Two weeks from right now we will have completed our second day of practice.  It has been a brutally hot summer, so hopefully we will get a bunch of rain in August to cool things down. 

Getting ready for camp started already, though.  Constant amount of water is being consumed as we speak!  Getting ready for camp also entails getting your mind right as well, because training camp is a grind mentally as well as physically.  To accomplish that, I will be getting everything in my life in order so I will be able to concentrate completely on football.  That means getting all the bills paid early so you are not freaking out in the middle of a team drill because your DirectTV will be turned off when you get home.  Make sure to stock plenty of water, Gatorade, snacks, and any item that I will need over the course of the three-week span. 

And last but not least, get away from Houston one last time and go relax!  The biggest mistake I see guys make is stressing about the inevitable (camp and the grind) instead of enjoying the time they have now.  I am planning on heading down to South Florida for a few days with my wife, turn off my cell phone, see a few friends and just take my mind off of things.  Ill get back about a week before camp will start, make sure all of the things I previously stated are done and get going. 

That’s what my preparation for camp is like.  Nothing fancy but it works for me.

Is anyone following Schaub at the golf tournament in Lake Tahoe?  I know he was real excited about getting a chance to play in it.  I hope he plays like he can.  When Matt is on his game, he can put some birdies on the scorecard. 

I will put another post up before camp and answer the mailbag or comments people have so make sure and get them in. Just click “Ask Eric” here on my website to let me know what’s on your mind.

Eric Winston is a starting offensive tackle for the Houston Texans. His blog for www.playerpress.com runs at www.ericwinston73.com. Find him on Twitter as ericwinston.

So my friend has finally won out, this blog will be about the differences between Right Tackle and Left Tackle.  It’s probably good that I am talking about this topic because there are many common misconceptions about the position.  I’m not sure how to do this so I will answer typical statements I hear.   

Left Tackles are more athletic.

For the most part, yes.  Left Tackles are commonly your more athletic, less physical former basketball player or all-around athlete.  Right Tackles might not be as athletic but they are more physical, tougher players.  Right Tackles are asked to “open up” holes by moving the defensive player while Left Tackles “cover” their guy up by getting in front of the defender but don’t get as much movement.

Right Tackles are the better run blockers because teams are right handed and run right more than left.

Again, for the most part, yes.  I don’t have the exact numbers but I’m pretty sure we ran right more than left last year.  However, in our zone scheme the play side can be the backside quite a few times because of so many cutbacks the back is offered by good cutoff blocks on the backside. 

Right Tackles don’t have to be as good at pass blocking because they get more help than the left tackle.

Absolutely wrong.  The only time this is true is during most play-action passes, especially when the tight end is next to the Right Tackle.  Think about it, if a team runs right more, then a team is going to play action to that side as well, therefore the tight end does stay in and block some of those times.  To me, one of the hardest blocks to make is when you are to the open side (no TE next to you) and the play-action fake is coming your way.  Think about selling out at a defensive end on a play-action pass hoping that he reads it as run and doesn’t blow by you up the field.  It is a block that takes a ton of practice and self confidence.  An old vet used to tell me, “if you believe, he’ll believe” and he was exactly right.  (Thanks Ephraim.)  Generally speaking, the backside of the play-action pass is harder, giving the Left Tackle the most stress.

…and on drop backs, too.

This fluctuates from team to team.  I have had games where I have gotten no help, meaning that the center floats toward one guard, and that guard can in turn help the tackle.  On drop backs, when the center isn’t coming your way, you are on an island, all alone, you vs. the DE.  Other games the help goes back and forth, and every once in a blue moon, I’ll get more help. (Maybe once or twice in my career.)

Right ends are better pass rushers than left ends.

This one really fluctuates from year to year.  I will say the majority of teams set up this way but not as many as people think.  In our division, it definitely sets up this way.  I would say it is a coin toss between Titans Javon Kearse and Kyle Vandenbosch, they are both equally good in my opinion.  The Colts have Freeney and Mathis, both very good, but Freeney is in a league of his own, and the Jaguars have Paul Spicer and two rookies who will be good as the years go on.  We face those guys twice a year.  The rest depends on our non-division schedule.  I remember my first year, out of the nine games I started, six or seven of the left ends were the better on their teams.  (Remember, left ends go over the Right Tackle and right ends go over the Left Tackle).

Can you play both?

