Gayle Saunders Follow Him on Twitter So far so good, for rookie wide out DeAndre Hopkins in Houston. Texans head coach Gary Kubiak is giving out rave reviews on his young stud WR. "He’s special," Kubiak said after the final day of work. "Ball skills are extremely special. Very long; long arms. Big hands; you saw the catch he made out here today. He’s going to help us early, and we know that, and that’s why ...

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By Gayle Saunders Follow Him on Twitter League rules allow each team to bring in 30 players for predraft visits. No on-field work is allowed. The visits are simply an opportunity for the players to sit down with the coaches, as well as the personnel people, for any additional questions, football or otherwise. Not every player accepts every invitation he receives, so teams don't always get the first 30 playe ...

The Associated Press names J.J. Watt as the 2012 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Watt won by a landslide with him getting 49 of a possible 50 votes. On the season Watt had had 20.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss which both led the league. Watt also changed the game with his technique of batting down passes with 16 on the season and 56 defeats as well. THE SKINNY: Wade Phillips believes that Watts 2012 seas ...

Round 1: Whitney Mercilus, OLB, Illinois Mercilus was drafted to replace Mario Williams. He'll be developed behind starters Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed. He'll play in passing situations next to Brian Cushing. They'll play behind a four-man front of Barwin and Reed at end and J.J. Watt and Antonio Smith at tackle. Mercilus started one season in college. He had 16 sacks, nine forced fumbles and 22 tackles f ...

Not too many people can claim the list of accomplishments that Houston Texans Amobi Okoye can. Born in Nigeria, he moved to America and made quick work of school. Entering the University of Louisville at the age of 16, Okoye was the youngest to be playing Division I sports. Choosing to be a Cardinal over Harvard for football reasons, Amobi quickly became a very good Collegiate player and an extremely bright ...