Texans starting center Chris Myers took the path less chosen when he began his journey into professional football. Unlike most players, who didn't start playing at the Pop Warner level, Myers began in the 10th grade.

But it wasn’t his idea.

“It wasn’t my choice — it was my parent’s choice,” Myers said. “My parents wouldn’t let me play (because) I was a little bigger when I was growing up. They thought I’d be playing with guys three-years older than me and getting hurt. They didn’t want to risk it.”

So Myers patiently waited until he started high school to play the sport he loved.

“I was a football fan all my life,” Myers said. “My grandfather refereed in the NFL for over 30 years, and my uncle played for the University of Miami.”

After earning all-state honors in high school in Florida, he took his talents to his uncle’s alma mater.

“It was like a dream come true,” Myers said. “I had a great time there for five year (and) won a national championship.”

Miami connection
Myers was a three-year starter at Miami, playing in 45 games and starting 38. But he began to notice something as he played more and was drafted into the NFL by the Denver Broncos in 2005.

“Once I got to playing football, I was under the realization that I was always the smallest guy on the offensive line,” Myers said. “My first year starting in college, I weighed 265 pounds, (and) I was definitely the lightest guy on the line.”

That hasn’t changed. Now 293 pounds, the 6-foot Myers, who was traded to the Texans in the offseason, hasn’t let his relative light weight in a position populated by 300-pounders deter him from getting on the field.

“It just goes to show you that it’s as much up here as (anything),” offensive line coach John Benton said as he pointed to his head. “Chris isn’t the biggest guy, but he’s definitely not small, either.”

As the communicator of the offensive line, Myers is expected to help his teammates with the zone running schemes, and it starts with trust. Benton says the system calls for his teammates to have confidence in what blocking schemes he calls during the game.

“It all starts with what the center tells (the line) to do,” Benton said. “They have to trust him and what he sees initially.”

Help from his friends
Trust takes time to build, but fortunately for Myers, he has had a little help in the adjustment phase.

“It’s funny how things work out,” said tackle Eric Winston, who played with Myers at Miami. “I’m happy to have him here — an extra buddy. We’ve got such a great nucleus of guys on the team. He’s a great addition.”

He may be the “new guy” on the line, but Myers is ready to help it reach its full potential.

“I’m looking to help them out with the zone running scheme,” Myers said. “So far, we’re having fun with it. …We’re going to do some big things this season. I can’t wait to get to regular-season games.”

(chron.com)

He’s doing a heck of a job. First off, he knows what we’re doing, so that’s an easy transition. It’s a great opportunity for him in his career because he’s a leader of a group from day one when he walked in here and he’s taken command of that. and I think it’s been good that he’s had some buddies on that group that helped him jump in there right away, some guys that he’s played with before. You think that (Rashad) Butler, (Eric) Winston and him all played together. So we are very pleased with where he is right now."

(battleredblog.com)

The Texans are getting new fans and a new center. I spoke with Chris Myers, Sr., also know as 55Olinesdad. He is the father of Chris Myers, who was acquired last month for this year's 6th round pick. After talking to Chris' dad, I learned that the Texans are getting their best 6th round pick ever. Read the interview and see. (We did the interview on the phone, so this is a summary of my notes from the conversation).

How many games in a season do you attend?

The Myers family lives in Miami, Flordia. They attended 3-4 games in 2005 and 2006. They made it to just 2 games in 2007. They have DirecTV, so they watch Chris play every game. His father really enjoys attending parts of training camp. He's working on arrangements to attend training camp here in Houston this year.

Other than your son, who is your favorite Bronco?

Without missing a beat, he said, "Tom Nalen." Nalen has been mentoring Myers for the last three years. Myers was a little starstruck playing with Nalen, but has grown into the same mold as the All-Pro center.

And other than your son, who is your favorite Texan?

He told me that Eric Winston was his favorite Texan. He said that he's known Eric personally since he and Chris played in Miami. Eric comes to his home for dinner and has come to his office on several occasions. They too affectionately refer to him as "Neanderthal."

Have you bought a battle red Chris Myers jersey yet?

He's waiting to be sure that Chris is No. 55. Once training camp is complete, he can be sure what Chris' number will be. Then he'll buy a Chris Myers Texans jersey.

Does anyone else in your family have football ties?

The Myers family has a long pedigree of football players. Tom Kelleher, Chris' maternal grandfather was an NFL referee. He holds the distinction of officiating in 5 Super Bowls. Now the NFL restricts referees to 4 Super Bowls in their career, so his grandfather's record could stand forever. The Myers family is campaigning for him to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. They even have a picture of Tom Kelleher arguing with Vince Lombardi on the sideline. Chris and his siblings keep this picture in their locker as inspiration. Click here to continue reading...

Myers was interviewed by Houston’s Sports Radio 610’s Marc and Andre on how he feels about leaving Denver for Houston. Myers said it is “kind of bittersweet.” Myers told the Morning Crew, “I love Denver, love the organization, love the team, and I had a great time there for three seasons. But I’m really anxious and excited to get going with the Texans. You know, we got a young team and everyone’s on the same path, the same goal right now. And that’s what kind of drew me down to Houston.”

