K-town
06-14-2006, 11:49 AM
FYI, regarding former Packers
Continuing their overhaul of the fullback position, the Houston Texans have signed unrestricted free agent Nick Luchey, a seven-year veteran known primarily for his lead-blocking skills.
Earlier in the offseason, the Texans added former Tampa Bay starter Jameel Cook, a punishing blocker and solid special teams player, as a free agent. Last year's starter, Moran Norris, was subsequently released and signed with the San Francisco 49ers.
Under first-year head coach Gary Kubiak, the fullback position is expected to take on a higher profile in 2006 than it has for the Texans in the past.
Luchey, 29, figures to vie for the backup spot behind Cook. The Texans signed Patrick Hape, who played under Kubiak in Denver, and the do-it-all tight end has played some at fullback in the past. The roster also includes undrafted free agent rookies Quadrine Hill of Miami and Damien Rhodes of Syracuse.
In 75 regular-season appearances, including 17 starts, Luchey has carried 44 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns. He also has 27 receptions for 258 yards. At 273 pounds, Luchey, who worked out for Houston coaches and personnel officials a couple weeks ago, is an effective blocker but has also been used in the past as a short-yardage specialist.
The former University of Miami standout entered the league with Cincinnati in 1999 as an undrafted free agent. He played four seasons with the Bengals (1999-2002) before signing with Green Bay, where he was viewed as the heir apparent to William Henderson's starting job. But in his two seasons with the Packers (2003-2004), Luchey was unable to dislodge Henderson from the top of the depth chart.
Luchey returned to the Bengals last season and appeared in three games. Details of the contract he signed with the Texans were not yet available.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
A few questions:
1) How much input did Mike Sherman have in this personnel decision? Luchey certainly had more than his fair share of chances when Sherman was GM, given his weight and injury issues.
2) Speaking of weight, I wonder how much Luchey weighed at his workout?
Wasn't his "playing weight" around 270 while with us?
3) Why do I keep flirting with disaster by using "FYI" in my thread titles?
Continuing their overhaul of the fullback position, the Houston Texans have signed unrestricted free agent Nick Luchey, a seven-year veteran known primarily for his lead-blocking skills.
Earlier in the offseason, the Texans added former Tampa Bay starter Jameel Cook, a punishing blocker and solid special teams player, as a free agent. Last year's starter, Moran Norris, was subsequently released and signed with the San Francisco 49ers.
Under first-year head coach Gary Kubiak, the fullback position is expected to take on a higher profile in 2006 than it has for the Texans in the past.
Luchey, 29, figures to vie for the backup spot behind Cook. The Texans signed Patrick Hape, who played under Kubiak in Denver, and the do-it-all tight end has played some at fullback in the past. The roster also includes undrafted free agent rookies Quadrine Hill of Miami and Damien Rhodes of Syracuse.
In 75 regular-season appearances, including 17 starts, Luchey has carried 44 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns. He also has 27 receptions for 258 yards. At 273 pounds, Luchey, who worked out for Houston coaches and personnel officials a couple weeks ago, is an effective blocker but has also been used in the past as a short-yardage specialist.
The former University of Miami standout entered the league with Cincinnati in 1999 as an undrafted free agent. He played four seasons with the Bengals (1999-2002) before signing with Green Bay, where he was viewed as the heir apparent to William Henderson's starting job. But in his two seasons with the Packers (2003-2004), Luchey was unable to dislodge Henderson from the top of the depth chart.
Luchey returned to the Bengals last season and appeared in three games. Details of the contract he signed with the Texans were not yet available.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
A few questions:
1) How much input did Mike Sherman have in this personnel decision? Luchey certainly had more than his fair share of chances when Sherman was GM, given his weight and injury issues.
2) Speaking of weight, I wonder how much Luchey weighed at his workout?
Wasn't his "playing weight" around 270 while with us?
3) Why do I keep flirting with disaster by using "FYI" in my thread titles?