Tag Archives: Houston Texans

NFL

Bennett, Fred

Card: Score 2007
Acquired: Texans blitz 2009

After Bennett was a two time SEC choice, Fred was drafted in the 4th round of the 2007 draft as a compliment to former Gamecock Dunta Robinson. (Robinson was going to mentor him up to the speed of the NFL game.) Unfortunately Fred Bennett got thrown into the fire when Robinson went down with a season ending knee injury in week 9 that season.

Bennett responded surprisingly well, making 55 tackles, 3 interceptions and 14 passes defensed.  Bennett would then start an additional 6 games for Robinson in 2008 (before Dunta returned) grabbing 2 more interceptions and 6 defenses. Questionably, Bennett from other accounts fell into the team doghouse and had to dig himself out by the end of the season, and started only 3 games in 2009, as a new secondary coach was brought in. Caught in a numbers game, Bennett was cut by the Texans in 2010 and was signed by the San Diego Chargers within days.

NFL

Zgonina, Jeff

Cards: Fleer Premium 2002
Acquired: TTM, Texans Blitz 2009, C/o Houston Texans

/Scone- ina/ is roughly how you pronounce Jeff’s last name. An ironman journeyman Jeff Zgonina played in the NFL from 1993 to 2009, -or roughly 17 seasons for 7 teams. At 6-2, 285 he played on the interior line as both a NT and a change of pace DT.  Zgonina would play on the St. Louis Rams’ Super Bowl teams, after bouncing around, but would find his final home with the Houston Texans where he finished out his career after a short stint in Miami. (Zgonina was a fringe player who found himself frequently on the cusp of the final cut, or called back a week later when more room was made and despite his age, didn’t have as much wear on his tires as people thought.)  Zgonina will be best remembered by Houston Texans’ fans for when he recovered a Kerry Collins freak fumble against the Titans in 2009  for a victory. An outspoken member in the locker room, players could expect to hear the straight up truth from Jeff, and he provided guidance for the younger members of the defensive line.

G 219     Tac 308        Sac 26            Fum 13
Int  1               Yds  0       Avg 0.0        Td  0

NFL

Brown, Chris

chris brown

Card: Press Pass Old School 2003
Acquired: Texans Blitz 2009

Chris Brown has been a highly touted runningback at every level he’s played. In college for Colorado he broke many of the school’s rushing records and had a shot at the Heisman that year, but injury derailed his attempts and he decided to declare for the NFL draft as a Junior in 2003.

Brown surprisingly lasted till the third round that year, where the Tennessee Titans looking for help at that position drafted him. Brown’s running style has always been a source of controversy and concern, as he has a ‘straight up’ slasher running style (like that of Eric Dickerson).  Scouts felt that he would be prone to fumbling and also injury- and for the most part, they were right as Brown never played a whole 16 game slate over his career, sitting out all of 2008.

Brown was cut by the Titans in 2008 and signed with the Texans that year,  who were looking to add depth to their running backs and needing a ‘big back’ to compliment young scatback Steve Slaton. After fumbling the ball away in a 2009 game, he got what I call ‘Sammie Smith-itis’ and seemed to lose confidence holding onto the football. At 6-3, 219 he never really got comfortable in the role as a goal line short yardage back for the team, and the Texans decided to go in another direction in 2010, electing not to resign him.

I have always been a fan of Chris- and felt that he had gotten a bad rap at his stops in Tennessee and Houston as a fumbler. (14 fumbles over his career.) He has had his shares of extreme ups and downs, and during the 2004 season he single-handedly crushed the Green Bay Packers in primetime, helping me win in fantasy football, (as I got lucky starting  him that week,) rushing for 148 yards and 2 touchdowns. He wasn’t a bad receiver out of the backfield either grabbing 90 catches over 6 seasons and  Brown had 1900 rushing yards over 26 a game period.  I got Chris’ autograph as part of the ‘Texans Blitz’ through my friend’s brother who plays for the team.

games 68    Att  722        yds 3024      avg 4.2           td 19         lg 52
rec  90     yds 741     avg 8.2         td  2            lg  57