The Texans signed free agent linebacker Kevin Bentley Monday to a three-year deal. Bentley, who spent the previous three years with the Seattle Seahawks, spoke with Texans TV after signing his contract. Below is the transcript.
Brooke Bentley (Texans TV): When was Houston on your free agency radar?
Kevin Bentley: Pretty early they were on my radar. I knew that it was an up-and-coming team. (I) had a couple of guys here that I knew that talked highly about the place and the coaching staff, so I decided to come and visit and I really liked it.
Brooke Bentley: This move reunites you with Ray Rhodes, the defensive backs coach here. What does it mean to have a familiar face on the coaching staff?
Kevin Bentley: It's huge because he helped me get acclimated and just learn the system and learn the guys and stuff like that. He can relate to me and what kind of person I am to the coaches and stuff like that. So it's going to be huge in just getting acclimated to the city.
{QUOTE}Brooke Bentley: In Seattle, you played all three linebacker positions and you played behind arguably the three best linebackers in the NFL. Was getting the chance to start a big reason why you came to Houston?
Kevin Bentley: It was a huge reason. I was a starter earlier in my career, and then I played spot duty the last couple (of years). I wanted the chance to be "the guy" again, and it looks like I have a pretty good shot to be that here.
Brooke Bentley: You were also a big contributor on special teams. What do you see your role here being?
Kevin Bentley: I'm not sure of that right now. Whether I'm a starter or not, I will continue to play special teams and I will continue to play special teams well.
Brooke Bentley: You mentioned to me earlier that you met DeMeco Ryans in Hawaii at the Pro Bowl. Have you had a chance to talk to him or many of the players or coaches here?
Kevin Bentley: No, I haven't had a chance to talk to him, but I talked to André Davis, the receiver you just signed. We are being reunited, as well. We played together in Cleveland. I used to beat up on Travis Johnson in high school, so it's good to get reunited with some of the guys.
Brooke Bentley: What are your first impressions? What do you think of Houston? What do you think of the Texans?
Kevin Bentley: I love it. I haven't really been here much, to be honest, but the city seems really nice. I know they love their football here, and this organization seems like a classy and up-can-coming organization.
