Offtopic/fun » receiver. Lee, meanwhile, had another

HOUSTON -- After an active and pricey offseason, the Texans have extended the contract of general manager Rick Smith through the 2020 season.Smith was entering the final year of his previous deal. This will be his 11th season as the Texans general manager, and he added the title of executive vice president before the 2011 season.We are thrilled to announce a four-year contract extension for Rick Smith, Texans owner Bob McNair said in a statement released by the team. I believe it is critical to have stability within an organization, and Rick is an important part of our team. He knows what our objectives are and is well-respected within our organization and throughout the league. This extension helps us build toward our goal of long-term success in the NFL.The Texans have had winning records in five of Smiths 10 seasons at the helm. Theyve been to the playoffs three times and won two postseason games; in 2011 and 2012, the Texans beat the Cincinnati Bengals in the wild-card round of the playoffs and then lost in the divisional round to the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots, respectively.The 2013 season proved to be a disaster for the Texans, but Smith survived. Houston went 2-14, and coach Gary Kubiak was fired during the season. In the news conference to announce Kubiaks firing, McNair sat on stage with Smith beside him.This is not a long-term rebuilding process, McNair said that day as he described what awaited his new coach. I want to make that clear. Weve got core players who are outstanding players, and we still need to fill a few holes.Once the Texans hired Bill OBrien that offseason, though, the roster changed quickly and dramatically.By 2015, less than half of 2013s starters remained. Heading into the 2016 season, the Texans have a different starting quarterback, running back, receiver, right guard, left guard and center than they had in 2013. Defensively, four starters remain from the 2013 season.Most of the remaining players were first-round selections made by Smiths department.Every first-round pick since 2008 is still with the team and starting. That group includes left tackle Duane Brown (2008), linebacker Brian Cushing (2009), cornerback Kareem Jackson (2010), defensive end J.J. Watt (2011), outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus (2012), receiver DeAndre Hopkins (2013), outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (2014) and cornerback Kevin Johnson (2015).The later rounds have been more of a challenge for Smith.Smith also led a robust and potentially risky 2016 offseason. He committed a combined $126 million to three offensive starters: quarterback Brock Osweiler, running back Lamar Miller and left guard Jeff Allen.Whether Osweiler succeeds or fails will factor significantly into the Texans success or failure this season. Still, McNair told ESPN in March that the fates of his general manager and coach were not tied to Osweiler. By extending Smith, McNair showed at least half of that is true.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.Fake Vans For Sale .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Fake Vans Old Skool . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. http://www.fakevans.com/fake-vans-slip-on/ . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. Fake Vans Free Shiping . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Fake Vans Toy Story . After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match.JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Minnesota Vikings feel as if theyre back in the playoff picture.The Jacksonville Jaguars seem to be counting down the days until the season is over.Although both teams looked mostly lost the past two months, the Vikings used a trip to Jacksonville to gain some much-needed confidence and maybe even turn around a season that went awry after a 5-0 start.We needed this one, receiver Adam Thielen said. Our backs were against the wall.Matt Asiata scored on a short touchdown run, Kai Forbath kicked four field goals and the Vikings beat the hapless Jacksonville Jaguars 25-16 on Sunday, winning for just the second time in nine weeks.Sam Bradford completed 24 of 34 passes for 292 yards and a touchdown. He wasnt sacked and scrambled four times for 17 yards. His 3-yard TD toss to tight end Kyle Rudolph with 2:13 remaining sealed the victory.Minnesota (7-6) hadnt won on the road since Sept. 25 at Carolina and needed a victory to keep pace in the NFC playoff race. With games against Indianapolis, Green Bay and Chicago remaining, the Vikings believe they can win out and slide in.I wouldnt say we were desperate, but definitely there was a sense of urgency, receiver Stefon Diggs said. When you get desperate or get in shambles and dont stay calm, cool and collective, thats when things dont go your way.Little went Minnesotas way Sunday, but it didnt matter.The Vikings lost the turnover battle, failed to score twice inside the 1-yard line , allowed a fourth-down conversion on a fake punt and missed an extra point.Those kinds of mistakes normally would result in a loss, especially on the road. Not against the Jaguars (2-11), who dropped their record-tying eighth consecutive game and fell to 0-6 at EverBank Field this season.Jacksonville now needs to win at Houston next week to avoid setting the single-season franchise record with nine straight losses. The club mark is 13 consecutive losses over two seasons.Its tough anytime you lose, quarterback Blake Bortles said. I know for me personally, I cant wait to play on Sunday the following week and get another opportunity and hopefully to try to erase some of this stuff thats going on and maybe wake up from this nightmare.With these last tthree weeks left and then having to live six months until you get another opportunity, I think is more fearful than counting down the days until its over.dddddddddddd I dont want to have to go through those six months.Here are some other things we learned from Minnesotas fourth straight win against Jacksonville:DEEP SHOTS: Known more for short passes than deep shots, the Vikings changed things up against the Jaguars. Bradford connected with Rudolph for 44 yards on the first play from scrimmage and then found Thielen for a 41-yard gain on Minnesotas second possession. Both set up field goals. He also found Diggs for a diving, 45-yarder in the first half.We created some explosive plays, and anytime you do that, it just makes it easier for the offense, Bradford said.LEE SHINES: Marqise Lee caught five passes for a career-high 113 yards, further establishing himself as Jacksonvilles go-to guy down the stretch. Allen Robinson finished with one reception for 17 yards, giving him nine catches for 90 yards in the past four games. Robinson, Bortles and offensive coordinator Nate Hackett held a private meeting this week in hopes of getting on the same page, but it was another dismal day for the 2015 Pro Bowl receiver. Lee, meanwhile, had another strong showing .Theyre all competing, but hes really standing out, said Jaguars coach Gus Bradley, who fell to 14-47 in four seasons. I like where hes at right now. I think hes playing with great competitive spirt and hes competing in his routes, hes competing in catching, hes competing in blocking.ZIMMER RETURNS: Vikings coach Mike Zimmer had no real issues in his first game back following eye surgery. Zimmer missed last weeks game against Dallas because of a detached retina and was unsure earlier in the week whether he would be on the field or in an upstairs box. Zimmer, who needed a doctors clearance to fly to Jacksonville, wore a patch over his right eye and had no limitations.I couldnt see to my right, but other than that, not really, he said.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '