Recapping the Texans Day 8 and 9 practices

Summary

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Payne & Pendergast Podcast Summary

Episode: Recapping the Texans Day 8 and 9 Practices
Date: August 10, 2026
Hosts: Seth Payne & Sean Pendergast
Featured Voices: D’Amico Ryans (Texans Head Coach), Nick Cayley (Offensive Coordinator), Trent Brown (OT), Keelan Rutledge (Rookie Center), Others
Main Theme: In-depth analysis of Texans training camp practices 8 and 9—focusing on offensive improvements, depth battles, rookie center Keelan Rutledge, quarterback C.J. Stroud’s growth, and roster developments as preseason approaches.

Episode Overview

This episode revolves around the Dallas Texans’ progress through training camp practices 8 and 9. The hosts, Payne & Pendergast, break down encouraging developments, highlight the competitive camp environment under coach D’Amico Ryans, and discuss position battles—especially renewed optimism around the offensive line and rookie center Keelan Rutledge. C.J. Stroud’s evolution as team leader and operational improvements are key talking points, alongside lighter moments and concerns about roster depth, special teams, and the fate of controversial cornerback Terry Arnold.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Training Camp Intensity & Competitive Spirit

• D’Amico Ryans’ Perspective (01:44)
  • Quote: “What you look for in camp… you look for that competitive nature, like back and forth, both sides making plays. And that's what we see every day.”
  • Ryans praises the team’s “next play mentality”: responding positively to mistakes, emphasizing growth and competition.
  • Camp is reaching “that time where it’s time to play a game against someone else”—everyone is eager for preseason.

2. Offensive Improvements Over Last Year

• Marked Progress on Offense (02:48)
  • Seth notes the offense is making more consistent plays than last year, even if still trailing the top-tier defense.
  • Quote: “Compared to last season, it’s a marked improvement.” (Seth Payne, 02:48)
• Clean Pre-snap Operations (03:41)
  • Seth highlights near-total elimination of pre-snap penalties, even with increased shifts/motions compared to 2025.
  • Analogy: “The defense is like a heavily favored NBA team… they dropped game two, and came out in game three and were like, all right, seriously, what the hell?” (Seth Payne, 04:28)
  • Offensive battles now feel legitimate, unlike prior years.

3. Depth and Battles Along the Offensive Line

• Offensive Line Depth (05:02, 05:54)
  • Second-team O-line’s strength is cited as “most encouraging.” Blake Fisher gets shout-outs for improved camp performance.
  • Competition at center: Last year’s starter Jake Andrews (cut/reclaimed by Patriots) is now fighting for a spot, while rookie Keelan Rutledge shines.
  • Quote: “Keelan Rutledge at center… just keeps getting better and better. And you can get excited about who’s potentially playing center right now.” (Seth Payne, 06:19)

4. Rookie Center Keelan Rutledge – Spotlight

• Coach Nick Cayley’s Assessment (08:04)
  • Quote: “He’s a tough, nasty, accountable dude that is getting better every day… He’s all ball and he’s tough. His nails. He’s all day tough.” (Nick Cayley, 08:04)
  • Rutledge is praised for physicality, quick development, and strong work ethic.
• Payne’s Analysis: Not Just Toughness, But Control (08:48)
  • Contrasts Rutledge with past “tough guy” O-linemen who were undisciplined. Rutledge’s aggression is controlled; he “plays violently” but within technique.
  • Particularly strong at reaching linebackers/safeties at the second level—a weakness from last year.
• Athleticism & Background (11:04)
  • Rutledge, “big white dude with a red beard,” played basketball in high school—he’s “a very, very good athlete.”
• Rutledge on Transitioning to Center (12:39)
  • Quote: “At guard you kinda shut up and listen to the center. At center… as a rookie, you gotta tell everybody what to do. Not necessarily intimidating, but way, way different…” (Keelan Rutledge, 12:39)
• Rutledge on Working With C.J. Stroud (12:58)
  • Quote: “He’s been great to me. Anything, you know, if I’m ever like a little hairy on something… that guy’s played a lot of football. So he’ll get you on the right page.” (Keelan Rutledge, 12:58)

