Tuesday that the reason he is on headsets is because of his 20 seasons spent with the New England Patriots where he wore them. Caserio also stressed that he intends to wear headsets to be a resource for the Texans’ coach.

“I would say this year it was more just listening, observing,” said Caserio. “If there were things that came up during the game that we needed to talk about situationally, then we would communicate that. So, my philosophy has been just provide information where necessary; be a resource and be as helpful as possible, whatever that constitution is.”

Caserio pointed out that other teams in the NFL, while not having their general manager on the headsets, do have personnel-related individuals or analytics staff on headsets.

Said Caserio: “I would say there’s other people throughout the league. They either have their analytics person or somebody from their personnel department maybe doing some of the same things.”

What highlights the fact Caserio is on headsets is his role as general manager.

“I think what happens is maybe it gets a little bit magnified because of my ‘title’ and my role,” said Caserio. “In my mind, I know what my role and title is, but I don’t look at it that way. I’m a football person. I’m engaged in the game. I was very well trained with a great organization. So, you’re trying to take all of that information and disseminate and use it in a most efficient way possible.

“So, I’m never going to shy away from it. I’m always going to be straight up and tell whoever the coach is, if they have a question, try to get some clarity. That’s my job and responsibility to provide clarity.”

If the Texans hire a coach who worked in New England when Caserio was there from 2001-20, they may have familiarity with Caserio on the headsets. A new coach outside of the Bill Belichick coaching tree may have some discomfort having their boss listening in on their in-game decision-making.

GM Nick Caserio says Texans are ‘open for business’ to trade No. 3 overall pick

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio told @sportsradio610 the team would be open to listening to trades regarding the No. 3 overall pick.

Nick Caserio has never been afraid to listen.

The Houston Texans’ general manager, who is entering his second year with the team, told “Payne & Pendergast” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] Tuesday that the organization is open to trading the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

“Absolutely. Always open for business,” Caserio said.

However, Caserio clarified that the Texans wouldn’t be moving the pick just for the sake of making a trade in the draft. There were a number of factors that would have to come into play if they were to move away from No. 3 overall and further into the draft.

“I think we’ve always been a little more open minded, progressively thinking, move up and down,” said Caserio. “It’s not just move to move. And I think trades specific to the draft are always driven by A) player availability, B) where are you moving, what are you moving away from, and then C) what are you getting in return in terms of assets that could potentially fill out the rest of your team?”

The draft’s two dominant edge rushers in Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux and Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson have been linked to the Texans, but the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions may take those players in successive order before Houston is on the clock.

The draft is April 28-30 in Las Vegas. Plenty can happen in four months.

Said Caserio: “We’re rolling up our sleeves right now going through that draft process. I’d say there’s a number of good players that would be available that we think will be available. But, again, we’re open for business on anything. I think that’s the one thing about this organization of what people, I would say, around the league know about me is that we’re not afraid. We’ll always listen and we’ll always consider. And then we’ll take the information in, process it, and ultimately try to make the decision we feel is best for our team.”

The Texans finished 4-13. With a fuller cupboard of draft picks, including four in the top-100, Houston is in a position to complete the rebuild and get back to playing competitively in 2022. A good draft would help the process.

Texans GM Nick Caserio refers to criticism of Jack Easterby as ‘little bit unjust’

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio told @sportsradio610 that the criticism of Jack Easterby has been a “little bit unjust” since his arrival.

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio believes the criticism of executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby has been unfair.

Easterby, who was hired in April 2019 as vice president of team development and later promoted to his current role in January 2020, has been the subject of intense criticism from the Houston and national media as the Texans have posted records of 4-12 and 4-13 since his promotion.

The perception is Easterby has too much say in the organization, which has led to bad contracts and other deleterious results.

While that may have been the case when Bill O’Brien was the coach and general manager, Caserio insisted on “Payne & Pendergast” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] Tuesday that Easterby is not as heavily involved in football decisions any longer.

“Jack has been a hot topic for a lot of people,” said Caserio. “I’d say candidly some of the criticism has been unfair. I think Jack has an important role in the operational and logistics standpoint. That’s what he was brought here to do. That’s his role in football operation. I talked about this last spring. Anything as it pertains to making football decisions, whether it’s players, contract signings, scouting, draft analysis, those all fall under my jurisdiction. So, I would say if you look at a football operation in its entirety, it takes a number of different people.”

Caserio suggested that the collaborative effort to put together a successful football team takes multiple points of input, and that there is a misperception as to Easterby’s role.

Said Caserio: “I would say that I have a lot of respect and appreciation for the job that Jack does, and candidly not a lot of people really understand the nuts and bolts of it. But when you get a chance to spend time with Jack, I mean, you realize it’s probably not as bad as everybody makes it out to be. I’d say from his perspective, it’s always been an operational and kind of a logistics standpoint, and there are certain areas that maybe fall under his jurisdiction that we’ll communicate about, and I can handle the football areas. If there’s something we can talk about collectively as a whole, whether it’s myself, Jack, the head coach, whoever it is, then those lines of communication are open.”

Caserio and Easterby go back to their time with the New England Patriots from 2013-18 when he was a character coach. The Patriots’ last three Super Bowl wins came during that time frame with victories at the end of the 2014, 2016, and 2018 seasons. As winning world championships does, it has fortified the bond between two ex-Patriots.

“Look, Jack’s been a punching bag since he got here,” said Caserio. “Some of it I think quite frankly was a little bit unjust. Everybody has an opinion and they’re certainly entitled to their opinion. We’ll just kind of keep moving forward.”

The Texans’ most pressing order of business is to find their fifth full-time coach in team history. Easterby may have input on that decision, but Caserio has tried to make it clear he won’t be a decision-maker on such consequential football moves.

Texans WR Brandin Cooks talks about Davis Mills, Nico Collins’ growth on Sports Radio 610

Houston Texans WR Brandin Cooks talked about the maturation of rookies QB Davis Mills and WR Nico Collins on @sportsradio610.

The Houston Texans’ season finally comes to a close as the club posts a 4-13 record after the NFL’s first 17-game season.

The Texans’ record doesn’t reflect some of the growth that the younger players displayed throughout the back half of the season.

Receiver Brandin Cooks was there for 16 games of the Texans’ regular season, and he was eyewitness to the growth of third-rounders Davis Mills and Nico Collins. The Texans’ first two picks in the 2021 draft were at quarterback and receiver to give them an opportunity at a dynamic passing duo for the next four seasons.

Cooks shared his thoughts on Mills and Collins during his final interview with Texans Radio play-by-play Marc Vandermeer and sideline reporter John Harris on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] Monday.

Former Texans WR Andre Johnson talks about being Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist with Sports Radio 610

Former Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson shared with @sportsradio610 how the process of being a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist has gone.

The Houston Texans may actually get their own bonafide inductee in to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022.

Former receiver Andre Johnson was named a finalist. Although the Texans will have to share some space on his bust with the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans, much the same way Ed Reed has to share some space on his for the Texans, there is no question that Johnson is strongly associated with Houston.

Johnson joined Texans Radio play-by-play Marc Vandermeer and sideline reporter John Harris on Sports Radio 610 Jan. 3 to talk about what the process has been long as a Hall of Fame finalist.