Sure, but it is hard.  I played Left Tackle all through college and then switched when I got to the Texans.  I was switched because my arm length is not considered prototypical for a left tackle.  I have normal length human arms, the NFL doesn't want normal length, they want extra long.  Long arms allows the tackle to hit the defender in pass protection before they can hit you.  If you are wondering, I understand what they are saying, but I never have had a problem getting my hands on defenders.  Now that I have made the switch, I am glad to be playing Right Tackle.  It fits my demeanor more and I have become every bit as comfortable as I ever was on the left.  But it was a hard rookie year, you basically have to do the exact opposite with each foot and hand from one side to the other.  On the Right you kick with your left foot, on the Left you kick with the right foot.  On the Right your outside punch hand is your right and on the Left your outside punch hand is your left.  You get the picture where this is going.  This why good swing tackles (backups that play both) are paid well and needed desperately for depth.

In conclusion, I have really enjoyed playing Right Tackle.  Going into my fourth year I am looking forward to being more physical at the point of attack, cutting off the backside, and pass blocking like a Left Tackle … but we know better than that, don’t we?

Eric Winston is a starting offensive tackle for the Houston Texans. His blog for www.playerpress.com runs at www.ericwinston73.com. Find him on Twitter as ericwinston.

One of the hottest topics this off-season is the possible implementation of a rookie wage scale.  To be sure, there are many opinions on this matter, from firm supporters to firm opposition.  A lot of people do not even have the complete facts on the issue, including a great amount of players. 

A website I read religiously every day (2 or 3 checks daily is mandatory), ProFootballTalk.com (PFT), has devoted a great amount of time analyzing the issue from each angle.  They have presented their own arguments and believe me, I consider PFT an authority on NFL matters. They are always on top of every news item from legal issues to trades, signings, agent swaps and anything else you can think of that pertains to the NFL.  They also have presented the opinions of agents that have come out against the wage scale and even a few (God knows why) that support it.  The one thing they haven’t done is get a player’s perspective, or, for that matter, several players’ perspectives. 

So I will attempt to provide one.

Let me start by saying I have flip-flopped a couple different times over the course of the last year on this issue.  Let’s begin by comparing the two sides that PFT used to make each argument and I will add my opinions.  I think they did a good job compiling a list for each side. Here are the arguments FOR the scale:

Argument 1: Wages at the top of the draft are growing at a disproportionate rate.
             Stafford got over $41 million guaranteed!  That is a ridiculous number if you compare it to the top signal callers around the league.

Argument 2: The current system unfairly penalizes the worst teams from the previous season… 
            It definitely does in the sense that it makes teams dramatically overpay for unproven players.

Argument 3: …and creates players that can’t be led.
             It is hard to coach, mentor, or even criticize a guy that makes so much money guaranteed that he can never make a tackle, pass, block, or interception and still make more money than a vast majority of players make in their entire career.

Argument 4: The current system takes money away from proven players.
             This isn’t true.  The current CBA dictates a portion of the salary cap is set aside for the rookies.  So they aren’t taking money away from veterans, they are taking money away from other rookies.

Argument 5: Agents are preventing the union from insisting on a rookie wage scale. 
            I wouldn’t say they are preventing it because at the end of the day I don’t think they have the power. However, they definitely don’t want a set wage scale.  I think many guys wouldn’t hire agents if they were slotted.  In other words, if you know how much you will be paid, there would be no sense in paying an agent to sign off on it.  I’ve seen this happen in the NBA.

Argument 6: Agents are taking unfair advantage of the players’ leverage. 
            They are just doing their job.  They are paid to get the most money possible for each client.  It would be bad business if they weren't leveraging the situation.

Argument 7: The union knows that the change is in the best interest of the game.
             I think the union thinks there are bigger fish to fry than a rookie wage scale.

And the arguments AGAINST:

Argument 1: The league agreed to the system.
            Absolutely.  They had no problem with it a few years ago when they signed the current CBA and rookie wages were going up at that time, too.

Argument 2: No one forces the teams to sign the contracts. 
            To me, this is one of the most important points. Teams can offer top draft picks whatever they want.  There is no floor except for the minimum salary. The Patriots have gotten around this for years by dealing their first round picks for 2nd rounders and 3rd rounders, where the best value in the draft is captured.

Argument 3: Big rookie contracts don’t take money from veterans.  I explained this above.

Argument 4: Limiting rookie contracts won’t result in more money for veterans. 
            It won’t.  What will give veterans more access to money is to get rid of the ridiculous accounting measures that go into calculating the salary cap.  Teams are allowed to count bonuses, even if they aren’t paid out, toward the salary cap.  Use your imagination and you can figure out how teams manipulate that.  Receiver A makes the minimum, the team offers him a contract and gives him $2,000 to sign a contract that states if he blocks 6 punts in one year he will get a $5 million bonus.  The only catch is he isn't on punt team and will never be on that team. 

Argument 5: Big rookie contracts increase the market for veterans. 
            They might but they don’t as much as agents tell you they do.  Case in point: Why didn’t Jason Peters get a bigger contract than Jake Long’s rookie contract?  Peters has been to two Pro Bowls, Long obviously none at the time of signing.  The truth is there are two different economies at work in the NFL.  One is based on performance that is used during free agency.  The other is based on potential used in the first round.  For some reason, owners choose to pay more for potential.

