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HOUSTON — The ending to Bradley Roby’s season was one of many obstacles he encountered in 2020. Following a Thanksgiving victory against the Detroit Lions, Roby — alongside now ex-teammate Will Fuller — received a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s P.E.D. policy.
The conviction led to Roby missing the final five games of the season. And the reason why he will miss the Houston Texans’ season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars — which features a game against his college head coach in Urban Meyer.
Although the suspension put a sour end to Roby’s seventh year in the league, it was also a blessing in disguise. Amid a season full of on-field turmoil that riddled a 4-12 record, the Texans organization was in a snafu state internally. The suspension gave Roby a reason to escape the chaos prematurely.
“I have a strong faith in God and I always feel like every step of the way, he’s always put me in a position to where everything’s going to work out on its own,” Roby said following practice on Thursday. “Last year there was a lot of things going on. It was a lot of things negative in the building. So I think it just pulled me away and gave me a big-picture view. I got to see how I did things wrong. I got to see how a lot of things work, and it just made me mature even more.”
Roby declined to share the negative intangibles that made last season an unpleasant experience. But the Fort Worth native did say he likes the direction the Texans are headed after an off-season full of turnover. He feels everyone from the front office, coaching staff and players are all on the same page.
The extra time off also gave Roby a chance to reflect and work on the man in the mirror. And as he enters his third season in Houston, Roby feels he has matured in certain ways.
A part of Roby’s maturity is understanding that he is one of a handful of veterans inside the Texans’ locker room. One of his primary goals for the upcoming season — besides playing 16 games for the first time since joining the Texans — is to help create a positive culture within the team.
The positivity Roby is trying to entrench will be a pillar of strength to prove that the Texans — especially their defense — are not the worst the league has to offer in 2021.
Roby is one of several defensive backs who have proven the Texans have enhanced their defensive transgressions. Since the start of training camp, Roby has registered a few interceptions at the Houston Methodist Training Center.
“It’s a fresh start, man. The guys that we have brought back are all positive, good guys, and we can start from there. We can start a base and a culture from there because the base and the culture comes from the players. It’s set by the coach, but the players have to carry it out and enforce it. I think the guys that have carried over and the new guys, we’re going to buy in, and I think you’ve got to start from somewhere, and I think it’s a good start.”
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