Houston Texans Re-Sign Quintin Demps

The Houston Texans have lost a lot in free agency this year, most notably, Mario Williams, but they won't be losing one of their safeties. According to Adam Shefter, the Texans have re-signed Quintin Demps, who was non-tendered earlier this week.

Houston Texans have re-signed free agent S Quintin Demps.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 5, 2012

Demps was released prior to Week 1 last year, but was re-signed halfway through the season. Demps appeared in nine games for the Texans, and worked as a backup safety and special teamer. Demps did register 23 tackles and intercepted two passes.

Terms of the deal are currently unknown, but the contract is certainly worth less than it would be had he been tendered by the Texans.

For more on the Houston Texans, be sure to check out Battle Red Blog. For more on the NFL as the NFL Draft approaches, be sure to check out SB Nation's NFL hub.

Houston Texans Prepare To 'Just Do It' With Their New Nike NFL Apparel

National Football Post: Houston Texans Have Lost The Most In Free Agency

This isn't a list that the Houston Texans wanted to see themselves on. Dan Pompei of the National Football Post offered up his thoughts on the teams that lost the most in free agency this year, and the Texans top that list.

I've always maintained teams frequently are hurt more by the players they lose in free agency than teams are helped by the players they add. With that in mind, these are the teams that have been hurt the most so far. We are not considering additions in this judgment, merely losses.

1. Texans. They easily have lost more talent than any other team, including the best young player to change teams in Mario Williams. Three players who could have been considered core guys left in Williams, Eric Winston and DeMeco Ryans, who was traded. The Texans took a hit on depth too.

The Texans certainly do belong on this list, if for no other reason than losing Mario Williams.

Houston fans can take some solace in the fact that the Ravens, one of the more consistent teams in the league, also appear on this list.

For more on the Houston Texans, be sure to check out Battle Red Blog.

Texans Add Former Rams Punter Donnie Jones, According To Report

BIG NEWS: The Houston Texans have added a key component to their 2012 roster in a move that should compliment the re-signing of Arian Foster and help shore the loss left by Mario Williams' departure:

Former Rams P Donnie Jones agrees to terms with the Texans, per league source.

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 29, 2012

BOOSH. Jones is a 6-foot-2, 220 lb. eight-year veteran from LSU who's played the majority of his career with St. Louis, as well as having a brief run with the Seahawks and Dolphins. His 2011 stat line was impressive - 4,652 total yards (a career high, but not terribly surprising consider St. Louis' lack of success at football), a net average of 37 yards a punt, and 29 punts downed inside the 20-yard-line.

For more on Donnie Jones, the world of punting and some talk about the Houston Texans, check out Battle Red Blog and SB Nation's NFL page.

Houston Texans Trade DeMeco Ryans To Philadelphia Eagles For Draft Picks

According to NFL Network's Albert Breer, the Houston Texans have traded away inside linebacker DeMeco Ryans to the middle linebacker-needy Philadelphia Eagles.

The Texans received, according to Adam Caplain, the Eagles' fourth-round pick and the two team's also exchanged third round picks. Ryans has played the last six seasons with the Texans and played in every game in five of those six seasons. The injury issues came in 2010, when he missed 10 games due to injury and a torn Achilles tendon late in 2011.

In 2011, Ryans made 64 tackles, defended four passes and forced one fumble. He will likely boost the Eagles' linebacker unit immediately, opening up Philadelphia's options in the upcoming draft. This trade will likely push Darryl Sharpton into the starting lineup next to Brian Cushing.

For more on the Texans, head to Battle Red Blog, and for more on the DeMeco Ryans trade, follow SB Nation Houston's StoryStream.

2012 Texans Free Agency: Joel Dreessen To Visit Bengals

Houston Texans GM Rick Smith has made it a priority this offseason to retain his own free agents, but he has competition for the services of reserve tight end Joel Dreessen, who will take a visit to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Dreessen totaled 28 catches for 353 yards in Houston last season, and is widely considered capable backup tight end. He has 110 career receptions for 1,364 yards, including 90 catches in the past three seasons.

Originally drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL draft, Dreessen was brought to Houston before the 2007 season, and has played in 77 games for the Texans.

The Bengals are looking to add depth behind Jermaine Gresham, a former University of Oklahoma standout who finished with 56 catches in 2011.

To read more on NFL free agency and news around the league, visit the SB Nation NFLhub page. For news and information about the Houston Texans, check out the Battle Red Blog.

Houston Texans 2012 Offseason: GM Rick Smith Praises Chris Myers, Arian Foster

Despite losing defensive end Mario Williams to the Buffalo Bills in free agency, Houston Texans GM Rick Smith has been able to accomplish part of his goal of retaining most of his team’s own free agents, led by new deals for center Chris Myers and running back Arian Foster.

Myers, a Pro Bowler in 2011, was brought back on a four-year, $25 million deal, while Foster was re-signed for five years, with a maximum contract value of $43.5 million.

Smith, who played a central role in each transaction, offered high praise for his two veterans.

On Myers: “He’s been a tremendous leader. To get him back in the fold and to have him anchor our line for years to come, it’s an exciting day for us. We want to be a balanced offensive football team, and this gives us the ability, we hope, to continue to have an outstanding running game. Chris really is the beginning of everything that we do up front with respect to making line calls, to making sure that everybody’s coordinated, and so this is a very important piece to what we do.”

On Foster: "[with] Arian’s ability to make plays with the football in his hand, it was important for us to get that deal done. I can’t speak more highly of how he has handled himself, and obviously the production that he has on the football field and what he means to our team.

And while there’s been a flurry of league-wide activity in the first week of free agency, the Texans and Smith remain focused on building the roster through the draft “We’ve talked many, many times about the fact that we build through the draft and we supplement through free agency … we primarily want to build through the draft and then take care of our players like an Arian, like a Chris Myers, and so that’s the way that we’re building this thing.”

To read more on NFL free agency and news around the league, visit the SB Nation NFLhub page. For news and information about the Houston Texans, check out the Battle Red Blog.

Texans Free Agency: Jerome Solomon Says Don't Panic

NFL Free Agency: Texans Face Peyton Manning In Broncos Uniform In 2012

The Houston Texans may not have been desperate for a quarterback this off-season, but the Denver Broncos were certainly open to bringing in the aging and ailing Peyton Manning to replace Tim Tebow in the depth chart.

According to a report by ESPN, Manning has chosen the Broncos as his destination after nearly two weeks of free agency when he was released by the Indianapolis Colts, which has the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and are expected to take Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with that pick.

Houston won't have to deal with Manning in the division, as it would have if the future Hall of Famer signed with the Tennessee Titans. But the Texans will travel to Denver at some point in the season.

The inevitable question is what does all of this mean for Tebow, who took over as the starting quarterback for the Broncos after the team started with a 1-4 record in the 2011 season, then helped lead them to an AFC West championship and a playoff victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime. Tebow was supposed to be the starting quarterback going into training camp, as team executives have said previously. That does not seem to be the case anymore.

To read more on NFL free agency and news around the league, visit the SB Nation NFL hub page. For news and information about the Houston Texans, check out the Battle Red Blog.

Texans Free Agency: Chris Myers Signs, Stabilizes Offensive Line

Houston kept Myers and in turn, should keep the running game held together as two new starters man the right side of the offensive line.

Texans Free Agency: Mike Brisiel Signs With Oakland Raiders

Texans Sign Center Chris Myers To A 4-Year, $25 Million Contract

The Houston Texans have not had the best start during this free agency period, but they were able to keep the services of center Chris Myers. The Texans and Myers agreed to a four-year contract worth $25 million with $14 million being guaranteed.

Myers is a seven-year veteran and has been a key figure with the Texans since 2008 and this past season was his best as Myers was named to his first ever Pro Bowl. He also has started 66 straight games for the Texans.

Myers did say that he wanted to stay in Houston but he also wanted to test the open market. The Tennessee Titans and Green Bay Packers were reportedly interested in signing Myers, but the Packers never made an offer and the Titans were unable to reach a deal with Myers.

For more Texans free agency news, check out our StoryStream here. For general Texans news, check out Battle Red Blog and for up-to-date rumors from around the NFL, check out SB Nation's NFL site.

Texans Free Agency: Where Do The Rest of Houston's Free Agents Sit?

Texans Free Agency: Williams Leaving Houston More About Scheme Than Money

Mario Williams Signs A Six-Year Deal With The Buffalo Bills

After days of speculation and rumors that a deal would be imminent, it appears that Mario Williams will be signing a free-agent contract with the Buffalo Bills:

Mario Williams gets a six-year deal from the Buffalo Bills.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2012

Details of the deal have yet to be announced, but many have speculated that Buffalo, eager to make a splash in free agency and needing to boost their payroll to reach the salary floor minimum established by the new CBA, will break the bank for the All-Pro DE.

Williams came to Houston amidst great controversy when the Texans picked him ahead of Reggie Bush and Vince Young in the 2006 NFL Draft, but he rewarded the front office's faith in him by turning himself into one of the NFL's dominant pass rushers.

In six seasons in Houston, the 6'6 290 DE had 53 sacks and made two Pro Bowls. But while losing such an elite pass rusher can be a devastating blow for an NFL franchise, the Texans, under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, actually improved defensively in 2011 after Williams was ruled out for the season.

Mario Williams To Bills: Deal Reportedly Close Per Adam Schefter

The likelihood of seeing former No.1 pick Mario Williams back in a Houston Texans jersey is becoming slimmer and slimmer. Adam Schefter is reporting that the Buffalo Bills have met the conditions to sign Mario and that the two sides are really close to a deal.

Despite Williams indicating that he wanted to test the waters, the Bills offer of $50 million in guaranteed money has certainly kept the star defensive end/outside linebacker intrigued. It looks like the Texans are going to be without their most coveted defensive player in 2012.

Buffalo has met most of the conditions for a deal for Texans free agent LB Mario Williams and is "close to a deal." Answer "real soon."

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2012

For more Texans free agency news, check out our StoryStream here. For general Texans news, check out Battle Red Blog and for up-to-date rumors from around the NFL, check out SB Nation's NFL site.

2012 NFL Free Agency: Mario Williams Stays In Buffalo For Third Day, No Deal Yet

Do you want the latest news on Mario Williams? Well, he's still in Buffalo. Shocking, I know...

2012 NFL Free Agency: Mario Williams Still In Buffalo

It's been a long, strange first 21 hours of free agency on the Houston Texans front. It looked like former No. 1 overall pick Mario Williams was not going to leave Buffalo, signing a huge contract with the Bills. Then, last night, reports came out that Williams was leaving Buffalo without a deal and had scheduled other meetings.

Now, it seems Williams has brought his fiancee to Buffalo this morning and is in no hurry to leave. Does that mean he's Buffalo-bound?

Oh, and just for good measure, Lance Zeirlein tweeted that a new, pretty good team has entered the Williams fray. Who could that be? Well, it'd have to be a 4-3 team, since apparently Williams wants to go back to defensive end. Who does that leave? The New Orleans Saints and Cincinnati Bengals both fit the bill, but it's an open question whether they have the cap room to make that work. The Atlanta Falcons also fit that bill along with the Detroit Lions. Other than that? I'm stumped...

For more information on the Texans as free agency approaches, check out our Texans Free Agency StoryStream here. For more informaiton on the NFL's free agency craziness, check out SB Nation's NFL site.

Ben Tate Trade Rumors: Cleveland Browns Reportedly Interested In Houston Running Back

The two-headed monster that the Houston Texans have a running back could be in jeopardy if the Cleveland Browns manage to land a trade with the Texans for Ben Tate, who is coming off a breakout second season in the NFL after being plagued by injuries in his rookie year.

