Winners so far at Texans Training Camp

Summary

Payne & Pendergast Podcast Summary

Episode Title: Winners so far at Texans Training Camp
Date: August 7, 2026
Hosts: Seth Payne & Sean Pendergast
Guest Analyst: John Harris
Special Appearance: D'Amico Ryans (Texans Head Coach), Jadeveon Clowney (Texans DE)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the Houston Texans’ 2026 training camp, focusing on standout performers, with a special revisit into Jadeveon Clowney’s Houston journey—his growth, maturity, and evolving role within the team. The hosts analyze the impact of new and returning faces, training camp dynamics, policy changes, and reflect on the franchise’s broader direction.

---

1. The Return of Jadeveon Clowney: Maturity and Motivation

Key Segment: [01:00 – 09:00]

• D'Amico Ryans shares insights from his NFL Network interview about Clowney’s motivation for returning to the Texans.

  • “It means something to him to come back to Houston and to finish his career the right way…he wants to come back to take the Texans to the next level.” — D'Amico Ryans [01:21]
  • Clowney "already in the backfield causing havoc" in his first two days.

• Hosts’ Take:

  • John Harris notes that fan perceptions may lag reality, acknowledging that Clowney, while not always flashy, has remained quietly effective and impactful at every stop since leaving Houston.
    • “He’s remained a really impactful football player...It’s just that he’s not front and center of your mind if he’s not in your market.” — John Harris [03:58]
  • Sean & John discuss the 'journeyman' knock, likening it to narratives around C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
    • “It’s an easy narrative to create just based on his career path.” — Sean Pendergast [04:34]

Clowney Reflects: Growth and New Perspective

• Clowney on maturity:

  • “I’m grown. Yeah, man, I was a big kid at first when I first got here… But coming back now, you know, I’m a vet in the locker room, a lot older, a lot smarter than I was before, you know, just enjoying it, taking it day by day.” — Jadeveon Clowney [06:09]

• Clowney on his Houston exit:

  • “Nah, I don’t take nothing personal, man… It was just O’Brien at the time. Me and him bumped heads… I was just taking people’s advice instead of really looking in the mirror, trying to figure myself out, I was listening to other people. As I got older, I started saying, just take care of yourself finally, and, you know, it’s gonna work out for you. And I started doing that when I left here. That’s how I think I lasted eight more years in the league.” — Jadeveon Clowney [06:59]

• Panel consensus:

  • There’s admiration for Clowney’s evolved mindset; his leadership is now more ‘by example’ than vocal.

---

2. "Clowney Files": Revisiting the Old Narratives

Key Segment: [11:04 – 27:06]

A. Rookie Year Micro-dramas & Overreactions

1. Instagram ‘scandal’ ([11:04]):
   • Liked a photo during a game he missed for illness; hosts agree this was an "old man take" and an overblown issue.
2. Self-reporting injuries (“Dr. Clowney”) ([14:14]):
   • Clowney was open with media about his injury status, irking then-coach Bill O’Brien.
     • “I don’t know, Dr. Clowney, I’ll reconvene with him and see how he’s doing.” — Bill O’Brien [15:10]
   • All agree it was a teachable moment more than a crisis.
3. Pitbull bite incident ([16:47]):
   • Clowney bitten by teammate D.J. Swearinger’s dog. Hosts recall the “litany” of minor mishaps painted an unfairly negative picture.
4. Leaving stadium pre-playoff game ([19:34]):
   • False report Clowney “stormed out” after being made inactive; he clarifies he left only to deliver tickets to family and returned.
5. Calling Blake Bortles “trash” after a loss ([25:16]):
   • Hosts laugh it off; agree Clowney wouldn’t say that now, but also, he wasn’t wrong!

Takeaway:

• The group agrees that many negative narratives around Clowney were exaggerated. Clowney’s current maturity—and the team context—mean such drama isn't likely in 2026.

---

3. Training Camp Standouts: Who’s Winning So Far?

Key Segment: [27:11 – 39:00]

A. Jaden Higgins, WR ([27:11 – 32:45])

• Big physical leap: Benefiting from Nico Collins’ light workload, showing strong chemistry with C.J. Stroud.
  • “Higgins came back ready this camp…him and CJ are finding a connection… he’s excelling at every level.” — D’Amico Ryans [27:34]
• John Harris: His growth is mental as much as physical; “he looks like he might end up being the next Nico Collins.”

B. Keelan Rutledge, C ([32:45 – 35:54])

• Praised for physicality and poise: D’Amico notes his signature ‘feistiness’ and ability to play at the NFL’s pace.
  • “You see 66 running downfield… you see the feistiness, you see him shoving after the play. Just a gritty old school offensive lineman...” — D’Amico Ryans [33:09]
• Adjustment to NFL center: Clean operation—few penalties or blown assignments; still needs reps against 3-4 defenses.

C. Colin Wright, CB (UFA) ([37:03 – 38:47])

• Camp darling: Frequent PBUs, always near the ball; several in the building mention him by name.
  • “Colin is one of the rookies who's showing up almost every day...he finds a way to get his hands on the ball.” — D’Amico Ryans [37:26]

---

4. C.J. Stroud: Quiet Command and Offseason Hype

Key Segment: [40:51 – 44:13]

• Hosts’ Observations:
  • Stroud shows notable “command” of the offense, especially in pre-snap reads and protection adjustments.
    • “He’s operating this offense with more command.” — John Harris [41:04]
  • Physical tools and body composition are discussed; external critics question his shape but the team is unconcerned.
    • “He doesn’t look any different than he’s looked the entire time he’s been here.” — John Harris [43:03]
    • “C.J. looks like he’s built in a lab, but, like, one that I own…” — Sean Pendergast [43:39]

---

5. Texans’ New Social Media Policy: Fan Frustration?

Key Segment: [44:13 – 47:46]

• The Policy: Big signs and staff on hand preventing fans from filming practices, aiming to keep new plays/formations off social media.
  • “We don’t want our plays getting out so other teams can study what we’re doing here in training camp...if you’re a true Texans fan…you wouldn’t showcase our plays…” — D’Amico Ryans [45:05]
• Fan Reaction:
  • Some fans/media irked; hosts mostly supportive, noting that teams need to control what gets out.
  • “I tend to defend the team whenever they're paranoid about letting information leak out…” — John Harris [47:24]
• Parallels Drawn: The policy feels “New England-y”—a nod to GM Nick Caserio’s roots.

