David Montgomery, Ed Ingram and Jake Hummel interviews. Plus Dalton Schultz on the Jim Rome show, AFC South breakdown and wild UFL rule changes discussed.

David Montgomery & Ed Ingram Interviews + Free Agency Week Recap

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Trent Brown on returning to Houston. Plus the AFC South race and the QB landscape across the NFL heading into 2026.

Trent Brown Returns, McClain on Draft Strategy & QB Landscape 

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The new league year opens with Foster Moreau and Logan Hall joining the Texans. Marc and John recap the full free agency haul and break down the O-line debate.

Marc Vandermeer and John Harris go live from Sports Radio 610 three hours after the new league year officially opens, recapping the complete free agency haul and reacting to the latest additions. The headline signings: tight end Foster Moreau from the Saints joins as the inline blocking tight end the Texans have been seeking — a former LSU number 18 honoree who overcame Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2023 and embodies swarm culture — and defensive lineman Logan Hall arrives from Tampa Bay on a two-year, $14 million deal, bringing first-round pedigree and inside-outside versatility that John compares to Denico Autry's role. The Texans also add defensive end Dominique Robinson from the Bears on a one-year, $4 million deal and re-sign Naquan Jones.

John provides the analytical framework for the Moreau signing, breaking down tight end archetypes — inline/wide tight ends (hand in the dirt blockers), F tight ends (receiving specialists like Mike Gesicki), H-backs, and U tight ends (do-it-all hybrids) — and explains why Moreau's ability to win at the point of attack against a six-technique defensive end unlocks the entire running game by threatening the edge and forcing linebackers to flow over the top instead of sitting in gaps. Marc connects the dots across the full free agency period, arguing the Texans have systematically addressed every area fans and analysts identified as needs: running back (Montgomery), offensive line (Ingram, Brown, Braden Smith), safety (Blankenship), tight end (Moreau), defensive line depth (Hall, Robinson, Naquan Jones, Sheldon Rankins return), and special teams (Hummel) — all without a single budget-breaking deal.

The offensive line debate continues with the Braden Smith guard-or-tackle question still unresolved, and both hosts argue it won't matter until OTAs at the earliest. Marc draws the Tytus Howard parallel — Howard successfully moved from tackle to guard and held up well — and suggests Smith's college guard background and elite run-blocking ability could open up two positions instead of one if he slides inside. The show closes with an AFC South check-in: the Colts signed Daniel Jones to a two-year, $88 million deal but haven't impressed otherwise, Jacksonville is losing pieces but retains a solid defensive core, and the Titans under Robert Saleh are the dark horse that could start causing problems if Cam Ward takes a step forward.

League Year Day 1: Moreau, Logan Hall & Free Agency Recap | TAA

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Braden Smith signs from the Colts and Ka'imi Fairbairn gets extended as the Texans' free agency haul takes shape. Marc and John go live on new league year eve.

Marc Vandermeer and John Harris go live from the Sports Radio 610 studios on the eve of the new league year, reacting to Day 2 of legal tampering and a free agency haul that's taking clear shape. The headline signing: Braden Smith, the former Colts right tackle, joins the Texans on a two-year deal worth up to $25 million. John provides the scouting deep dive — Smith was a guard at Auburn (90-plus percent of his college snaps), drafted 37th overall in the same class as Quentin Nelson, and only moved to tackle because a Colts staffer suggested trying him there during OTAs. The hosts leave the guard-vs-tackle decision open, noting it's March 10th with six months until kickoff, and emphasize that Smith's mentality fits the swarm culture regardless of position. John also highlights Jonathan Alexander's article on Smith's openness about mental health and anxiety, calling it impactful for the Houston community.

Ka'imi Fairbairn receives a contract extension, cementing the kicker's status as one of the most important players on the roster — Marc spotlights his clutch 51-yard field goal against Pittsburgh in the playoff opener that pushed the lead to 10-6 and effectively changed the complexion of the game. The Texans also officially announced the signings of Ed Ingram, Trent Brown, Dalton Schultz, E.J. Speed, MJ Stewart, and Danielle Hunter's extension, plus added special teamer Jake Hummel and defensive end Dominique Robinson.

The offensive line discussion dominates the show, with the hosts mapping out the current group — Aireontae Ersery, Jared Patterson/Braden Smith, Jake Andrews/Eli Cox, Ed Ingram, Trent Brown/Blake Fisher — and making the case that the draft's interior linemen (guards especially) are the sweet spot for picks 28, 38, 58, and 68. John draws an extended parallel between Ersery's development trajectory and Duane Brown's, noting Brown told him it took three or four years to truly master the position, and argues Ersery's year-two leap could be significant. Marc delivers the show's signature math: David Montgomery (two years, $6-7 million) plus Reed Blankenship (three years, $24 million) cost roughly what Kenneth Walker alone commanded (three years, $45 million) — and you get a complete running back plus a starting safety for the price of a first-and-second-down-only runner.