5. C.J. Stroud Year Two—Leadership & Operational Upgrade

• Improved Command (14:42)
  • Trent Brown lauds C.J.'s leadership: “Super confident… we were breaking the huddle with like seven seconds [left]… now it’s 24 seconds. It’s unbelievable.” (Trent Brown, 14:42)
  • Communication, timing, and collective operation much improved.
  • Quote: “We’re all seeing the field through the same set of eyes. And that’s what you really want.” (Trent Brown, 14:52)
• Hosts’ Breakdown (16:27)
  • Fewer pre-snap disasters (like last year’s infamous quick unblocked sacks).
  • Offensive setup no longer “gunky” (Seth Payne)—play calling, huddle, and line checks are smooth, efficient.

6. Special Teams Update—Punter Situation

• Punter Battle Down to One (18:05)
  • Lighthearted banter about the “nightmare” of bad punts and roster depletion—“We’re down to one who’s not even that punter. A nominal punter.” (Seth Payne, 18:09)

7. Roster Moves & Terry Arnold Situation

• Controversial CB Terry Arnold (19:24)
  • Discussion of Arnold’s eight felony counts (kidnapping and robbery) and why the Texans brought him in for a look.
  • Payne speculates Texans wanted to assess both ability and character; team is willing to evaluate any player, regardless of baggage.
  • Raises question: Was off-field trouble or poor play responsible for his NFL struggles? Notes contrast between college reputation and pro issues.
  • Light moment: “I draw a hard line. I don’t want anybody with more than three kidnapping charges.” (Seth Payne, 20:05)
• Undrafted CB Colin Wright’s Emergence (20:56)
  • Wright reportedly impressing as a fill-in for Derek Stingley, getting reps with the first team—praised by coaches and players.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• D’Amico Ryans, on Camp Competition – [01:44]
  “That’s what we see every day. Someone is making a big play… if someone makes a bad play, nobody is down about it. It’s okay. How do we come back?... That’s how our guys are responding.”

• Seth Payne, on Pre-Snap Penalties – [03:41]
  “Pre-snap penalties by the offense have been almost non-existent… it’s a cleaner operation.”

• Nick Cayley, on Keelan Rutledge – [08:04]
  “He’s all ball and he’s tough. His nails. He’s all day tough.”

• Seth Payne, on Offensive Line’s Aggression – [09:10]
  “He [Rutledge] plays with really good body control and all his aggression is very well placed…”

• Keelan Rutledge, on Center vs. Guard – [12:39]
  “At guard you just kind of shut up and listen to the center. At center… you gotta tell everybody what to do.”

• Trent Brown, on C.J. Stroud’s Huddle Command – [14:42]
  “Last year we were breaking the huddle with seven seconds left… this year, 24 seconds. It’s unbelievable.”

• Seth Payne, on Operation Last Year – [17:49]
  “It was like a toddler tying their shoes. It’s annoying as hell.”

• Seth Payne, on Terry Arnold – [20:05]
  “I draw a hard line. I don’t want anybody with more than three kidnapping charges.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:44] D’Amico Ryans on camp competition and team maturity
• [02:48] Hosts react to offensive progress vs. last season
• [05:02] Offensive line depth discussion and second-team performance
• [06:17] Center position battle—Jake Andrews vs. Keelan Rutledge
• [08:04] Nick Cayley’s assessment of Rutledge’s skillset and toughness
• [11:04] Rutledge’s athleticism and background as a multi-sport athlete
• [12:39] Keelan Rutledge discusses the mindset shift from guard to center
• [12:58] Rutledge praises C.J. Stroud’s calming presence and leadership
• [14:42] Trent Brown on the improved pace, confidence, and operation under Stroud
• [16:27] Payne & Pendergast on better play-calling, fewer pre-snap blunders
• [18:05] Special teams punter situation update—banter and concern
• [19:24] Terry Arnold’s off-field issues; Payne & Pendergast on Texans' interest
• [20:56] Recognition of undrafted CB Colin Wright’s rise in camp

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Overall Tone & Takeaways

• Optimistic & Analytical: The hosts balance measured optimism (noting real improvements) with context and reminders of areas still needing progress.
• Unfiltered & Relatable: Honest critiques, running jokes, and personal anecdotes (“toddler tying shoes,” punting nightmares) make the episode engaging and personable.