---

6. Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Clowney’s narrative:
  • “This is a nice situation because...he’s a nice cherry on top of an already really good situation.” — John Harris [04:59]
• On Higgins’ progress:
  • “Sky’s the limit for Jaden Higgins because he’s prepared himself the right way over the offseason.” — D’Amico Ryans [27:34]
• On the social media ban:
  • “Everyone who has a phone is media.” — D’Amico Ryans [45:20]
  • “If you’re a true Texans fan and you want to see the Texans succeed, you wouldn’t showcase our plays to teams who don’t know what we’re running.” — D’Amico Ryans [45:34]

---

7. Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:00] – D’Amico Ryans on Clowney’s return
• [06:09] – Clowney on maturing, his upbringing, and wanting to finish strong in Houston
• [11:04–27:06] – Clowney’s rookie-year incidents, fan/media reactions, and what’s changed
• [27:11] – John Harris and D’Amico Ryans on Higgins’ breakout camp
• [32:45] – Keelan Rutledge buzz: center stability and rookie grit
• [37:03] – Colin Wright: UFA making a case
• [40:51] – C.J. Stroud’s offseason, handling scrutiny
• [44:13] – Texans’ new anti-phone policy at camp, fan/media response

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8. Episode Tone & Dynamic

• Language: Candid, insightful, humorous banter, player/coach audio matches the down-to-earth honesty.
• Style: Mix of serious analysis, playful storytelling, and local Houston sports flavor.

---

9. Summary: For Listeners Who Missed the Show

If you missed the episode, here’s what you need to know:

• Jadeveon Clowney has returned to Houston not just as a player, but as a matured, self-aware veteran intent on finishing his story right. Both he and coach D’Amico Ryans emphasized the “more than football” importance of this decision.
• The hosts reexamined old “Clowney drama” and largely exonerated him, attributing most past noise to rookie mistakes and media overreaction.
• Training camp’s early stars include WR Jaden Higgins (emerging chemistry with C.J. Stroud), center Keelan Rutledge (physical, poised beyond his years), and surprise UFA CB Colin Wright, who’s making a real push for the 53-man roster.
• C.J. Stroud looks even more in command this year, undistracted by idle social media speculation about his physique.
• The team’s new social media/video restrictions at camp may frustrate diehard footage hounds, but are rooted in legitimate competitive strategy.

---

Bottom Line:
This episode is a love letter to growth—Clowney’s, the Texans’, and the franchise’s culture. It’s full of sharp, fun banter, behind-the-scenes details, and a running theme: Houston football, at its best, is about second chances, development, and keeping it all in the family.

Transcript

[D'Amico Ryan]

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[Seth Payne]

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[Sean Pendergast]

Lemonade.

[D'Amico Ryan]

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[Sean Pendergast]

All right, here was D' Amico Ryan's on the NFL Network with Jane Slater and Kurt Warner a couple of days ago talking about, what was the phone call like that you had with Jadevion Clowney before he became a Houston Texan?

[Seth Payne]

Did he pick up the call and say, coach, I got juice in me.

[Sean Pendergast]

I got a house here.

[Seth Payne]

I can be there when you need me. How'd it go down?

[D'Amico Ryan]

Were you on the call? That sounds about how like it sounds. Just like it went, right? Jadavian's been working out with some of his former teammates here in Houston. And, you know, we had a conversation over this summer and it pretty much went down like that. He. It means something to him to come back to Houston and to finish his career the right way. Very similar to Daniel Hunter. When I talked to him a couple years ago, he wanted to come back home to Houston and impact the city in a positive way by making the Texans successful. So when Clowney and me have that conversation, that's an easy conversation for me because I love guys who want to play. But it means more. It's bigger than just him and about him coming back, he wants to come back to take the Texans to the next level. And I love that conversation. I love everything about it. And he's been out here two days. He's already in the backfield causing havoc. So it's fun to have him. You know, the talent that he brings, he's going to get after the quarterback and you can't have enough great defensive linemen to make Quarterbacks, you can have too many.

[Sean Pendergast]

That is definitely a thing.

[Seth Payne]

That's what your opponents would say. Yes. All right.

[Sean Pendergast]

That was Kurt Warner saying, yeah, you don't need that many good defensive linemen. Former quarterback Kurt Warner. It was funny. Clowney, basically, Clowney was on afterwards, like, right after d' Amico on the NFL Network at this very desk that we're sitting at right here. Clowney basically corroborated what d' Amico said about Clowney.

[John Harris]

That called them initially.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah, d' Amico said that, though. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He said Clowney called him.

[John Harris]

Yeah, the. That. Yeah, that's. It's. It all fits really well. And sometimes, you know, you don't want it to be one of those things where, like, oh, it's awesome because it's convenient. I like Clowney. Clowney. In the first few years after he was here, I think there's people that would say, there's no way in hell they're going to sign Clowney. Even early this off season, whenever we would talk about this, or I might talk about it on a live stream or something, there was a lot of pushback. And I think if you haven't paid attention to Clowney over the last few years, it's easy to not pay attention to him because he's been on a lot of different teams, but he's just been steadily churning out impressive season after impressive season where he's still a really solid, impactful football player. It's just he doesn't really stay around long enough or he's playing for the Browns or this. That. The other thing that you really like people. When I said he had a good practice yesterday, when I said it was he put it on a clinic out there, somebody replied to me, said, he hasn't put on a clinic since college. So I don't know what you're talking about. I'm like, all right, well, you just haven't paying attention at all.

[Sean Pendergast]

Or he just doesn't like clowns.

[John Harris]

Right, right, right. No, but I think. No, but I think that's a. There is that sentiment that I think a lot of people don't realize that, no, he's. He's remained a really impactful football player since the time he left Houston. It's just that it's not. It hasn't been a defensive player of the year type performance or anything to where he's front and center of your mind if he's not in your market.

[Sean Pendergast]

No, totally. I agree with everything you just said. I think the other thing that plays into it too. And it's interesting, it's convenient that we just got done talking about CJ Gardner Johnson less than an hour ago, because what were you saying about C.J. gardner Johnson? Oh, this guy's been on six teams in six years.

[John Harris]

Right, right.

[Sean Pendergast]

So I think when we're talking about the narrative that's out there with Texan fans who maybe don't follow Clowney on a game by game basis in Baltimore or Tennessee or, or Carolina or Seattle or Dallas or wherever, they look at the. They look at the career history and they see that the guy's on a different team every year and they're like, well, that must be a situation where he just wears out his welcome in places. It's an easy narrative to create just based on his career path.

[John Harris]

And I think also it's not true the last couple years, the. Because there were. There were always stories or something, we're going to go over some of the most entertaining ones. But also because his first couple of years he was injured, it just, it wasn't going the way you had hoped for a number one overall pick. By the time he started playing really good football for the Texans, a lot of people really still didn't want to accept it because they didn't have ridiculous sack numbers. That, that was an argument we used to have. People would argue about whether Jadevian Clowney is actually really good or not. Those last couple years he was here with the Texans. This is a nice situation because there's none of that that you have to worry about because he's not the starting defensive tackle that you're relying on to be the elixir for the defense or the guy that turns things around or anything like that. He's a nice cherry on top of an already really good situation.

[Sean Pendergast]

It's a low risk, high reward move. It's a great move by the Texans. All right, now, so just to set the tone here, as we go back through the history of Clowney, let's play a couple of the recent cuts from Clowney so that we've got to sort of internalize about how there's this new, More mature Clowney 2.0. This is Clowney on the difference between the first time he was here and now.

