Who says practice is monotonous?
On Fridays, the linebackers work on ball skills at the end of practice. According to Bill O'Brien, linebackers coach Mike Vrabel usually throws passes to his group to practice catching interceptions.
The team was in for a surprise when Roger Clemens, former Major League Baseball pitcher and seven-time Cy Young Award winner, showed up to the Texans practice fields and took over "pitching" duty one Friday.
"We had the Rocket throw them," O'Brien said on his Monday radio show. "It was awesome. He wound up and he threw. His windup just brought back me watching him strikeout 20 against the Tigers."
Clemens, who recorded 354 wins and 4,672 strikeouts during his career, pitched for O'Brien's hometown Red Sox as well as the Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees during his 24 years in Major League Baseball.
"That guy is a legend," O'Brien said. "First of all, what a great guy. He's a storyteller, very personable."
The Texans defense has 12 interceptions through 15 games. Since Week 8, Houston has forced 15 takeaways and is tied for third in the NFL in turnover margin (plus-7).
Check out snapshots of the action from the Texans at Titans Week 16 matchup.
Houston Texans free safety Quintin Demps (27) gets past Tennessee Titans guard Quinton Spain (60) as Demps runs for a touchdown after recovering a fumble and returning it 33 yards in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Houston Texans free safety Quintin Demps (27) recovers a fumble by Tennessee Titans running back Antonio Andrews after Andrews was hit by Texans defensive back Kareem Jackson (25) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. Demps returned the recovery 33 yards for a touchdown. (AP Photo/Weston Kenney)
Houston Texans free safety Quintin Demps scores a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans after recovering a fumble and returning it 33 yards in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Houston Texans free safety Quintin Demps (27) gets past Tennessee Titans guard Quinton Spain (60) as Demps returns a fumble recovery 33 yards for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. At left is Texans defensive end Jared Crick (93). (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger (7) passes as Houston Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney rushes in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Houston Texans quarterback Brandon Weeden passes against the Tennessee Titans in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Houston Texans free safety Quintin Demps, center, celebrates with Andre Hal (29) and Duane Brown (76) after Demps returned a fumble recovery 33 yards for a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