Argument 6: Teams have to make good decisions regarding the draft.
             Without a doubt.  A truly competitive league is competitive at everything it does.  Teams have different strategies on how to deal with the draft.  Certain teams benefit in different ways from their approaches.

Argument 7: Agents aren’t influencing the process.
             All agents can really do is try to influence their players to move toward their point of view.

Now that all the cards are on the table let’s get down to it.  I am against a scale being put in for a few main reasons.  One, when the Texans drafted Brian Cushing (and to be clear, I like Brian and think he will be a good player), I wasn’t involved in any of the draft meetings and neither were any of my teammates.  Nobody asked for my or any of my teammates’ opinion. That said, why is this the players’ problem?  We aren’t putting in a bottom line for rookies’ wages.  We haven’t made them raise the guaranteed money at eye-popping rates. 

Do I think first-rounders should be getting that money?  Hell no!  If I was an owner, would I take an unproven player and give him a stack of cash that rivals the top free agency contracts?  Nope. 

But some teams think that is the best way to go.  So let the cream rise to the top and let the others keep making mistakes.  It’s not the players’ job to help the owners and GMs get the best value for draft picks. We shouldn’t have to protect them from themselves.

To me, this is a strategy (and a good one) that the owners have used when a few players (cough ... Kevin Mawae) came out and said they would be in favor of a rookie wage scale to split the union in half, pitting the rookies vs. the vets. This plan could create havoc and it is our job to make sure each player knows the facts.  Veterans consider it a slap in the face that unproven guys are getting paid more than they have even though they have been in the NFL, performing at the highest level, for years.  I can totally understand that train of thought, but if the vets realize that a rookie wage scale isn’t going to make them more money, I guarantee you they would rather a rookie keep it than the owners.

I’m a free market capitalist at heart.  Why would you want to create a system that limits income for any player?  And on top of that, what is next? Fifteen years down the road, a cap on how much a certain position player can make in free agency?  If that sounds crazy it shouldn’t. That’s exactly what the NBA does. 

I said earlier that the union, in my mind, has bigger issues to tackle.  Getting full disclosure of the team's financial statements, better accounting rules regarding the salary cap to make teams spend more money (or the accurate amount of money they are supposed to) on veterans, etc.  The list goes on. 

I would be surprised if any massive changes are made.  After all, if the owners really want to get something done, they could just start giving rookies way less money. Remember, they don’t have to pay that money, they choose to.

Eric Winston is a starting offensive tackle for the Houston Texans. His blog for www.playerpress.com runs at www.ericwinston73.com. Find him on Twitter as ericwinston.

So a friend of mine wanted me to write my next blog on the offensive line, what it means to be an O-Lineman, what it takes, right side compared to left side, etc., but instead I figured I’d save that one and give you guys my thoughts on the current affairs of the Texans. 

Let me start out with everyone’s favorite topic at the moment, OD.  Owen and his agents have been in talks with the Texans for a little bit of time and talks have come to a standstill, thus Owen has become impatient (and rightly so) with the gamesmanship being played. 

Now, I can honestly say I have very little insight on the number being offered and have no idea about the structure as well.  Money is as important as structure.  (Structure meaning: guarantees and when money will actually be paid out.)  Most agents and football aficionados look for guaranteed money and the money being paid out in the first three years of the contract because that is the likely money the player will earn barring a very unlikely event.  All salary money is not guaranteed, so a team could give a player a 5 year, $35 million deal with $5 million guaranteed and $12 million in the first three years and that would NOT be a good deal. A team can cut the player after year 3 and the player really played a 3 year, $12 million deal instead of a 3 year, at least, $21 million deal to keep up with the $7 million a year average.  A great deal would be the same 5 year $35 million dollar deal with $15 million to sign and $24 million in the first 3 years.  That way the team doesn’t have an incentive to get rid of you after year 3 and actually has an incentive to let you play out the contract. 

I hope all that makes sense.

My contract was put together rather quickly.  The Texans had come to my agents, Drew and Jason Rosenhaus, and wanted to discuss a possible extension.  We had started talks during the summer and into camp.  The week leading up to the Steelers game, talks heated up and my agents and Texans General Manager Rick Smith came to an agreement on structure and money and it was thrown to me.  I had the decision of taking it or possibly getting more going into restricted free agency.  I decided that I would be crazy to pass it up and took the deal. 

As I said, I hope Owen and the Texans get to a situation where both sides are happy.  Hope you enjoyed the contract overview. 

Camp is 43 days away I believe, depending on when you are reading this.  July 31 is the first day and I’m excited.  Not for camp, I don’t think anyone is ever excited about that, but for the season to get going and for the chance to show the NFL what we are all about. 