[Jadevion Clowney]

I'm grown. Yeah, man, I was a big kid at first when I first got here. I grew up different than a lot of these guys. Man, I told people, man, I was born, you know, my dad was in jail, grew up a single parent home, Man, I grew up a lot different. So I got here, was never seen Houston. I enjoyed it during my time, and, yeah, it was fun. I came up with some great guys, group of guys when I got here. But coming back now, you know, I'm a vet in the locker room, a lot older, a lot smarter than I was before, you know, just enjoying it, taking it day by day.

[Sean Pendergast]

Okay.

[John Harris]

Yeah. And it was like, I don't. He wasn't making excuses or anything. I think he was just laying it out. So, like, yeah, that was. I was immature, and I had to learn some lessons and grow up.

[D'Amico Ryan]

Yep.

[Sean Pendergast]

Here's one more from Clowney saying he was asked if there was any bitterness when he was traded in 2019.

[Jadevion Clowney]

Nah, I don't take nothing personal, man. I always say to man, hell, man, they picked me on the moon to play football. I can do that. You know what I'm saying? I can play football. So I ain't had no hard feelings. It was just o' Brien at the time. Me and him bumped heads, and I couldn't really understand because I was an easygoing guy. I was like, all right, whatever you want from me type of guy. At this point, especially when I'm 21 years old, 22 years old, I was just taking people's advice instead of really looking in the mirror, trying to figure myself out, I was listening to other people. As I got older, I started saying, just take care of yourself finally, and, you know, it's gonna work out for you. And I started doing that when I left here. That's how I think I lasted eight more years in the league where I just started taking care of my, you know, developing my game and having fun with it.

[John Harris]

That was, you know, it's interesting, though, too, because he starts off when he's talking about how he was immature and there were things that he didn't, you know, would do differently now, etc. Etc. All the classic stuff. Yet at the same time, it was Bill o' Brien who had issues with that immaturity. I feel like it's the manner in which Bill o' Brien probably handles an immature player, that it might not. If he was having that same, you know, talk about, I don't know, like Marvin Lewis, who is great with young, immature players and getting the best out of them, he might feel a different way in. And it's two things can be true that, yes, he did, he did. He did have maturity issues. But also, Bill o' Brien's got a pretty brusque way of dealing with.

[Sean Pendergast]

No doubt, no doubt. I just know this. I know this new version of Clowney that's here. I'm, I'm in love with this new version of Clowney here.

[John Harris]

You know what it is though? He's a lot of it is he's the same guy. He's just kind of a big goofy kid but, but, but a more mature version of that.

[Sean Pendergast]

He's got guardrails on him now. Yeah, he's got guardrails on and I mean that's just his personality.

[John Harris]

I say goofy in a good way. He's just got kind of a fun personality.

[Jadevion Clowney]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

And nobody's asking him to be like the alpha leader of the team or anything, but yet I think he's a guy who probably being 33 years old and staying around being productive this long, there's probably a definite, I think lead by example things in terms of how

[Seth Payne]

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[Sean Pendergast]

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[John Harris]

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[Sean Pendergast]

It's Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry. Wherever you get your podcasts takes care of his body and things like that. Sounds like he's ready to be a great teammate here. And certainly the first couple practices have been really encouraging as to what the physical tools still are. So with that in mind, knowing that this is a more mature version of Clowney than the one that we got certainly when he got traded but even more certainly early on in his career the first couple of years I've got five different things that happen with Clowney the first time. Seth. Okay, that. Let's put this through the filter and say, would these things happen again with

[John Harris]

Clowny 2.0, or did people overreact to them at the time?

[Sean Pendergast]

We can talk about that, too. These are in chronological order. November 3, 2014. Headline, Jadevion Clowney likes a picture on Instagram. Face is wrath. Okay, so Clowney, this is his rookie. This is his rookie. It's an awful announcing. This is his rookie year. And apparently he was dealing with the micro fracture surgery in his rookie year.

[Jadevion Clowney]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

But apparently it was at a point in the season where he could have come back and played.

[John Harris]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

And the article says Jadevion Clowney was too sick to play in yesterday's game against the Eagles. He was not too sick, however, to like a picture on Instagram. And now apparently this is a thing that's an actual issue and it's got a tweet embedded from Nick Wright.

[John Harris]

I didn't realize that.

[Sean Pendergast]

Who at the time sat in this seat that I am sitting in right now. This is when Nick was our morning host here. And he posted a picture of a very pretty young lady. Right.

[John Harris]

But it's not like she's. There's nothing scandalous about the photo. Just a headshot she got on a,

[Sean Pendergast]

you know, kind of a sleeveless T shirt. Very pretty. And Clowney liked it at 12:30pm which would have been about, you know, late in the first quarter of that game. And Nick Wright says, here's the picture. Post it at 12:30pm and the people who liked it, Awful look for clowning.

[John Harris]

Yeah, I know. Boy, I wish I could go. We have to go back through the archives and see how we all handled this as a show on 2014. I, I, honestly, Nick, I feel like that's kind of an old man take there. I had like, yeah, he's sitting. He's probably sitting up in the suite that the injured players sit in. Or if he was at home, especially

[Sean Pendergast]

he's in the stadium. He was.

[John Harris]

He was in the stadium. The sick part was where I couldn't remember. Yeah. But like, okay, I don't know. It's a commercial break or there's nothing going on. He's scrolling through and there you go. I did.

[Seth Payne]

Did you.

[John Harris]

Were you afraid that Clowney wasn't offering up his strategic advice on the headset? Yeah, like, I was contributing to the game.

[Sean Pendergast]

Cornell advice on what he see.

[John Harris]

I mean. Yeah. Would I advise you to do it? No. But he's also A young single guy. It' like, all right. Oh, no. The 21 year old is liking a picture of an attractive woman on Instagram.

[Sean Pendergast]

This story was such a big deal that Tom Mahon, the Philadelphia Daily News writer, devoted part of a column to it under the headline, in Houston, linebacker proving to be a clown.

[John Harris]

Oh, no.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah, so Philly was coming after him. All right, so A, did we overreact at the time? It sounds like yes. And at least Nick did. Yeah, right. Nick Wright. And B, do you think this is something that Clowney 2.0 would do if he's sick for a game or he's injured, he's up in the booth. Do you're liking Instagram?

[John Harris]

Remember? You know what? I think if he. Okay, I don't think he would like. You just understand. All right, you know what? Yeah, I get. People make a big deal out of this stuff. He knows that.

[Sean Pendergast]

So married now with kids.

[John Harris]

Well, and he's also. He's not under the scrutiny because everybody's waiting for him to fail. He's number one overall pick. He's not playing because he's injured. People were skeptical. People love to claim that the only reason people liked him was because of that one play versus Michigan, which. Which is such a ridiculously stupid argument. But, like, yeah, that. I don't think it would. It would cause as much commotion.

[Sean Pendergast]

Okay. Three weeks later, November 27, 2014. We're going back through the old Clowney files here. Headline, O' Brien to check in with Dr. Air quotes Jadevian Clowney. And for those who don't remember this, Clowney told reporters on Thursday that he had suffered a setback last week in his. I guess in his recovery from micro fracture surgery and indicated he would have a slim chance of playing that Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

[John Harris]

Yeah, it wasn't after the micro. It was just after an injury.