For Listeners/New Fans

This episode is a must-listen for Texans fans seeking a granular, insider-informed look at training camp developments, especially those intrigued by rookie Keelan Rutledge and the offense’s year-two leap under C.J. Stroud. The detailed breakdowns, candid interviews, and spirited banter are characteristic of Payne & Pendergast’s acclaimed approach to Houston sports talk.

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Transcript

[D'Amico]

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[Seth Payne]

Fresh squeezed lemonade.

[Sean Pendergast]

Lemonade.

[Shannon Maldonado]

Oh, nuts.

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[Sean Pendergast]

radio 610 presents Seth Payne and Sean Pendergast.

[Seth Payne]

We coming to eighth time. Let's get the work in man.

[Keelan Rutledge]

Let's go.

[Sean Pendergast]

Great day, Great day.

[Seth Payne]

Oh, give me some juice. Play by. Oh, yeah, let's do it.

[D'Amico]

Our team is doing a really nice job and what you look for in camp for me, I talk about it. You look for that competitive nature, like back and forth, both sides making plays. And that's what we see every day. You know, someone is making a big play, right? And if someone makes a bad play, nobody is down about it. It's okay. How do we come back? How do we respond in a positive manner with that next play mentality. That's how our guys are responding. So it's been great. Going to get other. I think it's starting to get to that time where it's time to, you know, play a game against someone else. But our guys, they've done a Great job all camp. Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

And you'll get to do that to Miko on Thursday. This week we get our first game of the preseason. Big week. Big week here at the station. Yes. Big week every at the Methodist Training center as we are here for practice number 10 today. Good morning my friend.

[Seth Payne]

It is a big week because on Thursday not only do we have a preseason game, but we're, we're, we're opening up 95.7 the fan.

[D'Amico]

Yep.

[Seth Payne]

I don't know how to. Do you have directions on how to get there to 95.

[D'Amico]

Seven?

[Seth Payne]

I don't know where to. Is the. Are we in a different office?

[Sean Pendergast]

I'm Uber. I'm Ubering. So I just. Yeah.

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[Trent Brown]

I don't know.

[Sean Pendergast]

I'm letting.

[Seth Payne]

Plug it into the. I'm letting the driver figure out. This is. No, it's been. And it's been. This has been a fun training camp so far. Mostly because of what d' Amico just said that look, the offense is, the offense is making some plays. They're not making plays as consistently as the defense but compared to last season it's, it's, it's a marked improvement.

[Sean Pendergast]

Has it been we're nine practices in. Has it been better, worse or the same as you expected for the offense?

[Seth Payne]

It's been better than I expected. Better than you, I guess. Or at least it was. I realistically hoped for something like this. I think honestly like one of the most, one of the most encouraging things that only a Texans fan would understand why I'm talking about this. There's anybody from another team just listening and maybe some Chargers fans because they're like yeah, let's hear what's going on with Houston before they.

[Sean Pendergast]

If I know Charger fans, they're going to be up at three in the morning before listen to scouting on a game preseason before they face off.

[Seth Payne]

Preseason game number one. Yeah, they're going to be like what the hell is this guy talking about when he says the pre snap penalties by the offense have been almost non existent. But that also comes as they're doing a lot of shifts and motions and a lot of pre snap stuff and it's just, it's a cleaner operation and they are making some plays but the defense is still. It's the best defense in the league and they're going against an offense that we don't know how good they are. Not right now, but they're not the best offense in the league. So like, like Saturday night, this is what Saturday night was, Sean, with the ones ones versus Ones. I think the twos did a better job. The offense did. But ones versus ones. The defense is like a heavily favored NBA team in the playoffs that dropped game two, and they come out in game three, and they're like, all right, seriously, what the hell?