Braden Smith Signs, Fairbairn Extended & Free Agency Day 2 Recap

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Marc and John went live for free agency day one. Ed Ingram re-signs, Reed Blankenship joins from Philly, and the O-line rebuild plan comes into focus for 2026.

Marc Vandermeer and John Harris go live from the Sports Radio 610 studios for the first night of the NFL's legal tampering period, reacting in real time to signings, reported deals, and the inevitable fan panic. The headline: Ed Ingram re-signs with the Texans on a three-year, $37.5 million deal — a move both hosts love, especially compared to the Cleveland Browns paying Zion Johnson three years and $50 million for a player Marc would take Ingram over in a heartbeat. The other major acquisition is safety Reed Blankenship from the Eagles on a three-year, $24.75 million deal, bringing a coach's kid with championship experience who fits the swarming defensive identity.

Texans Free Agency Reactions: Ingram, Blankenship & Draft Strategy

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Joe Mixon released, Danielle Hunter extended and Wade Smith breaks down the O-line rebuild. Plus Nick Caserio on cap strategy ahead of Monday's tampering period.

John Harris hosts a loaded Friday show on the eve of the legal tampering period, packing in a week's worth of roster news, a Wade Smith interview, and Nick Caserio audio. The biggest headline: Joe Mixon has been released at his own request, saving the Texans $8 million in cap space and officially closing the book on his Houston tenure after an injury-plagued 2025 season. That move pairs with several other transactions — Danielle Hunter receives a contract extension providing both long-term security and immediate cap relief, Derek Stingley Jr. and Jalen Pitre restructure their deals to free up space, MJ Stewart returns on a one-year deal to shore up the secondary, and Dalton Schultz gets a one-year extension to remain through 2027.

Former Pro Bowl guard Wade Smith provides the episode's analytical centerpiece in a pre-recorded interview with Marc Vandermeer. Wade credits Cole Popovich and the offensive line staff for genuine improvement in 2025, explains from personal experience why playing multiple positions can extend a career but may prevent maximizing at one spot, and describes the emotional rollercoaster of free agency — visiting Buffalo where former coaches tugged at his heartstrings, falling in love with Houston on his visit, then being pushed by his agent to leverage an Arizona trip he didn't want to take. On the current roster, Wade sees Aireontae Ersery and Trent Brown as likely starters at the tackle spots and emphasizes the need to invest in the interior, noting Ed Ingram's career-best season will price him high on the open market. He also raves about the Toro District facility at Bridgeland, comparing it to Frisco, Texas and the Cowboys' Star complex.

The final segment features Nick Caserio's appearance on Sports Radio 610's Sean & Seth show, where the GM provides a candid look at the free agency big board process — starting with all available unrestricted free agents, narrowing to 25-30 realistic targets across positions, and eliminating mismatches in value quickly so the team doesn't "waste time." Caserio speaks warmly about Tytus Howard's professionalism, acknowledges the difficulty of managing competing contract demands, explains why the offensive line turnover isn't an indictment of individual players but a roster construction reality, and pushes back on PFF grades as "a data point" that lacks the context of being in meeting rooms. The show closes with league news including Taylor Decker's release from Detroit, Geno Smith's release from the Raiders, and DJ Moore's trade to Buffalo.

Wade Smith on O-Line + Caserio on Trades, Free Agency & Cap Moves

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ohn McClain reacts to the impending Tytus Howard and David Montgomery trades, Jerry Schuplinski takes over as QB coach, and the 2026 coaching staff is set. Plus flag football.

Marc Vandermeer goes solo on a packed Wednesday night that covers the full spectrum from blockbuster trade reactions to girls flag football. Hall of Fame writer John McClain opens the show with his trademark candor on the week's two trades: he loves the David Montgomery deal — "some members of the national media were criticizing it and I don't understand why" — highlighting that Montgomery's 33 rushing touchdowns over the last three years dwarf the Texans' red zone production (Montgomery had eight touchdowns alone last year; the entire Texans backfield had nine). McClain predicts Nick Caserio will trade out of the first round for the second consecutive year, potentially acquiring three second-round picks, and sees as many as three new offensive line starters in 2026. On Tytus Howard, he understands the financial reality with the Will Anderson Jr. extension looming — Anderson "might be the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history." McClain also weighs in on the Colts' transition tag on Daniel Jones, calls the Anthony Richardson pick "one of the biggest mistakes in the history of the draft," predicts Alec Pierce lands with Drake Maye and the Patriots, and offers his skepticism on Kyler Murray's work habits.

Marc then breaks down the 2026 coaching staff announcement, headlined by Jerry Schuplinski taking over as quarterbacks coach after Jerrod Johnson's departure. Marc details Schuplinski's extensive NFL résumé — Patriots (three Super Bowls), Dolphins, Giants, Raiders, Rams under Sean McVay — and cites glowing endorsements from Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jimmy Garoppolo about his specific impact on their development. He emphasizes that the John Carroll connection doesn't define Schuplinski; his decade-plus of NFL experience across multiple offensive systems does. Marc also celebrates the returns of Corey Undlin (defensive passing game coordinator) and Dino Vasso despite both receiving outside interview interest.