I look forward to turning heads this year!!

I will get to the “Ask Eric”/ mailbag soon.  Maybe next blog.  Also, stay tuned for an interview I will be having with “Ricky Hatton,” it will be something you don’t want to miss!

Eric Winston is a starting offensive tackle for the Houston Texans. His blog for www.playerpress.com runs at www.ericwinston73.com. Find him on Twitter as ericwinston.

I just realized it has been a little bit since my last blog.  I have been working on a position with regard to the rookie wage scale that has been taking up most of my typing time, hopefully I will be posting that soon, as well. 

OTAs have been going pretty well.  This year we have been alternating days between individual drills and team drills.  For example, Monday we will spend all hour and twenty minutes worth of practice just doing offensive line drills.  Then Tuesday, we will do maybe fifteen minutes of “indo” and the rest of practice is spent participating in team drills.  I prefer team drills – without hesitation.  Team drills go by so much faster and they aren’t nearly as tiring and boring.  Team drills are also fun because you get to compete. 

That’s the best part of football, knowing where you stand against other football players.  “Indo,” on the other hand, is like watching paint dry.  We do the same drills over and over and some of the time is spent teaching the rookies how to do the drills.  Not the best way to spend 90 minutes.  Looking forward to these OTAs being over next Thursday and moving on to the regular season. 

This weekend I’m headed to Enterprise, Alabama for the second annual BamaJam.  You can learn more at bamajammusicfestival.com.  It is a 3-day event that includes Kid Rock, Brooks & Dunn, Charlie Daniels, Alan Jackson, Taylor Swift, Pat Green (personal fav of mine), and many more.  I am friendly with Ronnie Gilley, who is running the event, and am looking forward to going this year and meeting some of these guys and gals I have listened to all my life.  Ronnie promised me he would take care of my accommodations once I get down there, I just hope that doesn’t mean a tent in an open area. 

That’s all for now.  Just wanted to give everyone an update.  Have a great weekend.

Eric Winston is a starting offensive tackle for the Houston Texans. His blog for www.playerpress.com runs at www.ericwinston73.com. ericwinston.

OTAs have begun, and about the only positive thing I can say about this development is that the weather has been great!  I got in the car Monday morning around 6:15 and it was actually brisk outside.  You can’t say that about Houston in mid-May as long as I’ve been here.  

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind going out there and practicing.  I just find it very repetitive and mind-numbing to go over the very simplistic aspects of our offense over and over again, but I guess that is just practice.  Now that I have been in the offense three years I can say that.  Three years ago I would have been singing a very different tune. 

OTAs are really for the young guys and the depth players, in my opinion.  Now, without a doubt, you can always improve something about your game and I think that is the challenge for all veterans: fight the basic, mundane drills and try to improve your game somehow.  For the rookies however, it is a matter of trying to stay afloat.  The coaches really don’t ease you into the system, they throw you into the deep end after teaching you just enough so that you can keep your head above water. 

Of course, that is on purpose.  In this league, if you have to be taught everything you are not going to last long.  The ability to learn, retain information, and the ability to learn by watching others is crucial to making a team and having lasting power in this league.  I believe one of my best assets that has allowed me to steadily improve is the ability to be shown or told what the coach wants and put it into action.  That might sound simple and to a degree juvenile, but believe me, it is tough to be told to do something in an air conditioned room by a coach and then figure out a way to put it into action during the heat of the battle.  Sometimes it is forcing yourself to do things that are very uncomfortable, but in the long term give the best chance at success. 

And at the end of the day that is what it is all about, putting yourself in the best position to succeed.

I know a lot of you are wondering about our draft picks.  I will have no opinion on any of them until we are a few games into preseason.  All I know is that they are out there practicing.  Well, I think they are all out there practicing, I still can’t figure out who Connor Barwin is yet.  Not trying to act like I don’t care about the rookies, I just don’t go out of my way to meet them.  Usually by the end of OTAs I will have put a name with most of the faces I see every day.  

Hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend!  I am headed to Boston to visit my in-laws... don’t feel bad for me, they are great, what’s not to like about people that love to golf and drink beer???   

Eric Winston is a starting offensive tackle for the Houston Texans. His blog for www.playerpress.com runs at www.ericwinston73.com.

I am sitting on my couch watching the Canucks v. Blackhawks game.  Vancouver is winning the series right now 2-1.  My buddy, Ryan Johnson of the Canucks, is playing the best hockey of his life right now and I couldn’t be happier for him. 