[Sean Pendergast]

So Friday was kind of game two. Yeah. And then Saturday was they was they're coming back.

[Seth Payne]

Or even just in general, whether they just didn't. Maybe they felt like this during the week. They didn't play as well as they wanted. We saw Will Anderson after practice.

[Sean Pendergast]

Great analogy. Yeah.

[Seth Payne]

Thanks to.

[D'Amico]

It is.

[Seth Payne]

It's like they're clear the better squad, but every now and then, the other squad, they've got pros, you know, Enos Cantor is gonna do something every now and then. And then they went out and they slapped down the lesser team on Saturday.

[Trent Brown]

They did.

[D'Amico]

They did.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. The defense ruled the day.

[Seth Payne]

I would say. The offensive line on the second team playing well, though, I think is a good sign of the depth of the offensive line.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah, there's gonna be. I think that's maybe the most encouraging thing for me about the offense. Two things. One, as you point out, they are winning some reps out here. Didn't do last year. Quite literally, they didn't do. I can't remember a single rep they won in training camp in 2025. They are winning some reps out here.

[Seth Payne]

A single rep.

[Sean Pendergast]

I mean, it probably happened. I just can't remember. But the. The battle for some of these positions on the offensive side making this team is going to be really interesting. And not because of things in previous years where you had maybe like, on the offensive line room, you had like three guys you felt were NFL offensive linemen. And then it's like, all right, well, then we got to find nine of them here. This is, you know, like. Like Blake Fisher, for example, has shown up a lot better this training camp than he's shown up in previous training camps.

[Seth Payne]

If we talk about the center position alone, I mean, last year, Jake Andrews is a guy who had been cut by the Patriots and traded. Cut, cut by the Patriots and had played about a total of 70 snaps. And he's competing for the starting center spot with another guy and, well, Juice Scruggs and Patterson, you know, who aren't starting caliber players right now. And Jake Andrews ends up getting the job. And I thought he made improvement as the year went along, but this year we're watching Keelan Rutledge at center, and it just keeps getting better and better. And you can get excited about who's potentially Playing center right now. And I think that's. That's probably the most stark difference. Whereas Jake Andrews. Jake Andrews is fighting for a roster spot, I think.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yes, no doubt.

[Seth Payne]

And that, you know, and they've got. Evan Brown is a guy that he's competing with, who's been a starter in the league, is probably going to end up making the team as a swing interior offensive lineman. They've just got. They've got way more depth and way more. Which means that when somebody inevitably gets injured on the offensive line, there's going to be a competent backup to go in and play competent football.

[Sean Pendergast]

Let's. Let's hit Rutledge here. As long as you're bringing him up. This was Nick Cayley, because I get asked about him a lot. I don't know if you know out

[Seth Payne]

and about Haley or Rutledge.

[Sean Pendergast]

No. Well, kaylee, yes. Also, C.J. like, if you're listening to people, I get asked about when. When they say, hey, how do things look at training camp? CJ Is always number one. Kaylee is almost attached to CJ at the hip because he's the offensive coordinator. But people are really intrigued by Keelan Rutledge because they hear that he's playing center out here and he's never played center before.

[Seth Payne]

Right. Which, by the way, just to set the scene, everybody. Who the hell is smoking a cigarette in 2026 somewhere then? Yeah, I can say it might be 50 yards away, but I pick up on it like nothing. So go ahead. Go ahead.

[Sean Pendergast]

No, that's okay. Now I can smell it, too. I can't stop thinking you can smell it.

[Seth Payne]

Yeah.

[Shannon Maldonado]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

I'm gonna start bringing cigars. Smoke those early in the morning.