[Sean Pendergast]

Okay, so that Sunday, that was the game where Ryan Fitzpatrick threw six touchdown passes.

[John Harris]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

So he indicated to reporters that he would. He suffered a setback, indicated he would have a slim chance of playing against Titans. So this is Clowney telling reporters this. Texans coach Bill O' Brien was not amused. Upon learning of Clowney's comments, O' Brien said, quote, I don't know, Dr. Clowney, I'll reconvene with him and see how he's doing.

[John Harris]

Yeah, end quote.

[Sean Pendergast]

So Brian didn't like how forthcoming Clowney was?

[John Harris]

Well, he hadn't. Yeah, like, it was.

[Sean Pendergast]

Situation.

[John Harris]

Yeah, like. And I remember the press conference. He was kind of. He. He was kind of taken aback at The. The question. He's probably in his mind thinking, who's the source? And he asks, who? You know, basically, who's your source? Clowney. Dr. Clowney.

[Sean Pendergast]

Dr. Clowney.

[D'Amico Ryan]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Did we overreact? And would Clowney 2.0 disclose his medicals to media members?

[John Harris]

Why do you keep saying we? I don't think I overreacted at the time.

[Sean Pendergast]

I mean, we. As a fan.

[John Harris]

Yeah, I gotcha. I gotcha. Oh, no. Settle down. That I'm lumping you in with one huge group of people. Yeah. Did I. I thought at that time, at that point, nobody was, like, tired of Bill o' Brien's act. It was still kind of refreshing. And he was a hard ass. And like, here. There you go.

[Sean Pendergast]

Clowney was not the favored nation back then at this point.

[John Harris]

Right, right, right, right.

[Sean Pendergast]

He was an injured rookie.

[John Harris]

I don't think it was an overreaction just because that is like. That's a classic thing that, like. All right, it's. You know what it's an evidence of. Okay. This kid doesn't necessarily know how to operate on an NFL team. You're not supposed to be divulging your medical information and all that. Yeah. So I don't think we overreacted.

[Sean Pendergast]

Did we?

[John Harris]

Did.

[Sean Pendergast]

Would. Would Clowney do that again? If he gets asked a question about, are you ready to play this Sunday? He's dealing with an injury. Would he be as forthcoming as he was?

[John Harris]

Probably not, no. Yeah. Like, again, going back to the whole. Okay, liking an Instagram post during a game. He's learned. He's learned what?

[Sean Pendergast]

He.

[John Harris]

He might think it's still stupid and dumb that people react to it that way, but he knows this to avoid the issues.

[Sean Pendergast]

All right, the next1 is March 10, 2015. Report Jadevion Clowney bitten by teammates. Pitbull.

[D'Amico Ryan]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

All right, so this is Jadevion Clowney missed 10 games the previous season with various ailments his rookie year. So Clowney stock was not high with the fan base at this time. DJ Swearinger, who is also a teammate of his at South Carolina. So they go back a long ways, hanging out in the offseason with each other, according to Sports Radio 610. Oh, somebody here broke that story. Clowney suffered a minor bite by teammate D.J. swearinger's dog. According to police reports, the pit bull bit Clowney on the right arm, breaking the skin. The defensive end sought treatment at a local emergency room hospital. Pearland PD was alerted to the incident by the emergency room Clowney visited. So I guess the emergency room called the police to say he was bitten. Okay, this is a bit of a silly one. Did we overreact at the time? And would this happen to Clowney? Again?

[John Harris]

This was more of a D.J. swearinger, Jadevion Clowney combo package, I think, because those were the two guys where you felt. You felt like, all right, like, they might not be good influences on each other. DJ was kind of a unique individual in his own right. I remember probably overreacting to being overly impressed that swearing is. Dog's shots were up to date. That was. That was the biggest surprise to me. I was like, holy crap. Swearinger staying on top of it like that.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[John Harris]

Good job. Swearing.

[Sean Pendergast]

And then he would drive off without paying for upgrades to his car.

[John Harris]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Including a Batman skin that they put.

[John Harris]

He stole his own car. He was. He was wanted for stealing his own car.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[John Harris]

No, I think that. No, I don't think this would have been an overreaction just because it was one of those things where it became just a litany of thing after thing after thing. Who is the Rockets player who kept getting into weird situations?

[Sean Pendergast]

Terrence Jones.

[John Harris]

Oh, yeah. Terrence Jones. It was just every. It was always something, and it's only. Even if it was something relatively minor, like. Oh, it's another something. It's a car accident on the way to the. Oh, you're accused of kicking an unhoused man. There's always something. I can't say Clowney never kicked in unhoused man. That we know of.

[Sean Pendergast]

Not that we know of. Yeah.

[Seth Payne]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

I would. I would say, as far as this happening again with Clowney, I would say it definitely could, because I don't think that was Clowney's fault.

[D'Amico Ryan]

Right.

[Sean Pendergast]

Clowney's probably very nice to animals.

[John Harris]

If anything, it was probably his gregariousness that got it in trouble.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[John Harris]

He's like, hello, friendly canine.

[Seth Payne]

Right.

[Sean Pendergast]

And he seems like he's still that kind of guy. Yeah. So I would say this could definitely happen to Clowney.

[John Harris]

I think it's gonna happen again if he's hanging around. Well, you know, like they say, it's also about sometimes, even though it's not technically your fault, you're responsible for the company you keep.

[Sean Pendergast]

Right.

[John Harris]

You gotta be. I would. I would hope that he asks his teammates from now on, are you a responsible dog owner?

[D'Amico Ryan]

Yes.

[John Harris]

Yes.

[Sean Pendergast]

All right, next one. Got two more. Boy, it was an eventful 2014 and 2015.

[John Harris]

By the way, that was probably Fred Davis that broke that story. Fred Davis had been an old crime reporter in Beaumont, and he also Broke the story about the shop Jersey burnings

[Sean Pendergast]

shop getting accosted in his driveway.

[John Harris]

Yeah, yeah. Somebody. Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yelling at him in his driveway. Yeah, yeah. That probably was Freddie. Shout out Fred Davis. All right, next one. This is January 6, 2016. So this is in early 2016. But it's the day of the Chiefs playoff game that postseason headline. Jadevian Clowney inactive vs. Chiefs briefly leaves stadium right now. This got reported. It was Lisa Salters.

[John Harris]

Was the Salters. Oh, I've been saying to foyer apologies to Michelle Defoyer.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yep, yep, she's. It was. The game was on ESPN. It was that Saturday 3:30 game that the Texans have come to know and love. And Lisa Salters reported before the game that Judevion Clowney stormed out of the Texans locker room and left NRG Stadium after the team ruled he would not play in the wild card contest on Sunday.

[John Harris]

And I was on the pregame show at the time. Yeah, you were not.

[Sean Pendergast]

I don't think I was not on the pregame. I was on the post game show.

[John Harris]

I can't remember who was on the pregame show at that point, but I remember saying, pleading with Clowney to come back to the stadium, kind of jokingly like, clowney, if you're listening, come back.