He is the kind of guy who is completely unselfish and will do anything it takes for his team to win.  In one shift in Game 2 (shift = about a minute) I saw him block three slap shots.  If you don’t have a feel for how bad that would hurt, turn on a hockey game and watch these guys blast the puck!  The third one went off his hand, needless to say after the game he could barely move it.  That was just in one minute.  Unreal.  This is his first time in the second round of the playoffs and he is playing like his hair is on fire.  The Canucks scored in the middle of the second period on a break that was started by, you guessed it, a blocked slap shot off Ryan’s skate. 

Congrats bud.  It’s a pleasure watching you play.

This weekend I am headed back to Midland for my Dad’s 60th birthday.  I haven’t been back, and it will be my wife’s first time in West Texas.  I plan on taking her to the house I grew up in and to the house I spent my teenage years.  Have to take her by the Cathedral known as Midland Lee High School and the Mecca of high school football, Grande Communications Stadium.  I didn’t get to play there, but I feel I had a lot to do with getting it built. 

I still have a few good friends who live there and will definitely be hanging out with them as well.  It is shaping up to be a fun weekend.  I haven’t been back in over a year so it will be fun to see all the changes.  Midland is a city that has been growing in the last 10 years.  It has especially taken off since oil prices started rising (and then went crazy) several years back. 

Have to watch the end of this game.  Blackhawks just scored with 2:30 left so it looks like OT!! 

Eric Winston is a starting offensive tackle for the Houston Texans. His blog for www.playerpress.com runs at www.ericwinston73.com.

The 2009 draft has come and gone.  I thought it was an entertaining draft to watch and I was happy to be a part of the broadcasting team 610 AM put together at Reliant Stadium. 

Before I get to the draft, I just want to say that Marc Vandermeer, Adam Wexler, and Matt Jackson are quality guys and even better radio personalities.  While they have there own style, they work extremely well together and have great knowledge of the game and sports in general.  They are true sports junkies in every sense of the word and I know they will take that as compliment.  Spending five hours with those guys was a breeze.

I got a lot of compliments on how I sounded on the radio and a lot of it had to do with how easy they made it for me to communicate.  Rich Lord also falls into this category.  He didn’t work the draft but he does the Tuesday show with Matt Jackson that I am a part of and he is just a fun guy to be around and makes doing the radio show a lot of fun.  Thanks guys!!

I thought my mock draft turned out to be pretty decent.  Even though I didn’t get the right guy for the right team a lot, I thought I got the direction of the team a good percentage of the time.  For example, I had Washington taking Aaron Maybin but he already had gone to Buffalo a few picks before, and they took Brian Orapko. 

I thought Denver didn’t have a very good draft, they took Knowshon Moreno a little too early and probably could have gotten him at 18. That they then gave up one of their first round picks next year for a second round pick this year so they could draft Alphonso Smith was mystifying.  In fact, a lot of their draft was surprising, but I guess they felt they needed to give up something down the road so that they could make a run this year.  That is the only way to explain their draft.  Another mystifying draft: the Oakland Raiders.  I don’t think Heyward-Bey is necessarily a bad selection, but if you want him that badly trade down, get some more picks, then take him.  Same with their second rounder.  If you could have accurately prognosticated their first two selections, then you need to tell Mel Kiper to take a hike!! 

I thought we (the Texans) had a good draft.  I think if we could have picked up a running back we would have had a great draft.  Even though we didn’t, I think Foster (undrafted free agent) has a chance to make the team and contribute due to his size and the ability he did show over his career at Tennessee. 

I like the Cushing pick.  After talking to Frank Bush, our team’s defensive coordinator, I understand exactly what they are thinking as well.  They saw what most people saw in Brian Cushing.  A solid, four year starter at the country’s top program (right now).  He is tough, a workaholic, and will be strong against the run.  From Bush’s comments it looks like we will run more “under” defense than we have in the past.  That looks like a nose to the strong side, a 5 technique (DE that is just outside the OT) and a Sam on the line of scrimmage.  The reason I think this is because Bush made reference to Cushing excelling at jamming TEs at the LOS (line of scrimmage).  Connor Barwin I thought was another good choice.  There weren’t any good DTs left and the top four corners were off the board already so this was a logical choice.  Barwin looks like he will be able to put on 10 more pounds no problem and appears to be a heck of an athlete.  Look for him to be a pass rush specialist his first year and build from that point. 

Antoine Caldwell was a little bit of a surprise, not because we took an OL but where we took him.  I thought we would look for defense again but he must have been real high on our board.  It will be an interesting battle in camp to see where he is going to fit in.  Mark Bruenner’s retirement left us with only two TEs remaining from last year’s roster, so grabbing one wasn’t a big surprise.  You always need a TE that can set the edge and handle DEs and Sam linebackers.  From what I hear, Anthony Hill can do both.  Our other 4th rounder was used to get Quinn Glover, a cornerback that might be converted to safety.  James Casey was a value pick in the fifth round that will be a jack of all trades for us and a big contributor on special teams.  The sixth and seventh rounders were DBs who will provide depth and will have to make the team most likely by showing off their special team skills. 