[Seth Payne]

I don't mind cigar smoke. Cigarette smoke gets me.

[Sean Pendergast]

I'm same, same. Here's Nick Cayle on Saturday. The coordinators met with the media after Saturday's open practice. And he had this to say about rookie Keelan Rutledge.

[Nick Cayley]

The same thing we saw on tape at Georgia Tech. He's a tough, nasty, accountable dude that is getting better every day. I mean, he's playing a really. A position that puts a lot on you. He's got great people around him. Cole Popovich, I love. That's my guy. He's working. He hasn't changed a bit from the first time I heard him say, I don't even. I don't even have a suit. When he first showed up after the draft, I was like, I love this guy. I love this guy. But he's all ball and he's Tough. His nails. He's all day tough.

[Seth Payne]

Yeah, that's.

[Sean Pendergast]

That was good branding.

[Seth Payne]

All day tough. That's a good caption.

[Sean Pendergast]

That was good branding by Keelan Rutledge when he showed up after the draft to say he doesn't own a suit.

[Seth Payne]

Yeah, it turns out he's actually got three wardrobes full of clothes.

[Sean Pendergast]

Good job saying it though, as they're

[Seth Payne]

unloading seven trunks of clothing off that. No, he is, he's. What do you say? All day tough. And I think the big difference with, you know, him and we've talked about, okay, what's the difference between a rookie like Trevor Penning who comes in and, and he's fighting everybody but ends up being a horrible football player? Trevor Penning, for those of you who don't know, he was a first round draft pick by the New Orleans Saints a few years ago. But he had this whole Persona of I'm Mr. Tough Guy. Remember, Trevor Penning was getting in fights in Saints training camp all the time. And it's because Trevor Penning is the kind of. I almost used a bad word. He's the kind of offensive lineman that's like, he's trying to act like he's tough, but he's just doing dirty stuff and like holding and hitting guys after the snap. During training camp practices, the defensive linemen are going to take exception to Keelan Rutledge is tough in terms of just finishing plays, getting downfield, attaching to guys playing violently and first and foremost, unlike Trevor Penning, I think Keelan Rutledge is going to be a good football player. So. So with young players, sometimes overly aggressive offensive linemen, what they do is they get off balance real easily. They get out, they get out of their cylinder. You think about just like a vertical cylinder of keeping everything under control. As an offensive lineman, the guys who are overly aggressive, they just, they get unbalanced, they get out over their feet and they get dumped on their face when they play real football.

[Sean Pendergast]

That's Penning.

[Seth Payne]

Yeah, that's Penning. I don't worry about that with Kalen Rutledge at all. He plays with really good body control and all of his aggression is very well placed and within, within the framework of how he's supposed to be executing his techniques. So it's really cool to watch. He's really strong, he's very explosive, and he's got a very good understanding of angles and leverage and where he's supposed to be on a play. And last year with the offensive line, one of the biggest things they struggled with was all right, they started to do a better job of getting the defensive linemen blocked up, but they weren't getting up to the linebackers and safeties all that well at the second level. Rutledge's Rutledge might end up being really good at that. And you know, Ingram to the on the right side is, is really good at that as well. So this is, it's going to be a better rushing attack. I just, I just don't know how much better at this point.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah, he's, that's the thing about Rutledge that maybe people don't know or you know, the stereotype. He's just, you know, he's a big white dude with a red beard. Yeah, he's a really good athlete.

[Seth Payne]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Played basketball in high school. He's a very, very good athlete. This is Keelan Rutledge with a conversation he had with Shelby Coppage, who does the Shelby, she does the sidelines on the Texans pre game television broadcast. She's out here at training camp these last couple weeks.

[Podcast Host (Kendra Adachi)]

Interviewing hey there. I'm Kendra Adachi and my show, the Lazy Genius Podcast helps you be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't. And you get to decide what matters. I'm not here to tell you what to do. I'm here to give you a new way to see. Episodes of the Lazy Genius podcast are full of compassionate time management tips and permission slips to do what makes sense for you. New episodes drop every Monday. Follow and listen to the Lazy Genius podcast on the free Odysee app or wherever you get your podcasts.

