For the eighth year in a row, a group of local-area children left the Houston Methodist Training Center with a big Christmas gift and an even bigger smile.
Bicycles purchased by the Houston Texans players and coaching staff were given away following Friday's practice to a 130 elated youngsters from the Boys & Girls Club, the Houston Texans YMCA and Pro-Vision.
"It's a pretty special deal here, these guys giving these bicycles to these kids," interim head coach Wade Phillips said. "It's great when you think of somebody else, and these guys put the money together to buy these bicycles for these kids, and they're having fun with it, and I know the kids appreciate it, and we appreciate our guys doing it, and our team doing that."
The kids had the opportunity to mingle with Texans players and show them their shiny new toy in the Teal Lot outside of the practice field. Players wished the kids a Merry Christmas, posed for pictures and linebacker Joe Mays even demonstrated how to ride a bike for its new owner.
"It never gets old," Texans tackle Duane Brown said. "Every time we come out here it's a great feeling to see a smile on these kids faces. I remember when I was younger, having a bike, there was nothing like it."
Brown reflected on the excitement of owning his first bike when he was a child.
"Huffy, I rode it every day, literally. My mom would have to tell me to come and the house and get off of it. There's nothing like having a nice bicycle."
