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Shocking. 
Here comes the U-71 down I-10.
07/27/2007: Kevin Barry signs with Texans
BY GERY WOELFEL
Kevin Barry won't be playing for the Green Bay Packers this season, but it might feel that way for him.
Barry, the former Park High School standout whom the Packers released in May, has signed a contract with the Houston Texans Friday morning. Russell Wittman, Barry's agent, told The Journal Times that his client signed a one-year deal. Wittman wouldn't disclose the amount of the contract.
"Kevin's elated and I'm elated,'' Russell said in a telephone interview. "It's good to see Kevin in camp on time. That's very important. And the other positive thing is that Houston's offense is similar to the one they had in Green Bay. He should be able to pick it up fiarly quickly.''
One of the biggest reasons Houston's offense resembles Green Bay's is that the Texans assistant coach and offensive coordinator is Mike Sherman, the former Packers head coach. Sherman was a big backer of Barry in Green Bay and made an key contributor to the team's "U-72'' offense.
Russell said Sherman played a pivotal role in Barry signing with the Texans. Barry had also been seriously courted by the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers.
"Obviously, Mike Sherman was really, really instrumental in Kevin choosing to go with Houston,'' Russell said. "He spent two different days in Houston, probably 45 minutes to a hour each, talking to coach Sherman.
"And he went to dinner with their offensive line coach (John Benton) and assistant line coach (Frank Polloack) one night. They rolled out the red carpet for Kevin.''
The 6-foot-4 Barry played five seasons with the Packers. He played in 59 games and was a key member of the Packers' offensive line which, under Sherman, was one of the best in the NFL. But Barry's status with the Packers became shaky when Sherman was fired and replaced by Mike McCarthy, who installed a new zone-blocking scheme.
Barry then suffered a ruptured left thigh tendon in training camp last May and sat out all of last season. Wittman said Barry is completely healthy now.
"He's fully recovered,'' Wittman said. "Every team physician we met with in Carolina, Cleveland and Houston checked him out and we had two of our own private physicians look at him. He's completely healed. There is no injury anymore.''
After being released, Wittman said he was contacted by several teams about Barry's services, but in the end, the decision came down to Houston and Cleveland. In fact, Russell and Barry were in Cleveland Thursday meeting with Browns officials.
But Wittman said Barry liked the idea of being reunited with Sherman. Furthermore, two other former Packers teammates are starters for the Texans -- running back Ahman Green and center Mike Flanagan.
But rejoining his ex-teammates was just part of the equation in Barry signing with the Texans. Barry also has a legit shot of getting significant playing time. The Texans project Barry as a tackle, and that is a position of concerns for the Texans. Their starting left tackle is veteran journeyman Ephraim Salaam and their starting right tackle is second-year pro Eric Winston, who started just last seven games last season. The team also lacks depth at the tackle position.
"Kevin could play guard, but they're talking about using him at either left or right tackle,'' Wittman said. "They definitely need help at either of the tackle spots. I think that's good for Kevin because I think he's more of a natural tackle than guard.''
Wittman said Barry was at his off-season home in Phoenix, Ariz., Friday morning but planned to catch a flight to Houston today. Wittman said his client is pysched-up about the opportunity to showcase his talents again, especially after being out an entire season.
"He's really excited,'' Wittman said of Barry. "This was Kevin's decision. Kevin spent time thinking about it and felt Houston wa the best place for him.''
Here comes the U-71 down I-10.
07/27/2007: Kevin Barry signs with Texans
BY GERY WOELFEL
Kevin Barry won't be playing for the Green Bay Packers this season, but it might feel that way for him.
Barry, the former Park High School standout whom the Packers released in May, has signed a contract with the Houston Texans Friday morning. Russell Wittman, Barry's agent, told The Journal Times that his client signed a one-year deal. Wittman wouldn't disclose the amount of the contract.
"Kevin's elated and I'm elated,'' Russell said in a telephone interview. "It's good to see Kevin in camp on time. That's very important. And the other positive thing is that Houston's offense is similar to the one they had in Green Bay. He should be able to pick it up fiarly quickly.''
One of the biggest reasons Houston's offense resembles Green Bay's is that the Texans assistant coach and offensive coordinator is Mike Sherman, the former Packers head coach. Sherman was a big backer of Barry in Green Bay and made an key contributor to the team's "U-72'' offense.
Russell said Sherman played a pivotal role in Barry signing with the Texans. Barry had also been seriously courted by the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers.
"Obviously, Mike Sherman was really, really instrumental in Kevin choosing to go with Houston,'' Russell said. "He spent two different days in Houston, probably 45 minutes to a hour each, talking to coach Sherman.
"And he went to dinner with their offensive line coach (John Benton) and assistant line coach (Frank Polloack) one night. They rolled out the red carpet for Kevin.''
The 6-foot-4 Barry played five seasons with the Packers. He played in 59 games and was a key member of the Packers' offensive line which, under Sherman, was one of the best in the NFL. But Barry's status with the Packers became shaky when Sherman was fired and replaced by Mike McCarthy, who installed a new zone-blocking scheme.
Barry then suffered a ruptured left thigh tendon in training camp last May and sat out all of last season. Wittman said Barry is completely healthy now.
"He's fully recovered,'' Wittman said. "Every team physician we met with in Carolina, Cleveland and Houston checked him out and we had two of our own private physicians look at him. He's completely healed. There is no injury anymore.''
After being released, Wittman said he was contacted by several teams about Barry's services, but in the end, the decision came down to Houston and Cleveland. In fact, Russell and Barry were in Cleveland Thursday meeting with Browns officials.
But Wittman said Barry liked the idea of being reunited with Sherman. Furthermore, two other former Packers teammates are starters for the Texans -- running back Ahman Green and center Mike Flanagan.
But rejoining his ex-teammates was just part of the equation in Barry signing with the Texans. Barry also has a legit shot of getting significant playing time. The Texans project Barry as a tackle, and that is a position of concerns for the Texans. Their starting left tackle is veteran journeyman Ephraim Salaam and their starting right tackle is second-year pro Eric Winston, who started just last seven games last season. The team also lacks depth at the tackle position.
"Kevin could play guard, but they're talking about using him at either left or right tackle,'' Wittman said. "They definitely need help at either of the tackle spots. I think that's good for Kevin because I think he's more of a natural tackle than guard.''
Wittman said Barry was at his off-season home in Phoenix, Ariz., Friday morning but planned to catch a flight to Houston today. Wittman said his client is pysched-up about the opportunity to showcase his talents again, especially after being out an entire season.
"He's really excited,'' Wittman said of Barry. "This was Kevin's decision. Kevin spent time thinking about it and felt Houston wa the best place for him.''
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