The middle segment features Amon-Ra St. Brown's podcast comments on Montgomery's departure from Detroit — "He's an RB1 on 31 other teams... I told everyone, keep him on your fantasy team because he's about to go even crazier" — and Marc's deep dive into NBC's throwback NBA broadcast, complete with Houstonized versions of the classic NBC and CBS basketball themes tied to Rockets championship memories.

The show closes with Brett Stewart, Director of Youth Football Development for the Texans, discussing the explosive growth of girls flag football — 130-plus high school teams across Texas, the push for UIL sanctioning, the combined Senior Showcase that drew 525 boys and 228 girls with 70-plus college programs offering scholarships on the spot, and the road to the 2028 Olympics. Marc and Brett also build an all-Texans Olympic flag football roster featuring C.J. Stroud, Derek Stingley Jr., Nico Collins, Calen Bullock, and Kamari Lassiter.

Trades, Coaching Changes & Girls Flag Football Growth | TAA

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Marc Vandermeer and John Harris react to the biggest Texans news day of the offseason so far as two trades are reported by the media before lunchtime on the Monday before legal tampering.

First, there are reports that Tytus Howard has been dealt to the Cleveland Browns for a fifth-round pick, followed by his signing of a three-year, $63 million extension with Cleveland. The guys acknowledge that Tytus, despite his versatility, never settled into a true position.

Then the guys break down the reports that Houston will land RB David Montgomery in a trade with the Lions.

The back half features John's Combine interview with Fran Duffy of All City Philly, who provides an expert-level draft deep dive tailored to Houston's needs. Duffy sells Garrett Nussmeier as the best non-Mendoza quarterback in the class despite knee concerns, identifies pass rush as the draft's deepest position (Keldric Falk, Arvell Reese, David Bailey, Ruben Bain Jr. as four of the top six players), and breaks down offensive line targets including Monroe Freeling, Caleb Lomu, and a Nigerian-born Arizona State tackle who didn't play high school football and learned to put on pads at junior college. Duffy and Harris geek out over center prospects Connor Liu (Auburn, torn ACL) and Logan Jones (Iowa, handpicked by Tyler Linderbaum as his successor), and Duffy offers a Felix Jones comparison for Jadarian Price while warning that Price won't last to the second round. The show closes with news of the Chiefs releasing Juwan Taylor and the Cowboys working to extend kicker Brandon Aubrey.

Busy Monday for the Texans! Plus Fran Duffy breaks down the 2026 draft for Houston

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TAA FULL 022626.mp3

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Greg Cosell breaks down C.J. Stroud, Cam Ward, Drake Maye and Fernando Mendoza from the Combine. Plus JP Shadrick on the Jags rivalry and AFC South outlook.

John Harris goes solo from Radio Row in Indianapolis for Combine Day 2, delivering two must-hear interviews. NFL Films' Greg Cosell provides his signature film-room analysis on C.J. Stroud, calling him a potential top-five ball thrower in the NFL but noting that "everything seems to be fast" mentally and he appears to be "inventing pressure" in the pocket over the last two seasons. Cosell raves about the Texans defense — declaring Calen Bullock the best post safety in the NFL and comparing his impact to what Earl Thomas meant to the Legion of Boom — while emphasizing that the interior defensive tackles (Tommy Togiai, Sheldon Rankins, Mario Edwards) were "overlooked all season long" despite dominating on film every week. He also breaks down Cam Ward's mechanical issues in Tennessee, Trevor Lawrence's rhythmic transformation under Liam Coen in Jacksonville, Drake Maye's playoff regression in New England, Fernando Mendoza's Jared Goff comparison as the projected number one pick, and why the Clint Kubiak system is the perfect marriage for Mendoza's skill set.

The second half features JP Shadrick, the voice of the Jacksonville Jaguars' media universe, who provides an insider's account of how the Jaguars' season turned after the 19-point collapse in Houston — specifically Tony Boselli's weekly refrain that "this is the most important game in the history of the franchise," which became both a meme and a genuine rallying cry. Shadrick details why Jacksonville was confident they could reach the Super Bowl before the Buffalo playoff loss, the impact of losing corners Jordan Lewis and Travis Hunter in the postseason, Travis Etienne's likely departure as a free agent, and the Jaguars' stadium renovation timeline (38,000-seat lower-bowl-only setup in 2026, relocation to Orlando in 2027, full reopening in 2028). The show closes with Combine workout previews, the announcement that Jacksonville will play two London games (Tottenham and Wembley), and Kirk Cousins' impending release from Atlanta.

Greg Cosell on Stroud & NFL QBs + JP Shadrick on Jags | Combine Day 2

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