The Colts and Andrew Luck are at NRG Stadium this
afternoon
Arian Foster
Color Rush Jersey , trying to upset the Texans and put an end to the
team¡¯s nine-game winning streak. The Texans are on fire right now, looking to
win a second game against Indy this season. We¡¯re here, waiting (patiently?)
until the action begins.The Good Guys will be looking for a tenth straight win,
especially since the next two games (Jets and Eagles) are on the road before the
team ends the regular season hosting the Jaguars (minus Blake Bortles?). The
next three games are vital because, right now, the Texans haven¡¯t even clinched
a playoff berth, not to mention the a division title, home field advantage, or a
bye week. Bill O¡¯Brien¡¯s team will be (not too) welcoming of the Colts as they
aim to further their win streak. What do you think we need to be watching this
afternoon? Anything you¡¯ve seen developing on the team that we should be wary
of? Excited for? This is where we¡¯re counting down until the action begins when
the first live thread posts at 11:45 a.m. CST. HOUSTON (AP) ¡ª With a stirring
rendition of ¡°I¡¯ll Fly Away¡± marking the conclusion of a memorial service for
former Houston Texans founder and owner Bob McNair, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry
Jones wiped tears from his eyes Friday afternoon.¡°It¡¯s ironic that I¡¯m getting
emotional because the only other time I ever teared up was right on this field
when the Texans and Bob kicked our butt in the first game that was ever played
in this stadium,¡± Jones said, recalling Houston¡¯s 19-10 win over the Cowboys in
their inaugural game in 2002. ¡°The Texans put it on the Cowboys and it was a
glorious night to begin the Texans. Bob was so special.¡±More than
1
Jose Altuve Color Rush
Jersey ,000 of McNair¡¯s friends, members of the Houston and NFL community,
players and coaches past and present, gathered to pay respects and say goodbye
to McNair, who brought the NFL back to Houston for its inaugural season in 2002
after the Oilers moved to Tennessee.Former Secretary of State James A. Baker, a
close friend of McNair¡¯s, opened up tributes by saying the gathering was in the
¡°House that Bob Built.¡± Baker said he and McNair enjoyed a love of politics,
football and quail hunting, and said it was former President George H.W. Bush
who converted both of them from Democrats to Republicans.Baker talked about
McNair¡¯s determination and told a story of how he only saw McNair give up on a
quest once in his life, when the two were quail hunting in sweltering south
Texas heat. After a long and miserable day, McNair finally said in his Southern
drawl, ¡°Calf
rope
Julien Davenport
Color Rush Jersey ,¡± an expression similar to ¡°Uncle¡± or ¡°I give up.¡±The
Rev. Eric Manning provided a welcome and an opening invocation. Manning is the
senior pastor at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina, the
site of a July 2015 race-inspired mass shooting.NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
also spoke, calling McNair one of America¡¯s finest sportsmen and business
leaders. Goodell talked about that expansion process and how Houston was a long
shot early on, but McNair never wavered.¡°Bob was not in it for himself. He
wanted to return the NFL to Houston because of his tremendous loyalty to the
community,¡± Goodell said. ¡°He knew that bringing the NFL back would help show
the world what an extraordinary place Houston is.¡±Goodell praised McNair for his
faith, integrity, patience, honesty and thoughtfulness.¡°Not to put any more
pressure on you and the team, but you know how much Bob wanted to win a Super
Bowl,¡± Goodell said, looking to Texans coach Bill O¡¯Brien.Texans defensive end
J.J. Watt praised McNair for his philanthropy and generosity in the community.
Watt recalled a charity event at NRG Stadium
when
Tyrann Mathieu
Color Rush Jersey , at the end of the event after ¡°tons of money¡± had been
raised, it was announced that McNair committed to matching everyone¡¯s combined
donations.¡°That¡¯s what Mr. McNair did. He would do the kindest things at random
moments, and he would do it many times when people had no idea that he was doing
it,¡± Watt said. ¡°I consider myself lucky to have known him, lucky to have
learned from him, and I can only hope that I¡¯m making him proud in the way that
we represent his organization.¡±Dr. Harris Pastides, president of the University
of South Carolina, mentioned a commencement speech McNair did at his alma mater
in 1999 and how McNair talked about meeting his wife, Janice, and telling her
parents they were moving to Texas for a few years to build some capital before
returning home.¡°He then reminded the graduates to never make promises they could
not keep,¡± Pastides said.Dr. Dave Peterson, pastor emeritus at Memorial Drive
Presbyterian
Church
Sammie Coates
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was instilled in McNair from an early age. Peterson told a story of a young
McNair in his small hometown of Forest City, North Carolina who wanted his
country dirt road to be paved so badly that he would repeatedly stomp on a strip
provided by the state¡¯s transportation department to determine how busy the road
was and whether or not it needed to be paved.Peterson said he visited McNair at
the hospital on Thanksgiving and said he was saddened to see him suffering.
Peterson noted the last few months of McNair¡¯s life were painful, adding that in
seeing the pictures and videos paying tribute to McNair, ¡°It¡¯s good to see him
smiling again.¡±McNair died on Nov. 23 at the age of 81. He had battled both
leukemia and squamous cell carcinoma in recent years. He died peacefully with
wife Janice and his family by his side, the Texans said.Following the tributes,
a short video montage highlighted McNair¡¯s life, with a focus on his time as
Texans owner.¡°I¡¯d like to think that I¡¯ll be remembered as an honorable man, as
a good Christian man, and that I always did things in a first-class manner and
treated people honestly,¡± McNair said on the video. ¡°I think that would be a
good legacy.¡±