OTAs are right around the corner.  May 18 is our first.  To me the draft is the first event of the upcoming year, so let the fun begin!

Eric Winston is a starting offensive tackle for the Houston Texans. His blog for www.playerpress.com runs at www.ericwinston73.com.

The NFL Draft is just a few days away, so I decided that since I have already semi-told you who I would draft (see: my previous video blog), I would tell you now exactly who I think each team is going to take.

Something interesting has been going on at the top of the first round with Detroit and three players: Matthew Stafford, Aaron Curry and Jason Smith. Detroit currently has offers out to Stafford and Curry, testing their signability, if you will. The reason they don’t have an offer to Jason Smith has to do with who he decided on for his agent. He also has Tom Condon as an agent. So while Condon is talking to the Lions about Stafford, he should be talking to the Lions about Smith.

As of right now, the Lions have firm offers out to Curry and Stafford. If Stafford agrees and signs the deal, then he will be the number one pick. If he doesn’t then Curry will be number one. Where is Smith in all of this? Left out. I hope he doesn’t wonder in a couple years if he would have been the number one pick if he had a different agent.

If Curry ends up being the number one pick it will put the draft into a state of uncertainty (and make my mock look awful!). So without further ado, my 2009 draft predictions:

1.Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford. Big arm, lacks accuracy down the field.
2.St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith. Very agile, plays with mean streak.
3.Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry. Will help with the shift to 3-4 defense. Johnson and Curry will be a good combo.
4.Seattle Seahawks: Mark Sanchez. Can learn from aging Hasslebeck. Possible trade down here.
5.Cleveland Browns: Michael Crabtree. Best receiver in the draft and gives them flexibility to move Braylon Edwards.
6.Cincinnati Bengals: Eugene Monroe. Big OL concerns. They would be thrilled if he fell to them at No. 6.
7.Oakland Raiders: Jeremy Maclin. Makes most sense, but since when have the Raiders done what makes sense?
8.Jacksonville Jaguars: B.J Raji. Huge value here! Need a receiver, if they can’t get one expect a trade down.
9.Green Bay Packers: Tyson Jackson. Best 3-4 end in the draft.
10. San Francisco 49ers: Brian Orapko. Very athletic rusher.
11. Buffalo Bills: Andre Smith. Could have been the #1 pick if it weren’t for character issues.
12. Denver Broncos: Rey Maualuga. Trapped in no-man’s land with Raji and Jackson gone, they take the best defensive player available. Maybin could be the pick as well.
13. Washington Redskins: Aaron Maybin. Need to get more pressure on the QB.
14. New Orleans Saints: Chris Wells. Need DB help, but since when has Sean Payton cared about that?
15. Houston Texans: Clay Matthews. Could take Jenkins as well. Trade down would surprise me.
16. San Diego Chargers: Brian Cushing. Give the front 7 help and needed depth.
17. New York Jets: Darius Hayward-Bey. Jets need more offensive threats.
18. Denver Broncos (via Chicago Bears): Larry English. Athletic pass rusher to go with Maualuga.
19. Tampa Bay Bucs: Josh Freeman. Big arm, raw QB with lots of potential.
20. Detroit Lions (via Dallas Cowboys): Michael Oher. QB and LT in the 1st round is ideal.
21. Philadelphia Eagles: Knowshon Moreno. Lots of ability, can learn from one of the best. Don’t be shocked by a trade here.
22. Minnesota Vikings: Ebon Britton. Worst kept secret in this draft is this pick. They want Cook at center.
23. New England Patriots: Malcolm Jenkins. Too much value to pass up, plus it fills a need.
24. Atlanta Falcons: Larry English. Hybrid type can help at more than one spot.
25. Miami Dolphins: Vontae Davis. Talented cornerback fits for what they do.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Brandon Pettigrew. Ultimate best player available team takes just that.
27. Indianapolis Colts: Peria Jerry. Fits perfectly into their scheme.
28. Buffalo Bills (via Philadelphia Eagles): Everett Brown. Fits their style of DE.
29. New York Giants: Kenny Britt. Fills the mold of what they need at receiver.
30. Tennessee Titans: Darius Butler. A good fit for this team.
31. Arizona Cardinals: Donald Brown. Too much ability for them to pass him up.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Alex Mack. A great fit as they retool their O-Line.

Of course, I don’t actually expect to get all of these right. In fact, I would be shocked if I got 50% right. A main reason for that is that one surprise pick can throw the whole draft off. Just look at me for an example. My main goal is to get the general direction of the team right.