[Sean Pendergast]

Don't.

[John Harris]

Don't have it be like this. So, but then, ironically enough, after the pregame show is over, I'm walking into the stadium, about to enter the one Genevion Clowney. I was like, hey, man, what's up?

[Sean Pendergast]

Hey. I heard.

[John Harris]

I can't remember exactly what he said, but it was basically like, hey, man. Like, it's like, I don't know. I went out to give my tickets to my mom.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[John Harris]

I didn't storm out of the stadium.

[D'Amico Ryan]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. So the, the clown. The Texans listed Clowney among their inactives following a pregame workout in the weight room. Clowney was upset about the decision, believing he was ready to play. That's the. What the article is saying. The article then goes on to say the team said Clowney left for a family errand.

[Jadevion Clowney]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

He was then spotted in the stadium before kickoff by many, including Seth C. Pain. Yeah, yeah.

[John Harris]

That was my source on that one. Jadevian Clowney. He did look. He looked genuinely confused. He was like, I don't know what's going on here. Well, that's all. So I don't like reporters when they report emotion. Like unless somebody specifically said like that you're describing somebody state of mind based on, you know, what you're judging their facial appearance to be. And this is why people have bad relationships.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[John Harris]

It's just assuming what the other person thinks.

[Sean Pendergast]

Okay. Yep.

[John Harris]

So who's at least assaulters I got. Yeah. You know what? I'm gonna, I'll describe her emotion there. She was irre. That's not even her mother. She was irresponsible and reporting it that way. Yep, yep.

[D'Amico Ryan]

Indeed.

[Sean Pendergast]

He had been listed as questionable all week long and did not practice on Friday.

[John Harris]

So, yeah, I would say she's overly ambitious. That was her emotion. She's like, oh, this is going to hit. Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

If we, if we ask the question, the two questions we're asking, do we overreact to this? And would Clowney 2.0 do this again? Yeah, I would say one Lisa Salters definitely overreacted to it. We were just reacting to what she was reporting at the time. And I would say that Clowney, if he were hurt, would definitely bring tickets out to his family again and make sure they were taken care of.

[John Harris]

How about this trip through the past? All right. So Lisa Salters, via colleague Kevin Seifert, reported to Seifert on Saturday that Clowney, quote, stormed out of the Texans locker room and left the stadium when deactivated. ESPN's Ed Werder reported Clowney was, quote, visibly upset with O' Brien's decision not to activate him for the playoff game. James Palmer, NFL Network said Texans players who are inactive can leave and are allowed to leave as per ESPN's Tanya Ganguly.

[Sean Pendergast]

Oh, okay. Okay.

[John Harris]

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reported clown he left the stadium to take tickets to his family.

[Jadevion Clowney]

Yeah.

[John Harris]

And he's known he was going to be active since Wednesday.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. See? Count on John McLean to get it right. There you go. Well, who's who in that article right there?

[John Harris]

Per Cody Stutes of CBS Houston, o' Brien said Thursday that Clowney was moving around well, but was still being listed as day to day leading into of Saturday's playoffs.

[Sean Pendergast]

I'm going to tell you what my reaction is. That article you're looking at.

[D'Amico Ryan]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

You and I were two lazy a holes back then. We didn't wind.

[D'Amico Ryan]

How did, how did.

[Sean Pendergast]

You and I. You and I are like the only

[John Harris]

news I gave that news. I may have talked to McLean about it. I can't remember, but I don't report news. I, I, Cody, I kind of. Yeah, I mean, I gave it to somebody. I can't remember exactly, but I don't like.

[Sean Pendergast]

You hate reporting things because.

[John Harris]

No, because I'm an unreliable narrator. I. Look, I, I just, there's. I get Details mixed up in my mind. I don't trust myself to. To get it right. I tried to help people out during, during Harvey once and I misunderstood something that a. That a city official told me.

[Sean Pendergast]

How many drownings did you.

[John Harris]

That's. That tweet stayed up for about 90 seconds. I was like, oh God. Oh God, no, no. Something about the water quality in League City or something. And I misunderstood what he told me. I'm not.

[Sean Pendergast]

This whole city has Ebola.

[D'Amico Ryan]

That's it.

[John Harris]

I'm done. I'm done being an emergency reporter.

[Sean Pendergast]

That's smart. All right, last one. Last one. Would Clowney 2.0 do this? This is back in 2017. Remember 2017. Bad year for the Texans. They did find DeSean Watson, but he tore his knee halfway through the year and the season slipped into the toilet just as the Jaguars were having their only good season over like a 15 year period, including a game in mid December. This is December 17, 2017. An article by Sarah Barshop if we want to keep going down memory lane. The Texans got blown out by the Jags 45 to 7 and defensive engine Deviant Clowney was asked if Blake Bortles, who had a good game that day, they won by 45 to 7.

[John Harris]

45.

[Sean Pendergast]

Seven score jags beat the Texans. Clowney was asked if Portals is improving the defensive end. Reply to reporters, he's trash.

[John Harris]

The best was though.

[Sean Pendergast]

It was 21 of 29 for 326 yards and three touchdowns, passer rating of 143.

[John Harris]

That was trash.

[Podcast Advertiser]

No.

[John Harris]

And that was the original trash can scandal because the next time the Texans played the Jaguars, there were some trash cans and stuff in the stadium. The best part about that was there's no good audio of it because he said it kind of at laughing as he was leaving the podium.

[Jadevion Clowney]

Right?

[D'Amico Ryan]

Right.

[Sean Pendergast]

He did say it though.

[John Harris]

What do you think of Portals? He's trash.

[Sean Pendergast]

Trash. Now I would say. I would say this. I would say this.

[John Harris]

He was right.

[Sean Pendergast]

I don't even know what our reaction was to this. Probably laughter because that season was so bad at that point. So I don' think we even really cared that he said that. I'm guessing we all laughed about it. Yeah, I'm guessing. I probably said he's right because I was never a believer in Blake Bortles. And ultimately Blake Bortles was the reason they got knocked out of the postseason that year. They needed him to make plays in New England and he couldn't make plays. So I would say I don't remember what the overall Reaction to that was. And Clowney was a much more popular player at that point because he had made the Pro bowl the previous year, was on his way to making it again that year and the following season. So Clowney's Q rating was a lot higher with Texan fans. I will say this. I don't think the version of Clowney that we saw two days ago at the podium would call any opposing QB trash.

[John Harris]

Yeah, he's just. He's.

[Sean Pendergast]

He's a more mature guy.

[John Harris]

More mature. He's more self aware.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's my favorite one out of all.

[John Harris]

He had three hits on the quarterback in that game. Two solo tackles and three hits, no sacks. But, yeah, he wasn't impressed. He was a good. His evaluation was correct.

[Sean Pendergast]

He would know that's a good scout.

[John Harris]

He wasn't affected by the results. You know, he's looking at the process.

[Sean Pendergast]

Absolutely. Absolutely. All right, so that was our trip down memory lane with Clowney.

[John Harris]

All right.