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[Sean Pendergast]

Apply new players after practice. And this is Rutledge talking about the difference between guard, which is the position he played throughout college, and center, where he's being groomed for right now.

[Keelan Rutledge]

Yeah, I think it's just getting everybody on the same page. Like, you know, at guard you should kind of shut up and listen to the center. And at center, you know, coming in as a rookie, you gotta tell everybody what to do. So I think that's something that not necessarily intimidating, but way, way different because

[Sean Pendergast]

you're at the line of scrimmage and

[Keelan Rutledge]

you're talking and making sure everybody's on the right page. So I think that's, that's the thing.

[Podcast Host (Kendra Adachi)]

How has it been working with C.J.

[Matthew Berry]

so closely?

[Keelan Rutledge]

Oh, it's been great. He's been great. To me. Anything, you know, if I'm ever like a little hairy on something, you kind of look back there and that guy's put a lot of football. So it'll get you on the right page.

[D'Amico]

Yeah.

[Seth Payne]

And that part about C.J. getting him on the right page. I think one of the more encouraging things I've heard from CJ this year is I've heard him a couple times mention the protection and him being involved in the protection. And that was something that I think it's an underrated challenge for guys, for young quarterbacks, no matter which system they're in, but especially in this one where they want him to be really involved in the pass protection. It's a lot, it's. I think it's probably every bit as complicated as everything that he has to work on with the receivers. And that part of it this year has been a lot cleaner. Even as they're playing with a rookie center, a lot of the time they're just, they're, they're picking up blitzes, they're. They're getting the right run plays called and doing the right checks. And that's where you're seeing fewer or non existent pre snap penalties. Yeah, like false starts are bad, but the ones that really are indicative of issues with the operation are the illegal motions, the illegal alignments, all of those things. And so far we haven't seen any of those. Now they're not out here with NFL refs, so these guys might not pick up on everything that an NFL ref might. But I mean, it's been really, really clean.

[D'Amico]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

This time of year ago, it was terrible.

[Seth Payne]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. So it's just, it's better than last year for sure. Speaking of CJ and speaking of the offensive line, this was Trent Brown. This is an interview he did with Cody Stutes and Landry Lock.

[Seth Payne]

I'm sorry, real quick. When I say false starts are bad, I mean in general they haven't been bad during this training camp.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yep. This is Trent Brown talking about the operation with C.J. here in year two.

[Trent Brown]

Confidence. Super confident. Super confident. I mean, we're with me and, me and Nick were talking the other day last year, we were breaking the huddle with like seven seconds. We've been breaking the huddle with like 24 seconds and it's like, it's unbelievable. You know what I mean? Like, he's a lot more confident in the way he commands the huddle, a lot more confident in the way he calls the plays a lot and the way he's seeing the field and what we're all seeing the field through the same set of eyes. And that's what you really want.

[Sean Pendergast]

Here's why I play. TRENT Brown AUDIO Because Trent Brown, of all the offensive linemen, he's the one that doesn't play when it comes to praise and things like that.

[Seth Payne]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Remember last year when I think it was around that time Cole Popovich did an interview on with Mark Vandermeer and John Harris begrudgingly. So yeah, Cole Popovich looked like he wanted to be anywhere else. Not because of Mark and John, just because I don't think he's like an extrovert when it, at least in an interview setting, Cole Popovich. But it was right around that same time too, where people were and Cole Popovich, like Mark and Johnny brought up the, the improvement of the offensive line. And Cole Popovich did not seem like he felt like they were greatly improved or anything, like it was better. But he was, he was very, very hesitant to give overwhelming praise for the offensive line. Rightfully so. Trent Brown, of all the players and in large part Seth, I think you pointed this out like he's seen what good looks like he was in New England for a bunch of years in this offense.