The Houston Chronicle’s John “the General” McClain also spoke with Myers on why leaving Denver was “bittersweet.” Myers told McClain, “I kind of made my way up the ladder and finally got a starting position last year.” To Myers’ dismay in Denver, Broncos’ starting C Nalen will be healthy in 2008, leaving him out of a starting job there. But here in Houston, Myers will have the chance to earn his starting job for a young, athletic Texans’ offensive line.

Myers also spoke with 610 about his new contract. Before being traded to the Texans, Myers signed a four-year, $11 million contract with a $3 million signing bonus with the Broncos. He told 610, “to be honest, it hasn’t hit me yet. It’s definitely not full on my mind. Once I get down to Houston and start working out I’m sure it’s going to start hitting me then. It’s a dream come true. Every athlete looks forward to being a fulltime starter and getting that contract, and it’s amazing, I’m very grateful for it. It’s kind of like all the hard work is paying off.”

Myers also spoke with Marc and Andre about the tight end, transferred-tackle, he played opposite to at the “U.” At Miami, Myers played tackle opposite to Eric Winston. Myers said that Winston’s nickname was the “Neanderthal, because he looked exactly like that.” And it seems he’ll fit right in with the Texans chemistry as he said, “I look forward to cracking some jokes with the offensive linemen.”

On Myers’ comfort with Kubiak and Gibbs’ system and terminology from his experience in Denver, Myers told 610, “It’s pretty close, and obviously there’s going to be a few things that are going to be skewed. (And a) few terminologies that you got to learn, but for the most part it’s almost identical. (Gibbs) put that over in Denver, and he’s putting it in here and that was the one thing for them to look out my way just because I had that experience in Denver and that’s one of the reasons they closed (in on) me right away. I’m really anxious to get it going and we got a lot of athletes on this offensive line and we’re going to do some crazy things.”

On the other side, Head Coach Kubiak told the Houston Chronicle about Myers, “It’s an instant fit. He knows our system, and he knows our terminology. We know him, and we know what kind of player he is and what he stands for. He’s young, and he’s tough as nails.”

Texans fans are probably just as anxious to see the youth movement continue and see Myers’ get a shot at the starting job here in Houston as C Steve McKinney and C Chris White are coming off season ending injuries from 2007.

(texansgab.com)

New Texans center Chris Myers called his exit from Denver "bittersweet" for many reasons, but the trade that brought him to Houston on Monday has given him financial security and a starting job for the next few years if the coaches are right about him.

Myers, 26, was acquired by the Texans for a sixth-round draft choice. Before general manager Rick Smith completed the deal, he and agent Drew Rosenhaus agreed on a four-year, $11 million contract that included a $3 million signing bonus for Myers.

Myers (6-5, 295) had to sign the contract with the Broncos before they could trade him.

"It was kind of a bittersweet-type thing," Myers said. "I love Denver, love the organization, love the team, and I had a great time there for three seasons. I kind of made my way up the ladder and finally got a starting position last year." Click here to continue reading...

ENGLEWOOD — In their first roster move since firing general manager Ted Sundquist, the Broncos worked a sign-and-trade deal with the Houston Texans today for center/guard Chris Myers.

Myers, a restricted free agent, worked out a four-year, $11 million deal that includes $3 million in guaranteed money with the Broncos and then Myers and the new deal were traded to the Texans for a sixth-round pick in next month's draft.

The Broncos could have matched any offer to Myers, who just finished his third season with the team since being sixth-round pick in the 2005 draft. Myers could play both center and guard.

He started five games at guard this past season and 11 at center for the injured Tom Nalen.

(rockymountainnews.com)

Chris Myers could be forcing the Broncos to make a difficult decision.

A Broncos starter at left guard and center last season, Myers is a restricted free agent who Thursday visited with the Houston Texans.

No offer sheet was presented and Myers was scheduled to return home today. But the fact Myers has already started making visits nearly five weeks before the restricted free agency period passes indicates he will draw considerable interest.

"I'm going to keep my options open," Myers said. "If a team makes an offer, I'll look at it. If not, I don't want to leave Denver, anyway. I started my career there and I love it there. It's a win-win."

Should the Texans present an offer sheet to Myers, the Broncos would have a week to match the contract terms. At first glance, the Broncos would figure to match an offer to Myers because they would only get the Texans' sixth-round draft pick in return.

However, if Houston offers a "starter" contract to Myers, the Broncos may balk at paying big dollars to a player who may not beat out left guard Ben Hamilton or center Tom Nalen, who are expected to be back healthy next season.

(denverpost.com)

The Texans could be adding a veteran running back and a center at a time when they lost a second outside linebacker.

Denver center Chris Myers, a restricted free agent, is visiting the Texans today. Tennessee running back Chris Brown, an unrestricted free agent, came to Houston on Wednesday and tours Reliant Stadium today.

The Texans are interested in Myers, who started 16 games for the Broncos last season, because they need a younger, healthy center. They're interested in Brown, who played five seasons for the Titans, because they want to add another veteran back who fits the running game new assistant head coach Alex Gibbs is putting in.

If the Texans sign Myers, the Broncos will have a week to match the offer sheet because he's a third-year restricted free agent. If the Broncos don't match, they will receive the Texans' sixth-round pick in next month's draft.

Myers, 26, is 6-5, 295. Because Steve McKinney is 32 and coming off major knee surgery, and Mike Flanagan was released last month, the Texans have been looking for another center.

"We've known Chris since he was in college," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "We think he fits in with what we're doing."

(chron.com)