[Sean Pendergast]

Three training camp winners so far that I've got, Seth, and want to see what you think about this. Jaden Higgins has taken a big step forward in this camp. I think Jaden Higgins has benefited big time from how they're handling Nico Collins. Nico hasn't been a full participant in everything out here.

[John Harris]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

So Jaden Higgins is getting a lot of run with CJ Stroud. This is d' Amico Ryan's couple days ago on Higgins progress.

[D'Amico Ryan]

Higgins came back ready this camp. He came back ready and showed in OTAs. It's showing now. It's not surprising him and CJ are finding a connection because Higgins is doing a really great job of running his routes the proper way. He's playing with precision and he's excelling at every level. Third down, he's winning, making plays for us. So, I mean, sky's the limit for Jaden Higgins because he's prepared himself the right way over the off season. And that's what he's a really great example for young guys. You prepare the offseason the right way, you come to camp with the right mindset that you're going to get better, you can do that. And he's put the work in and it's showing here at camp.

[John Harris]

The. The mental stuff of it, that part of it. Jaden Higgins talked about it the other day, and, you know, Nico talked about it. As it relates to Jaden Higgins, there's just. There's a lot as a young receiver into this defensive offense, especially at vrbo,

[Seth Payne]

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[D'Amico Ryan]

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[Seth Payne]

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[Sean Pendergast]

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[Seth Payne]

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[Sean Pendergast]

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[Seth Payne]

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[John Harris]

And how you're reading the defense, which leverage you're supposed to use in certain situations, your sight adjustments, all of that, it's a lot to handle while also trying to play fast. And what you hear football players say all the time, man, if you're thinking, it slows you down. So you want everything to be as automatic as possible. And I think that you saw a steady growth in that by Jaden Higgins during the season. So it would have been a surprise for me if he didn't come back and look even better at the beginning of training camp because they've had OTAs, they've had the individual sessions that they've had with CJ that he just, he looks like, he looks like he might end up being the next. Nico Collins is a guy that. Not drafted in the first round, but with all those physical traits and tools and if you pair him up with a guy like let's say C.J. stroud, I mean that was what, that was a big thing with Nico Collins. It was like he wasn't all that impressive until you paired him up with a quarterback. Could get him the ball.

[Sean Pendergast]

It's probably. And yes, you're, you're making, you're making part of the point I'm about to make, which is I will give Nico Collins a bit of a pass because this is a much more functional environment that Higgins is operating in. But in a vacuum, Higgins is ahead of where Nico Collins was in his second training camp. Granted, like you said, it was second year Davis Mills with Lovey Smith as the head coach, coming off of his season with David Culley as the head coach.

[John Harris]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

So it's not like Nico was operating in, in, you know, in a great environment, but Higgins looks advanced for a second year guy.

[John Harris]

Yeah. You know, honestly a lot of that goes back to CJ too. He's just genuinely operating the offense much more like the way it's supposed to be operated. And I, like we said this at the beginning of last season. It was said it before training camp that it's not, it's. There's going to be bumps in the road with an offense like this in depending on how much you want your quarterback to do. And I think the biggest part for me really is that the pre snap stuff with CJ I think he really gets it and understands now the value of it and the importance of him really being dialed in on the pass protection and everything that goes into pre snap because there's just way too much going on to just rely on your, your arm talent or making a brilliant play or something that the to. To. To get by in the NFL. He just looks like a. He looks like he's got way more command out there and that's going to help Jaden Higgins.

[Sean Pendergast]

No doubt. No doubt. All right, so training camp winner for me. Number one. Number two, Keelan Rutledge. Kalin Rutledge. A week into camp. Granted, just a week into camp, but looks like the real deal so far. This was d' Amico Ryan's with Jane Slater and Kurt Warner on where Rutledge is right now.

[Seth Payne]

Keelan Rutledge is getting so much love out here. I haven't had eyes on practice for as many Days as some of the other reporters. Why are people singing his praises right now?

[D'Amico Ryan]

Well, they're singing his praises because you see 66 running downfield, taking a mike linebacker 15 yards downfield, like, wait, is that, is that offensive lineman that far downfield? Yeah, that's him. So you see the feistiness, you see him shoving after the play like just a gritty old school offensive lineman that we haven't seen in a while. While. And that's really jumping out in our camp. And a rookie, and a rookie who doesn't play like a rookie. So it's fun to watch him play.

[John Harris]

Yeah, the, I think the two encouraging things about Keelan Rutledge is just everything d' Amico is saying right there. It's not just about the toughness and the grittiness. It's his ability to get to his assignment on the second level and attach to Aziz Elshire and productively block him by taking the right angles, having the right technique. And as he's gotten more comfortable snapping the football, I think you're seeing more of that discipline technique that a lot of rookie offensive linemen don't have. So that's been encouraging. I think the most encouraging thing I realized yesterday as I was thinking about it was all right with offensive lineman and defensive lineman, especially interior offensive lineman and defensive lineman. I try not to be overly impressed by anything that happens before the pads come on. And then after a couple days in pads, I'm looking at Keelan Rutledge and I'm thinking, oh, yep, I feel better about him after the pads come on than I did before the pads came on. Some guys just are flat out the guys who are built for physicality. They don't look as good in no pads as some of the fancy lad athletes that don't aren't physical football players. You put the pads on and the physicality is an element all of a sudden. Oh wait, now I, now I really see why he was a first round pick.

[Sean Pendergast]

Granted it's only been a few practices and pads, but do you feel good about him having everything on his plate that comes with being a center also, as opposed to playing guard?

[John Harris]

Okay, this is what. I'm glad you brought that up, Sean. I'm really glad you brought that up. We haven't talked about pre snap penalties at all and I think I've seen one false start by the offense and I probably missed one somewhere along the way, but it's been very, very clean. So when the center is up there and making the calls, he's a part of that. But then the other part of it too is we haven't seen blown assignments that might come from guys getting on the wrong, making the wrong call or being on the wrong page. So that part of it now is looked really, really clean so far when he's been in there.

[Sean Pendergast]

That's encouraging.

[John Harris]

I haven't seen the snap. You know, during OTAs and minicamp there was some errant snaps. I think there was. I think there was one that I've noticed where it wasn't like a horrendously bad snap, but it was like CJ had to take his eyes off the defense to go get it. But I think by and large, he's coming along very nicely for a guy that's only been in pads for a couple days.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah, one.

[John Harris]

One big test for him will be versus the Texans defense. You don't have a nose tackle right on the center, right on top of the center all that much. They play even fronts, which means that the defensive tackles are over the guards. Each preseason game the Texans play, they're facing a 3, 4 defense where they'll have a nose tackle on the center. Okay, so it's a big league forward and that's where he might have some issues. Just because that's the first time he's going to see a bunch of it because he's not going to see it in practice, all that.

