Their 1-on-1 jousting was the one element of practice-squad life Houston treasured and Decker would tell Campbell - repeatedly - that the kid’s success was no mirage. “I mean, crazy.” This kept veteran tackle Taylor Decker sharp. He could only go all-out in practice when the Lions were in pads. “I was very close to quitting,” Houston admits. He knew he was helping the team, but nothing about this was stimulating. Yet, each week, Houston failed to crack the 53-man roster.Īnd this sixth-round pick out of Jackson State went right back to impersonating the next defensive end. The Detroit Lions head coach told Houston how close he was to playing on Sunday.
“So,” he adds, “your brain’s not working.” The rookie was more AI-programmed cyborg than free-thinking football player. He’d stare at a play sheet and then do whatever that card indicated with robotic obedience.
On the practice squad, he pretended to be an opposing player. James Houston had reached the pinnacle, a feat that seemed impossible at his lowest of lows.īut this was it? What a dreary existence.
0 kommentar(er)