Since the Browns let Peyton Hillis test free agency, Cleveland would feature Tate as its No. 1 back to replace Hillis, according to report by ESPN Cleveland.

I have heard some rumblings recently that the Browns may explore a trade with Houston for backup running back Ben Tate. When asked about that possibility, a league source said, "I haven't heard anything along those lines but let's put it this way it wouldn't surprise me." - Will Burge, ESPN Cleveland

Tate ran for 115 yards against the Browns in 2011 and was serviceable whenever Arian Foster was suffering with his hamstring injury.

To read more about the Texans, visit the Battle Red Blog.

2012 NFL Free Agency: Bills Saying They Are Willing To Make Mario Williams Highest Payed Defensive Player In NFL

According to a report from Buffalo News, the Bills are committed to making Houston Texans free agent defensive end Mario Williams the highest played defensive player in the league and they don't want him to leave Upstate New York without a signed contract in hand.

The Bills only managed to sack the opposing quarterback 29 times in 2011, which ties that at 27th in the NFL with the Packers, Colts and Chiefs and the addition of Mario Williams could immediately increase the Bills pass rush ability. In a division with Tom Brady and a Dolphins team that could land Peyton Manning or Matt Flynn, being able to rush the passer will be a must.

For more information on the Texans as free agency approaches, check out our Texans Free Agency StoryStream here. For more informaiton on the NFL's free agency craziness, check out SB Nation's NFL site.

Texans Free Agency: Mario Williams Visiting Buffalo Bills Tonight, According To Adam Schefter

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Houston Texans free agent defensive end Mario Williams will be visiting the Buffalo Bills, who have been rumored to be interested in him.

Bills GM Buddy Nix said in a radio interview earlier today that the Bills were going to make a big splash in free agency and that they need to address the defensive end position. If they sign Williams, they will boost their pass rush, which only managed 29 sacks last season.

For more information on the Texans as free agency approaches, check out our Texans Free Agency StoryStream here. For more informaiton on the NFL's free agency craziness, check out SB Nation's NFL site.

Texans Free Agency: Mario Williams Sets Visit With Buffalo Bills

The first domino has fallen in NFL free agency, as Mario Williams announced shortly after the 3 p.m. CST start that he'd take his first official visit with the Buffalo Bills Tuesday night, according to Adam Schefter.

There was speculation that the Texans were clearing cap space in order to make a run at keeping Williams, but this news seems to contradict the possibility that he'll stay in town. Will Williams sign there? It could be a better fit for him than the Texans, since he'd be moving back to a 4-3 look and be paired with Marcel Dareus to for a very potent defensive line up in Buffalo.

Very, very interesting, but probably bad news for the Texans.

For more information on the Texans as free agency approaches, check out our Texans Free Agency StoryStream here. For more informaiton on the NFL's free agency craziness, check out SB Nation's NFL site.

Texans Free Agency: Bills May Pursue Mario Williams

Buffalo Bills GM Buddy Nix was on Buffalo's WGR 550 on Tuesday and said during the interview that the team would make a "big splash" during free agency, which opened today at 4 p.m., and also mentioned that the team would address the defensive end position. Nix never mentioned going after Mario Williams specifically, but with a decent amount of money to spend and the fact that a pass rushing defensive end is a big need for the Bills, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility.

From Pro Football Talk:

Nix said there are three or four free agent pass rushers who could make an immediate impact, and he hopes to sign one of them within the next few days, and perhaps fill a few other holes in the roster. And then, as far as the Bills are concerned, free agency will come to an end.

The Bills defense only managed to rack up 29 sacks in 2011, which tied them with the Packers, Colts and Chiefs for 27th place in the NFL. The addition of a top-tier pass rusher like Williams could go a far way for the Bills pass defense in 2012.

For more information on the Texans as free agency approaches, check out our Texans Free Agency StoryStream here. For more informaiton on the NFL's free agency craziness, check out SB Nation's NFL site.