If Detroit ends up taking Curry at #1 expect some big shifts. Smith would still go next, but that would put the Chiefs in a pickle and they could possibly trade out or take Orapko. Seattle could take Stafford instead of Sanchez and Sanchez could fall all the way to the 49ers at 10.

Please listen to 610 AM in Houston for 1st round coverage by yours truly! If you are in the Houston area you can come see us at Reliant Stadium! All you have to do is print a ticket at houstontexans.com and come by.

Eric Winston is a starting offensive tackle for the Houston Texans. His blog for www.playerpress.com runs at www.ericwinston73.com.

This past weekend I went out to Round Rock just north of Austin to play in a charity/celebrity softball game. 

I had an amazing time.

Some of my favorite Texas Country bands were there: Cross Canadian Ragweed, Cory Morrow, Roger Creager, Randy Rogers and some others. I grew up listening to those guys. When I was younger they used to play street dances for next to nothing. Now they’re really big down here and have a cult-like following throughout the state.  On any given night you can catch them playing in front of big crowds throughout the South. If you have never heard of these bands, I suggest you grab a CD or check them out on iTunes. 

Reckless Kelly, another great band, hosted the event at Dell Diamond.  It was the first year they had the event but it seemed like they have been doing it for years.  The softball game was a lot of fun.  I played a majority of the game, going 2-for-4 with a single and HR.  Greg Swindell stole the show, hitting four HRs.  Those stats are a little misleading due to the fact that he got to bat about every six hitters or so because his team fell behind early.  At the end of the day, my team ended up winning after holding off an impressive comeback from Swindell’s bunch.  One of the highlights for me was getting the chance to play catch with Greg before the game. He’s from Texas too and I used to watch him pitch for the Astros on TV growing up.

After the game was over, every band played for 20 minutes in center field.  I got to literally stand on stage while these great bands played!  They did a great job on the performances.  The thing I liked the most about it is that the artists were having a good time with it, too.  Lots of them played some songs together.  I think any fan of music would love to see two of their favorite artists sing a song together or a guitar player from one band play with another band.  The ticket sales and silent auction raised money for disabled youth baseball through the Miracle League (http://www.austinmiracleleague.com/).

I think the fans loved it too.  The turnout ended up being more than 6,000!!  Who knows, for the second year they may be able to break 10K!!  What an event that will be!!!

I’m already looking forward to doing it for years to come!!!

Don't forget I am doing the 1st round of the NFL Draft on 610 AM with Matt Jackson and Mark Vandemeer this Saturday from Reliant Stadium.

Eric Winston is a starting offensive tackle for the Houston Texans. His blog for www.playerpress.com runs at www.ericwinston73.com.

This week I took part in a Mock Draft with Brooke Bentley of Texans TV, Texans wide receiver David Anderson and Marc Vandermeer of Sports Radio 610. I had the first pick for the Lions and I went for Baylor left tackle Jason Smith. He’s a guy a team can build their offensive line around. Brooke went next and took Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry. To see the rest of our Mock Draf, click here for Part 1 an click here for Part II. We’ll see how close to the real thing we got.

Eric Winston is a starting offensive tackle for the Houston Texans. His blog for www.playerpress.com runs at www.ericwinston73.com.

For Easter, my wife, Jenny, and I took our 7-year-old Julie to Sea World in San Antonio. It was kind of cool because we stayed in the same hotel I stayed at with my family when I was a kid. Kind of like I had come full circle with my family, and we had a great time.

Being with my family really helps me keep things in perspective. There are a couple of different kind of guys in this league. Some are motivated by money, and that’s okay. But if the money weren’t as good, they might not work as hard, might not go through what we go through every day to play this game.

Then there are guys who would play football as hard as they can even if they were paid what the everyday Joe makes. I’m one of those guys. I love playing, love being out there. I don’t love the grind, and running and lifting are two of my least favorite things to do. But I love the competition. It’s never gotten old, and I think that showing up at Reliant Stadium for work is still the coolest thing you could ever do.

If that wears off I wouldn’t want to play anymore no matter how much money I’m making. It’s all about having fun, getting out there and playing the game. I’ve never forgotten that I’m doing something for a living that most people wish they could do and I’m grateful.

Of course, it definitely peaks your interest when you see the numbers on your contract. But I can honestly say that I would love playing this game and would do it if I were making way less.

Besides, I don’t know what else I would do. I see these guys who run businesses after their NFL careers are over and they’re really successful. I want to be one of those guys but I can hardly imagine it right now. Really, I don’t know how to work a real job. I wouldn’t know where to start. It’s a foreign concept to me.

I’ve always been blessed with great support from my parents. I was fortunate to get to go to college on a full scholarship. The business world seems so foreign, it’s hard to imagine at this point in my life.