[Sean Pendergast]

Normally in the early preseason games, they wouldn't keep the first string in there more than a series or two. If you were d' Amico Ryan's and Cole Popovich and Nick Haley, would you have Rutledge out there maybe playing a little bit extra just because he needs reps at center? Yeah, the ones and the twos maybe

[John Harris]

against the 3, 4. Yeah, the first two games of the season. He's going against the 3, 4 defense also.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[John Harris]

Maybe Dexter Lawrence playing nose tackle in the second if he's. If he wins the starting center job.

[Sean Pendergast]

Right, right, right. Speaking of right, Wraiht winner number three in training camp so far. I don't know if you've picked your undrafted free agent yet. Yeah, but I picked mine.

[John Harris]

Okay.

[Sean Pendergast]

Mine is Colin Wright. I actually had him making the team in my last 53 that I did before training camp because I wanted to have kind of a wild take out there and I heard some good things about him. He feels like a definitely a cultural fit on this team. He's had a good camp. He's number 37. If you come out here, he's a corner that's been kind of running with the backups. And here are Demiko Ryan's thoughts on undrafted free agent out of Stamford, Colin Wright.

[D'Amico Ryan]

Colin is one of the rookies who's showing up almost every day. He finds a way to, you know, get his hands on the ball in some type of fashion, right? Whether he's picking the ball, whether he's playing sticky coverage and attacking the ball, getting PBUs. He's done a really great job of always, you know, showing that capability of being attached to the football and that's a, that's a good quality to have as a corner. So he's done a really good job.

[Sean Pendergast]

It's a good quality to have as an undrafted free agent because you got to have a few plays where they want to go back and watch you on the film. Right? I mean you gotta, if you're, if you're trying to make the team, you've got to do something that cuts through.

[John Harris]

You gotta do something. You gotta show up. Yeah, you gotta show up. And then it's all, then it's a matter of okay, who's he covering, what's the quarterback doing? All of that. That's where it gets tough with those guys. But they have the, it feels like every guy, when asked to name a couple of guys that have stood out to him, they'll usually try to, you know, name a few. I always feel, I feel bad when guys are asked that question. As a veteran, it's like, hey, who stuck out to you? And when you're talking about young players especially, it's like, oh man, these, like something like there's the kid that I don't name, all of a sudden is going to be sitting there in his locker thinking, oh crap, this is what

[Sean Pendergast]

I would think is that. Dude, it's 150 degrees out here. You think I'm scouting the rest of the team. I'm just trying to focus on my job. Yeah, I'm not out here breaking down the film of the other 89 guys

[John Harris]

out here, but they do all seem to bring up Colin Wright pretty easily.

[Sean Pendergast]

Three year starter at Stanford. Captain, you know, like he's got sort of that profile of a guy who's kind of Texans worthy.

[John Harris]

You know, he's the one. I can't remember. I did, they did a video on him at Stanford and it was, I can't remember what class he was taking, but it was like, like it made me feel like an old man. It was some Internet based one. Kalen Bullock, when he was on Blankenship's podcast, talked about, I think he said when he found out that the coach was fired there at usc, he was in a. He was in a gaming class. They were like, wait a second. Gaming class? Gaming class? Yeah, you learn about like how they make video games and everything. So it wasn't just like learning how to play, you know, the Legend of Zelda or anything. It was more about the business side of things.

[Sean Pendergast]

Hey, kids, Legend of Zelda was this game.

[John Harris]

How many diamonds you need to get in debt. Yeah, that's great. I'm guessing Legends of Zelda is still big.

[D'Amico Ryan]

Maybe.

[Sean Pendergast]

You know what's always new sometimes.

[John Harris]

No, but that's one of those types of games, that's all. Yeah, it just gets built just like anything where you go on quests.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[John Harris]

Ends up having stage.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. Probably exists, but like way, way better than it was back in the day.

[John Harris]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Like, like amazing.

[John Harris]

Yeah. Like my apple. Iie like I gotta get it replaced at some point. They've come out with much better things.

[Sean Pendergast]

They have.

[D'Amico Ryan]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

You got to get to Best Buy and check that out. All right, final segment coming up. Seth, if you have any other names you want to toss in with winners, we'll hit that in the final segment. Also, d', Ameco, Ryan's does not do very many unpopular things. This is getting an unpopular reaction and we will tell you what that is. D' Ameco was actually asked about it and we'll tell you what that is.

[John Harris]

Coming up, Houston Methodist Training Center Sports Radio 610 presents Pain and Pendergast.

[Sean Pendergast]

All right, Pain and Pendergast, final segment. And then we will hand things over to the fellows on Texans training camp live. Mark Vandermeer and John Harris. Got you for the next couple hours. And then Reggie Attatula, John Lopez, they're in the loop. They will be here from 10am till 2pm did you have any names you wanted to toss in? I had my three winners in the previous segments so far in training for the.

[John Harris]

I had said C.J. stroud. Yeah, like honestly, I think most of the people that have been out here for at least a few practices, even in the practices where the offense didn't necessarily look that good, I think it's pretty apparent that he's operating this offense with more command. I think that the one thing that's always hard to judge in the non tackle situation is how is he dealing with muddy pockets and with pass rush, you know, leakages, things like that. I think he's looked really good. Stepping up into muddy pockets, scanning the field when he runs, he's very willing to run, but it's at the appropriate time. And by and large though, a lot of that comes down to also that the O line, the pass protection when it does foul has been because, okay, somebody got beat by Daniel Hunter, Will Anderson or Tommy Togi, which is going to happen. That happens if the LA Rams are playing the Texans. Yep. It's that every. I think C.J. knows what to expect. So in the, in any pass protection, where are the weaknesses? Where are my threats? Where do I have to explore danger? I think CJ's got a better feel for that by being more in command of the pass protection and understanding all those dynamics. So that part so far and it's look, it's not. He hasn't taken a hit yet and he hasn't faced the adversity that he faced at times last year. He hasn't thrown a pick that he has to rebound from. But compared to camp last year, it looks a lot different.

[Sean Pendergast]

He's easily what I get asked about the most either, you know, friends texting that know we're out here, people that you see out and about that you know are Texan fans. I've been telling them I'm encouraged by what I'm seeing with CJ Stroud.

[John Harris]

I was sitting next to a woman at the Big three game last night who's she's a season ticket holder, but she admits that she's a casual football fan. You know, she's not all dialed in on everything. And she said she was concerned about cj. Why Sean? Because of the viral video of him walking into the stadium looking. Looking like a fourth grader.

[Sean Pendergast]

Cinder block shoes and his baggy T shirt.

[John Harris]

Well, and then Cam knew, Cam Newton, I guess, made some comment about looks like he's out of shape. I don't know what he said specifically and what he was basing it on. He doesn't look any different than he's looked the entire time he's been here.

[Sean Pendergast]

It's not a flattering outfit he had on just so loose fitting well, but

[John Harris]

even when he's in pads or anything, he's not, I would say, kind of like Pat Mahomes. He doesn't like have a naturally impressive physique or anything, but he's bigger than people realize or expect. A lot of it is muscle, but he's not super lean or anything. So I don't, I think, I think that analysis comes that is completely based on how has he been playing lately? Yeah, you know, if he's been playing incredible, it's like, you know what? He's a solid, sturdy guy. If he's not playing well, like, I just got. He doesn't take care of him.