Texans Free Agency: Why Houston May Have Cut Eric Winston

Texans Free Agency: Lawrence Vickers Waived On Monday

NFL Free Agency 2012: Texans Free Agents Include Mario Williams, Jake Delhomme

The Houston Texans are buckling down for free agency, which officially opens on Tuesday.The 2012 Texans free agent class will be headlined, of course, by linebacker Mario Williams, who figures to be one of the most elite players on the market this offseason. The Texans will try to lure him back, although that may be a tough task.

The Texans did manage to come to a big five-year extension with star running back Arian Foster, who was set to become a restricted free agent.

Here is the current list of impending Houston free agents, courtesy of Mac's Football Blog:

Exclusive Rights Free Agents

LS Jonathan Weeks - Signed four-year, $2.9 million extension

Restricted Free Agents (1)

RB Arian Foster - Signed five-year, $43.5 million extension
S Quintin Demps

Unrestricted Free Agents (15)

QB Jake Delhomme
QB Jeff Garcia
RB Derrick Ward
WR Bryant Johnson
TE Joel Dreessen
OG Mike Brisiel
OC Chris Myers
OG Kasey Studdard
DT Tim Bulman
LB Tim Dobbins
LB Mario Williams
CB Jason Allen
S Dominique Barber
K Neil Rackers
P Matt Turk

For updates on NFL free agency, visit the SB Nation hub page. To read more about Texans free agency, go to SB Nation Houston and the Batlle Red Blog.

NFL Free Agency 2012: Peyton Manning Will Not Be Pursued By Texans, According To Report

NFL free agency officially opens on Tuesday, but of course the hottest property on the market has already been shopping around for a new team. Before Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts made the official announcement that they would be parting ways, pretty much every NFL team was linked with the superstar quarterback. Now the field has dwindled down to just a few potential suitors.

The Houston Texans will not be one of those suitors, it seems. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, late rumblings that the Texans would make a run at Manning are incorrect, as the team has no plans to pursue the quarterback.

The most likely candidates for Manning's services appear to be the Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, or Arizona Cardinals.

For updates on NFL free agency, visit the SB Nation hub page. To read more about Texans free agency, go to SB Nation Houston and the Batlle Red Blog.

NFL Free Agency 2012: Lawrence Vickers Cut By Texans, According To Report

The Houston Texans are preparing for free agency. The team will be making plenty of tough decisions over the next weeks leading up to the 2012 NFL Draft and beyond, as they attempt to solidify a squad for the 2012 season. It appears they've made at least one move before free agency has even begun.

ProFootBallTalk reports that The Texans have cut fullback Lawrence Vickers just a few hours before free agency opens on Tuesday.

Vickers was a Pro Bowl selection with the Cleveland Browns in 2008, but was only with the Texans for the 2011 season. He was signed by Houston as an attempt to replace to departing Vonta Leach, but did not work out quite as well as the team had hoped.

For updates on NFL free agency, visit the SB Nation hub page. To read more about Texans free agency, go to SB Nation Houston and the Batlle Red Blog.

NFL Free Agency 2012, Mario Williams: Bears, Falcons, Seahawks Among Reported Candidates

The Houston Texans have not given up on Mario Williams, perhaps the most attractive free agent of this off-season despite the highly-anticipated returns of surefire Hall-of-Famers Peyton Manning and Randy Moss.

But Mario has a list of teams interested in him, which should make for a competitive pursuit. ESPN's John Clayton called the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks the "favorites" to land Mario. There are also reports of the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars showing interest in the former No. 1 pick.

The Texans just released Eric Winston, easily the most important part of their offensive line, so it seems as though the Texans want to remain competitive in the Mario Williams sweepstakes.

If the Texans sign Williams, he will play outside linebacker in Wade Phillips' 3-4 defense, presumably for a full season if healthy.

For updates on NFL free agency, visit the SB Nation NFL hub page. To read more about Texans free agency, go to SB Nation Houston and the Battle Red Blog.

