Cornerback Dunta Robinson gets the crowd pumped up for the 2008 season at the Texans All Access event on Thursday.
General manager Rick Smith and the team's standouts spoke to fans at Texans All Access about their excitement for the 2008 season.
General manager Rick Smith "Everybody having a good time? That's what I like to hear! We are so appreciative of the fact that you guys are out here tonight. We really think that this is a special event for you because it gives you an opportunity to see our place up-close and personal. But it's a real opportunity for us, as well, because we get to interact with you guys and have a good time with tonight. And we are certainly glad that you guys decided to come out and hang out with us tonight.
"You see me all the time. You hear from me all the time. I know that you are really here to see our players and hear from them. I've got a good group of guys that want to come up here and visit with you tonight. But, again, we appreciate all of your support and we are working extremely hard this offseason. Our guys are working hard in the offseason and the OTA practices. We had a great mini-camp. We are going to be a better football team in 2008 and we are working hard to get that done for you."
"The first guy I want to bring up here was a guy that we ended up drafting last year. He ended up being our Rookie of the Year, started a bunch of games for us and made a bunch of plays for us. I think he's only getting better. His growth potential is exponential. We are excited about him and expect him to make a lot of big plays in his second year."
CB Fred Bennett
"I just want to thank y'all for coming out. I think we have the greatest fans here in Houston of the NFL. I'm just looking forward to this upcoming season to see you filling up this stadium and cheering for us. Thank you!"
General manager Rick Smith
"From last year's draft to this year's draft, this year in the first round we were fortunate enough to move back and get the guy that we were looking for. This young man is going to be a really good player. I think you're really going to enjoy watching him protect our quarterback and executing our running game and help our running backs get yards. Duane Brown is a kid we drafted in the first round from Virginia Tech."
T Duane Brown
"Thank you for coming out and supporting us tonight. I'm excited to be a part of this program. I heard about the Houston fans and I'm waiting to experience the first game, so just keep supporting us. We're not going to let y'all down. We're going to do some big things this year."
General manager Rick Smith"A guy who is going to line up a lot of times next to this big fellow this year. He's made a lot of plays for us. He blocks for us. He catches passes for us, making a lot of big plays."
TE Owen Daniels"We appreciate you guys coming out. We appreciate your support through the years. Since I've been here the last couple of years, you guys have been unbelievable fans. Like Rick (Smith) pointed out before, we're leaps and bounds ahead of where we have been the last couple of years. We're getting a lot better. We're getting better every day. We were close last year, but this is the year. So stay behind us and we'll make you proud."
General manager Rick Smith"The next guy I'm going to bring up to the stage, last year at the end of the season, right up the sideline this guy ran two touchdowns. He helped us win a big game. He was a free agent and we're glad that we were able to re-sign him back to our football team. This guy is a great, great football player, but a better man."
WR André Davis
"I just want to thank everybody for their continued support. And I want to let you know that this year is going to be a much better year than last year. We're just going to make sure that we continue to go out there and continue to work harder each day, and you're going to see a brand new team out there."
General manager Rick Smith"From on Andre to the next, this guy needs no introduction. He's our guy. He's our playmaker on our offense."
WR Andre Johnson
"First of all, I'd like to thank all you guys for coming out. We're really excited about this season coming up. All the guys are excited. You know, we finished 8-8 last year. If you are worried about my knee, my knee is doing fine. But we are really excited about this season and hopefully we have a lot of great things to come. Thank you."
General manager Rick Smith"We think our offensive line is going to be a much-improved unit this year. We feel like we've got a good group of guys working together. But Mr. Texan himself, who's been here from the beginning, leads that group, and I want to introduce you to him."
G Chester Pitts"Hello, everybody. How are we doing tonight? You know what, this will be my seventh season. It's been fun thus far, but I'm really excited about this year. The motto this season is, 'It's going to be a great 2008.' Honestly, it's that time. We appreciate your support year in and year out. Without you guys, I'm not standing on this stage right now, so from the bottom of my heart, I really appreciate it. Thank you very much, and Go Texans!"
General manager Rick Smith"And the next guy I'm going to bring up to the stage is probably pound-for-pound the toughest football player in the National Football League. He had an injury last year. He's working extremely hard in his rehab, and I think you guys will welcome him to the stage and encourage him. But this guy's going to be back playing good football for us."
CB Dunta Robinson
"H-Town, y'all ready for some football in 2008? That's right, man. We're going to be back this year. Everybody's going to be healthy. And if y'all thought 8-8 was good, just wait 'til y'all get a hold of the 2008 Houston Texans."
General manager Rick Smith"The next guy played the latest amount of football because he took a trip over to Hawaii and he was able to play in the Pro Bowl this year. He's our leader on defense, our captain on defense, our guy in the middle."
LB DeMeco Ryans"How's everybody doing tonight? Everybody excited about the upcoming season? Hey, we just want to let you all know that we're definitely excited. We're out here working hard every day. We're looking forward to this next upcoming season and we're trying to make this the best season we've had so far. We just ask you all for your continued support, and we're going to give you the best play we can out there on the field, so continue to cheer for us loud. Thank you!"
General manager Rick Smith"Well, from the leader on defense to the leader of our team: The quarterback, the position guy that's going to lead us all, Matt Schaub."
QB Matt Schaub
"How y'all doing? We've got a great group out here tonight. We really appreciate y'all coming out and supporting us throughout this season and making this place rock on Sundays. We hope you come out and continue that this year and make this one of the toughest places to come and play in the National Football league. We appreciate it; thanks a lot."
General manager Rick Smith
"The last guy that I'm going to bring up here had a great season last year. He set records. He had tons of sacks. But I will say to you that this guy is working harder this offseason than I have ever seen him. He is practicing at a different tempo. Mr. Mario Williams."
DE Mario Williams
"Well it's kind of hard to be the last person up here to say something because everybody's said it already, but I really want to appreciate everybody for coming out and I look forward to the 2008 season. I want you guys to get here early, get us krunk on the field, get us ready to play. Once again, I just want to say thank you guys, and I look forward to 2008."
General manager Rick Smith
"We just want to say this is a fun event for us, but really there are a lot of people that are working extremely hard, (marketing events coordinator) Casey (Harbich) and her group. There are a lot of people that are working hard to put this event on for you. So if you would, give those people a round of applause for your appreciation for working hard.
"Again, thank you for coming out tonight, thank you for your support. These guys are working hard. We're going to be good this year and we're going to be excited to come and play in front of you and give you a lot of good victories. Thanks a lot."