[Sean Pendergast]

You know, certain guys, ironically, like Cam Newton, they say, like, he's. He looks like he's built in a lab.

[John Harris]

Right.

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C.J.

[Sean Pendergast]

looks like he's built in a lab, but, like, one that I own.

[John Harris]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Like, not. You know, like, it's like, I would not own the greatest lab in the world. You know, I would not be. I don't know how to work tools.

[John Harris]

Those are that certification that they do for labs and factories or whatever.

[Sean Pendergast]

It might not totally that someone take the test.

[John Harris]

No.

[D'Amico Ryan]

But.

[John Harris]

Yeah, but that's where it comes to quarterbacks, though, too. Well, you know what?

[D'Amico Ryan]

It's.

[John Harris]

Yeah, it's interesting that Cam's the one making this. Making this judgment, like, hey, nobody looks like him. You're kind of preach from. Preaching from on high here.

[D'Amico Ryan]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. Thank you. Thank you.

[John Harris]

Why don't you come judge every. Every. Every damn American's physique? All right?

[Sean Pendergast]

I want to make sure you were

[John Harris]

blessed with your genetics.

[Sean Pendergast]

I want to make sure we get to this before we get out, because you and I have not talked about this yet, but this is the first time I can remember that. The Texans, they've always told the media no filming stuff at certain times.

[Jadevion Clowney]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

No talking about the depth chart or formations and things like that. And yet there's 2,000 people here with iPhones that can film whatever they want and up until a few days ago, could post things on social media. The Texans have gotten very vigilant about this. They've got. They've got big electronic signs up saying, protect the team. Put the phones down during certain periods. They've got people in the bleachers, kind of gestapo there, like, finding people.

[John Harris]

Like, they're like, hey, you with the phone.

[Sean Pendergast]

Huh? Like, put it down. This was d' Amico Ryan's when he was asked about protecting the team from stuff being shared on social media. Media.

[D'Amico Ryan]

It's important to protect the team. Not just videos, but for us, you know, how we operate as a team, my main message is always it's about the team first. So when it comes to the videos and things that are posted, we know everyone has a. Who has a phone is media.

[Jadevion Clowney]

Right.

[D'Amico Ryan]

And we don't. We don't want our plays getting out so other teams can study what we're doing here in training camp. That's just obvious. A lot of teams do this around the league, so it's. It's all about the team. So if you're true Texans fan and you want to see the Texans succeed, you wouldn't showcase our plays to teams who don't know what we're running.

[John Harris]

Okay, this is the.

[Sean Pendergast]

This is probably the biggest heat check to Miko's had in terms of a decision made that affects the fan base.

[John Harris]

I don't know. You know, the thing about this was I don't know how many people were actually upset about this other than. I just. I. Like some people are gonna be upset about it. Obviously. I. I always enjoyed the fans being able to take those videos because I'm not allowed to so I can watch afterwards. I mean, this goes back to the early 1990s when Jimmie Johnson was watching the local TV news before the Bills super bowl and saw footage of Thurman Thomas taking a shovel pass from Jim Kelly. And Jimmie Johnson thought they haven't done this all year long and they were ready for it, you know, and it wasn't anything they had prepared for. So, like, that's the extreme version and extreme situation I don't have. I was always kind of shocked that they did allow fans to take those videos. And I totally get it and understand why. And I would. I would also say this without giving away any information or anything. I think that there's good reason for the Texans to not. I think the Texans are going to do some interesting things this year based on what I've seen in camp that are going to be some wrinkles that they haven't done before and that I can see where d' Ameco is coming from. Like, we don't want to see necessarily that we have this guy in this position doing that.

[Sean Pendergast]

Okay.

[John Harris]

So I think should settle down a little. Well, yeah. And I think. And I would say. I don't think most fans are actually worked up about that. I think some people in the media and some people who'd like, take the footage and maybe, you know, you know

[Sean Pendergast]

who, you know, fans who might be worked up about it. Is it. Aren't aware of the history of something like that and they feel like this is another New England thing that's going on.

[John Harris]

Right, right, right.

[Sean Pendergast]

It feels like something Belichick would do.

[John Harris]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Make sure the fans have to put their phones down.

[John Harris]

I don't. I tend to defend the team whenever they're paranoid about letting information leak out because it's a matter of. It's one of these policy things. It's. The military doesn't. The military doesn't say, hey, we'll Just let these corporals decide what the. What the. What the secret information is or not. You know, use your own discretion on this. Like, you just gotta have. If you have a strict policy of withhold as much as possible, then you prevent fewer. More leaks.

[Sean Pendergast]

The other. Real quick, the other funny thing about what d' Ameco just said is that he's like, if you have a phone in your hands, your media. You know how we have that media party before the season starts?

[John Harris]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Can you imagine? Like, we get to it this year, and there's a line, like, 2,000 people out the door, like, why are all these people here? And they're all like. Like d' Amico said, we're media.

[John Harris]

I didn't.

[Sean Pendergast]

I have a phone.

[John Harris]

You know, I didn't go to the media party this year.

[D'Amico Ryan]

Why?

[John Harris]

Because I got the invitation like, three hours beforehand, and I was like, well, I know when I'm not wanted, but there's a protocol or something that they. Three hours beforehand?

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[John Harris]

If you don't know Seth Payne, you don't know that. I have a meticulously planned schedule. I'm like seven to eight weeks out. Dude. No.

[Sean Pendergast]

Finding out something the day of is not a good thing for me. All right. Antibodies to you, my friend.

[John Harris]

Oh, antibodies. Have a great weekend in a of weeks. Couple comp to you.

[Sean Pendergast]

Thank you.

[John Harris]

Mokarim injury lawyers. I'll tell you what, you want a comp phone call? Call Mocarim injury lawyers. If you've been injured in an accident that was not your fault, you deserve compensation. But you know what? They got these. These attorneys out there, these insurance companies and so forth. It'll try to keep it from you. So you call them Okarim injury lawyers, and they'll say, oh, yeah, we'll take it from here, fella. We're gonna. We're gonna fight to get you. You like that, Sean? I'm looking at Sean like he's an unscrupulous insurance man.

[Sean Pendergast]

Pack it up.

[D'Amico Ryan]

My bag.

[Sean Pendergast]

And I look down, and Seth's staring right up at me, doing it, Sean,

[John Harris]

trying to say, I gotta pay for my own repairs. Freaking lawyers. Kalmo Carom injury attorneys. They've been here in Houston for over 30 years. Proud partner of the Houston Rockets. They're gonna fight for you. They're gonna fight for you. And you won't pay them anything unless they win your case. So. Como cam injury lawyers today. 281-222-2222. That's 281-22-2222. Maybe I didn't enunciate that. Or say how did I not enunciate the word enunciate properly? Maybe I didn't enunciate that properly. 281-222-2222 or online at mokariminjurylawyers.com paid non attorney spokesperson Mokarim Injury Lawyers Principal Office, Houston, Texas did you know? The longer your loan, the more likely you are to owe more than your car is worth.

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