[Seth Payne]

Well, and he was. Well, he was in New eng England in 2018. Especially that with Tom Brady. That was the one year he was with Tom Brady. And like he knows how it's supposed to, what it looks like when, when it's operating the way it's supposed to.

[Sean Pendergast]

So he did an interview, I remember at one point and, and I think, you know, and he was like, no, this, this is not good enough. So to hear Trent Brown be effusive in praise for cj, I think is meaningful maybe compared to some of the other offensive linemen.

[Seth Payne]

And that whole part about just, hey, they're breaking the huddle, they're getting up to the line of scrimmage, all of that, that's the, that's the big thing that fans notice. You get up there, that, that Jeffrey Simmons sack that everybody remembers where he was just unblocked and got CJ to the ground in like 1.3 seconds last year, that was all a result of a bad pre snap operation that was Just not getting the checks in, not everybody hearing the checks and everybody being on the. On a different page. I don't, I don't think we're going to see atrocities like that early this season.

[Sean Pendergast]

Can I give you a regular person reaction to what Trent Brown just said? One aspect of it, when he said, last year we were. We were breaking the huddle and there's seven seconds left on the play clock. And this year there's 24 seconds left. What the hell's going on for those 17 seconds last year?

[Seth Payne]

Well, this is the thing. It's. It's. It's one of those things where there's so many steps involved in getting a play in. Yeah. To the quarterback. The quarterback getting the play out and then all of that. It's that every little, Every couple of seconds really starts to add up. And if you want to think of it like a fine tuned machine, it's. Yeah. If one of the gears is off at the beginning of the process, it throws off the whole operation.

[Sean Pendergast]

And it's probably not all cj. It was the first time guy calling plays last year, too.

[Seth Payne]

Yeah. From Kaylee deciding on a play to it getting into the huddle to then it getting communicated to the players. It was just. It was gunky.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yep.

[Seth Payne]

It was like a toddler tying their shoes. It's annoying as hell.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yes.

[Seth Payne]

Trying not to yell. You know, he's just like, you don't want to do it for him.

[Sean Pendergast]

No.

[Seth Payne]

But you're like, but. But you're making millions of dollars, toddler. All right. Yeah.

[Matthew Berry]

Let's.

[Sean Pendergast]

Damn.

[Odysee Advertiser]

Come on.

[Seth Payne]

We got to get going. Got to get going.

[Sean Pendergast]

We're down to one punter. The punter battle is down to one.

[Seth Payne]

We're down to one who's not even that punter. A nominal punter. Yeah. We were the one guy who plays the punt position punter. I had a nightmare about punting last night. I'm just realizing is where. Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Is it a Texans related nightmare?

[Seth Payne]

Yeah, it was. It was one of those. It was that I had the. The punter was like. Kept shanking the ball. It was. We were watching a game and the punter was like kicking it 10 yards every single time.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. Sounds like somebody. Sounds like you've been at training camp.

[Seth Payne]

I was drifting off to sleep last night and then all of a sudden I got like a flurry of texts. You're one of the guilty parties.

[Trent Brown]

Oh, yeah.

[Seth Payne]

You, Garrett Heinrich and a few other people. I got like 20 texts.

[Sean Pendergast]

Garrett was sending texts way too late

[Seth Payne]

because I forgot I Was going to bed early, but I forgot to put do not disturb.

[Sean Pendergast]

Oh, I sent you. Oh, I sent you a text about Terry and Arnold.

[Seth Payne]

Yeah. Pissed me off.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah, I don't. I can't see what time I sent it, though.

[Seth Payne]

It was like 8pm Was it? Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Okay.

[Seth Payne]

The.

[Sean Pendergast]

What time. What is the time I should stop sending you texts.

[Seth Payne]

No, no, no. It's my fault for not putting. I went to bed early. I got to put it on. Do not disturb.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah, but still, in case you don't put it on, like, what time do you want me to not text you anymore ever?