Texans Free Agency 2012: Eric Winston Becomes Cap Casulty, Cut By Houston

Eric Winston has been informed by the Houston Texans that his services are no longer required. Winston, the starting tackle for the Texans since 2007, was due to make $5.5 million in the 2012 season. The Texans were unwilling to pay that amount to their tackle, and notified him of his release on Monday.

Winston went to Twitter to inform fans of the news, along with his final thoughts about the Texans organization.

"Unfortunately I have bad news," Winston wrote. "The Texans have decided to release me today. Although it is a surprise, I have nothing but positive memories and great relationships that I have built over the years. While my future seems uncertain, I am confident I will land on my feet. Let me say thank you to Mr. McNair and the whole Texan organization. They have had big role in the player and person I have become. And last but not least to my fans and teammates. You guys are the absolute best! I will miss all of you more than you know." -- Eric Winston

Winston instantly becomes the best free agent available in the pool of available players as teams are able to begin negotiating with players on Tuesday. Will Houston draft to backfill Winston's position at tackle, acquire via free agency or will a backup emerge?

For more on the Houston Texans, check out Battle Red Blog, and for the latest news from around the NFL, visit SB Nation's NFL page.

Texans Receive Extra Salary Cap Dollars In 2012 After NFL Punishes Cowboys And Redskins

The Houston Texans will have at least an extra $1.6 million in salary-cap to play with this season, after the NFL laid the hammer down on the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins, taking away millions of dollars in cap space from both clubs.

According to ESPN's Adam Shefter, the Cowboys will lose $10 million and Redskins will lose $36 million for loading up in the uncapped year, therefor dispersing all of those monies to remaining NFL teams, except for the Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints.

"NFL is taking away millions of dolllar of salary-cap space from Cowboys and Redskins for how they front-loaded deals during uncapped year ... Cowboys lose $10 million in cap space, Redskins lose $36 million in space. Can split it over 2012 and 2013 any way they want ... All that money goes to 28 other teams -- $1.6 million each -- except for Saints and Raiders, who don't get any but don't lose any." - @AdamShefter

To read more about the Houston Texans and their off-season, visit the Battle Red Blog.

So Now That Arian Foster's Paid, What's The Future Of Mario Williams?

Texans Free Agency: Chris Myers Says He Wants To Stay With Team And Packers' Rumored Interest Is Wrong

The Houston Texans have some major decisions to make on both sides of the ball with their star running back Arian Foster as a restricted free agent and defensive leader Mario Williams coming back from injury as an unrestricted free agent. But another along the offensive line, center Chris Myers, says he also wants to come back to the team despite recent rumors to the contrary.

Earlier we posted that the Packers were reportedly interested in Myers, but he says that’s something he knows nothing about.

“News to me, man,” Myers told 610 AM in Houston. “I don’t know what was going on. I’m just like anyone else reading that type of stuff, but it is what it is.

“In the long run, I want to be here in Houston, so that’s what I’ve been telling everybody when everyone asks me stuff, and that’s what it sums up to be. I want to be here. I want to see things through, and that’s the way it is. So that’s kind of the bottom line of my thinking.”

Myers made the AFC Pro Bowl team last season for the first time.

Texans Free Agency 2012: Green Bay Shows Interest In Potential Houston Free Agent C Chris Myers, According To A Report

According to a report, the Green Bay Packers have shown an interest in acquiring Houston Texans center and potential free agent Chris Myers. Teams will be able to sign unrestricted free agent signing period begins on March 13th, and the Packers met with Drew Rosenhaus, Myers' agent.

The 2011 Pro Bowler has started in every single game for the last six years, the last four with the Texans. The Packers are targeting Myers as a replacement to the incumbent Scott Wells at the center position. Wells was also a 2011 Pro Bowl selection,and has made 100 starts for Green Bay over the last eight years.

Myers earned $2.75 million last season and now that the Pro Bowler designation can be added to his resume, a new contract should look to bump up his pay to some of the top centers in the game.

For more on the Houston Texans, check out Battle Red Blog, and for the latest news from around the NFL, visit SB Nation's NFL page.