Now that we’re working out as a team at the stadium, it’s all about setting goals for the season and getting back into it. The first couple of days aren’t hard because everybody’s just happy to be back. When you get to the middle of training camp, though, you have to push through it and that’s where guys really get their edge.

Some of these guys are so competitive, no matter what they’re doing, if it’s a competition, they’re coming after you. They want to win, whether they’re keeping score in their own head or on the scoreboard. A lot of great players in the league are like that.

I know from experience that Kellen Winslow is going to try to outlift you, be faster than you, catch more balls than you. And look at a guy like Terrell Owens. He’s ultra-competitive, he wants to win every one-on-one drill. With that personality it’s no wonder they are so successful. T.O. is always getting better. He’s 34 or 35 but it doesn’t look like his game has declined at all.

Our new strength coach has made camp more competitive. It’s a fun way to set things up and gives you more incentive to go out there and work. He makes the O line and D line run together and the slowest group has to run extra.

When you add that competition, it makes it more fun.

Oh yeah, today I’m doing a mock draft at www.houstontexans.com. It should be posted by tomorrow. And check out my interview with Brooke Bentley of Texans TV (http://www.houstontexans.com/news/SpanishStory.asp?story_id=5205).

Eric Winston is a starting offensive tackle for the Houston Texans. His blog for www.playerpress.com runs at www.ericwinston73.com.

I’m sitting around my new house waiting for the cable guy and it’s driving me crazy.

They tell you they’ll come on Saturday, then show up when you’re not there, or say they showed up when they didn’t, then they want to reschedule in four days. I’ve made six calls to Comcast and I’m still waiting. The Internet has become such a big part of my life, with all the sites I surf, it’s hard to deal without the Internet for 4 or 5 days.

Yep, we’re moving into new digs in the Bellaire section of Houston. I used to live in a town home near the stadium that I got when I first got drafted. It was a great community, but no lawn, no backyard, which was fine when I was a rookie. Now my wife and I wanted to get a place where our daughter could run around and eventually some more little ones could roam. With the five year extension I just signed it’s nice to know we’re going to be here for a while.

Of course, it would be nice if the contract were guaranteed. Football is the only sport without guaranteed contracts. Most people don’t know this but we get paid bi-monthly during the season so we only get about nine paychecks a year. I think every player should make sure they get some kind of financial advisor. We get taxed in every state we play. Texas and Florida have no state taxes, and that’s nice because you save a lot when you would have to take 5 or 6 percent off every paycheck. But after every road game, the state we just played in takes taxes out. It gets complicated.

Fines also come directly out of your paycheck. The way the league does fines is kind of stupid. It should be more of a percentage of your pay scale. What’s $10,000 to a Terrell Owens, or a big-name quarterback or big-time defensive end like Freeney? But for a rookie that same $10,000 could be a whole week’s paycheck.

Hey, I want to make sure everyone knows I’ll be signing autographs at the Shell Houston Open on Sunday at the Redstone Golf Club from 12 noon to 1.

Also, I’ll be on the air at 610 AM here in Houston for the first round of the NFL Draft April 25. We’ll be live at Reliant Stadium for a draft party so everyone should come on down. I’ll have to get my mock draft together by then.

More details to come, check back in with me and I’d love to see your questions or comments.

Eric Winston is a starting offensive tackle for the Houston Texans. His blog for www.playerpress.com runs at www.ericwinston73.com.

Fans always want to know how hard we work in the off-season. And I think the politically correct answer would be to say I busted my butt to get ready for next season, but that's not exactly the case.

After my rookie season I only took 3 weeks off and I felt worn down toward the end of the season. It wasn't fun to go to the training facility anymore, it got tiresome. I learned from the veterans that you have to get away from the game, so that's what I did.

First, I got married on March 1 in Miami to my wife, Jenny. We just got back from our honeymoon in St. Lucia.

Our other big vacation this year was to Vancouver. We were there over New Year's and hung out with my buddy who plays for the Canucks, Ryan Johnson. We had a great time. I like to take a trip like that every year, just get out and take 4-5 days, let the season get out of you. If you linger around town, you keep remembering it. You have to get it behind you so you can start enjoying the off-season.
Vancouver is so nice, it's a great city. The Winter Olympics there should be an amazing event.

To stay in shape I started taking yoga classes at the local YMCA to keep my flexibility. I do yoga three times a week. Now that the start of the season is getting closer, I've started running and lifting to get ready for the team's off-season program.

I'm really looking forward to writing this blog. I think fans have a lot of interest in what we do, what's going on in our lives, especially off the field and in the off-season. It's a good way to give some insight into what goes on in the daily life of an NFL player.

I think fans will see how our lives and problems are very similar to everyone else's—when we're not on the field.

Eric Winston is a starting offensive tackle for the Houston Texans. His blog for www.playerpress.com runs at www.ericwinston73.com.