[Seth Payne]

I don't like communicating with people. Come on, send me an email on my work email.

[Sean Pendergast]

Check it.

[Seth Payne]

Eventually.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Seth Payne]

Jerry and Arnold, this had the feel of. Okay, the Texans have a good relationship with the. The agent. Nicole.

[Sean Pendergast]

Nicole Lynn.

[Seth Payne]

Nicole Lynn. She's Will Anderson's agent and a few other guys on the Texans.

[D'Amico]

And.

[Seth Payne]

And the Texans also are very open and willing to just taking a look at anybody. They don't care about your reputation or what's going on. I'm guessing the Texans wanted to have a look at Terry and Arnold, but then also have a conversation with him about what the hell's going on with his legal situation in Florida. For those of you who don't know, he's charged with. Is it six felony counts?

[Sean Pendergast]

No, it's eight. It's.

[Seth Payne]

Oh, it's eight.

[Sean Pendergast]

It's four. It's four kidnapping account. Four kidnapping counts and four robbery.

[Seth Payne]

Yeah. Yeah, Sean, I draw a hard line. I don't want anybody with more than three kidnapping charges. Ongoing kidnapping.

[Sean Pendergast]

If I still have my fantasy off season crime league, he'd have been like buried bonds.

[Seth Payne]

Well, the fascinating thing about Terry and Arnold is. All right, he got himself into a big old fiasco down there. Depending on no matter how. How guilty or not guilty he is, he got himself involved with some sketchy people.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Seth Payne]

And he also was a disappointment as a draft pick. So you wonder. That would be intriguing for me as. All right, man. All the reports of this kid coming out of Alabama were that he was a plus character and everything. So that if somehow he got led astray, it is in him to be that solid citizen and in him getting led astray. Was that also part of why he wasn't playing all that well? That's the intriguing upside for.

[Sean Pendergast]

That's the other thing. He hasn't. He'd still be on the Lions if he was playing well.

[Seth Payne]

But meanwhile. Right. If he was a really. If he had been. If he had been rookie of the year and an All Pro in his second year. They're not cutting him. This out. This felt like. All right, that's enough. We're done. I think that the one intriguing thing is that Colin Wright, the undrafted rookie free agent out of Stanford, has really impressed a lot of people to the point where he's out there. He's out there defending passes in place of Derek Stingley the other night. And, you know, he was. We're not supposed to. We're not supposed to talk about who's lining up where and everything, but, like, the whole damn world knows that he was out there with the ones. Right. Playing for Derek Stingley.

[Sean Pendergast]

Have you seen the billboards? Protect the team.

[Seth Payne]

Right, Right. But I mean, that the. Okay. Yeah. All.

[Nick Cayley]

So.

[Seth Payne]

And every time they. Well, I think one of the coaches talked about being out there running with the ones. Like, every time one of the defensive backs is asked about a young player who's playing well, they bring up Colin, right?

[Keelan Rutledge]

Yeah.

[Matthew Berry]

Oh, yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

He's had a good camp. Had a good camp. And by the way, the reason I mentioned Terry and Arnold, he. He worked out. He had a second visit with the Seahawks or one of the other teams that's kicking tires on him. All right, let's hit some baseball. In the next segment, the Astros still in first place, but the weekend was not great. And an article that I saw over the weekend about the playoff teams in Major League Baseball, I think kind of accentuate why this might not be a long run for the Astros. We will tell you why coming up.

[Matthew Berry]

Drink up, baby. Fantasy Football Happy Hour is here to get you wins and have some laughs. Matthew Berry here and my podcast, Fantasy Football Happy Hour has the sleepers, busts and starts and advice you need to win your league. We're diving into the tape, crunching the numbers to bring you sleepers bust weekly. Start sit advice. Whether you're defending a title or desperately avoiding last place, I've got you covered. Every single weekday, the bar is open. It's Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Barry. Wherever you get your podcasts, we have

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[Seth Payne]

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[Podcast Host (Kendra Adachi)]

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