The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

The Houston Texans have failed miserably against the New England Patriots on the football field and now are having the same luck off the field trying to replace fired general manager Brian Gaine who was suddenly fired two weeks ago.

Houston had their eye on Nick Caserio replacing Gaine moments after the firing, but the New England Gestapo led by der Fuhrer Bill Belichick, who has the final say on personnel matters, has thrown another monkey wrench into the Texans’ dream plans.

Belichick controls the Patriots’ franchise much like Vladimir Putin keeps his thumb on everything that goes on in Russia. The only difference is that Belichick doesn’t make those with different philosophies as his disappear off the face of the earth.

The Patriots put the quietus on this same attempt two years ago when Houston had to settle for hiring Gaine as their general manager because Belichick turned down the attempted interview citing the fact the Patriots still were in the NFL playoffs en route to their sixth Super Bowl victory.

The 43-year-old Caserio was a member of Belichick’s coaching staff since 2001 until he returned to scouting in 2008 when he was promoted to director of player personnel, according to Sunday’s edition of the Houston Chronicle.

“Because Belichick lost several members of his coaching staff to Miami when defensive coordinator Brian Flores was hired as the Dolphins’ coach, he’s being spread thin,” the article points out.

“Belichick is coaching the defense since Flores’ replacement Greg Schiano bailed on him after being on the job less than two months. It seems as if Belichick needs Caserio more than ever,” the article concludes.

Houston’s latest attempt to interview Caserio was turned down flatly by Belichick who claims the Texans talked to Caserio about the job before Gaine was fired and turned them into the NFL for tampering.

This alleged tampering claim reportedly occurred when the Patriots were presented with their Super Bowl rings a few weeks ago. They claim former Patriots’ employee and present Texans coach Jack Easterby was spotted talking to Caserio during the ring presentation ceremony.

Houston rapidly dropped their request to interview Caserio and the Patriots withdrew the tampering charge. The Texans are now back to Square One in finding a new general manager.

Now, according to the Chronicle, the Texans are down to three options in their attempt to replace Brian Gaine.

1. Do they try to trade for Caserio whose contract with New England expires after the 2020 draft?
2. Do they wait for Caserio’s contract to expire next year and pursue him again?
3. Do they continue the interview process and procure new candidates?

“The Texans aren’t going to surrender a first-round draft choice for Caserio and probably not a second-round pick, either, not with his contract expiring after the 2020 draft. It would make more sense for them to offer a third-round selection and a lower pick,” the article said.

If the Texans do make an offer to trade for Caserio, it becomes a question of how bad do the Patriots want to keep him? Belichick likes to compile as many picks as possible, but would he be willing to trade Caserio knowing he could lose him next year without any compensation?

Regardless what decision is made, you can be sure Belichick will come out a winner.

He always does!!!

KWICKIES…After a successful homestand, the Houston Astros opened a three-game Inter-league series at Cincinnati Monday where they had to bench their designated hitter and have the pitcher’s bat for themselves.

Due to so many injuries to key players, the Astros were forced to bring up Yordan Alvarez from AAA Round Rock earlier in the season than they anticipated and he came through with flying colors as the designated hitter.

The 6-6, 225-pound 21-year-old youngster became just the fourth player in major league history to hit four homers in his first five games.

He also scored eight runs, drove in eight runs, drew six walks in six games and had a .381 batting average going into Monday, despite going 0-for-4 Sunday.

And speaking of Sunday’s game between Toronto and the Astros, former Hall of Famer Craig Biggio and Lourdes Gurriel, Sr. each had a wonderful Father’s Day by having the opportunity of watching their sons play major league baseball. Biggio’s son Cavan was playing second base for the Blue Jays while Gurriel got to see both of his sons on the Minute Maid Park diamond—Yuli on the Astros’ roster and Lourdes Jr. hitting his seventh home run to help Toronto blank Houston 12-0.

Maximum Security, the three-year-old horse that crossed the finish line first in the recent Kentucky Derby but was disqualified for interference with the eventual winner, returned to racing in Sunday’s Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park and was heavily- favored with 1-20 odds which means for every $20 bill wagered one got a return of one dollar. King for a Day stalked Maximum Security from the start, took the lead in the stretch and posted a one-length victory over the overwhelming favorite.

And while on the subject of overturning a race-winner’s victory, NASCAR negated a victory for the first time in the Green Mountain Outdoors Truck Series race at Iowa Speedway after failing a post-race inspection. Brett Moffitt, who crossed the finish line first in the 200-lap race, was disqualified when his truck was too low when measured with NASCAR’s height sticks.

JUST BETWEEN US…Gary Woodland prevented golf history to be made in last weekend’s U.S. Open major tournament at Pebble Beach when he held his 54-hole lead Sunday and prevented Brooks Koepka from winning his unprecedented third straight Open. Although Koepka, trailing Woodland by four strokes going into Sunday’s final round, fired a three-under par 68 in the final round. Woodland carded eight fours and a three on the back nine to beat Koepka by three strokes and collect the $2,250,000 bonanza while Koepka made $1,350,000 for his nifty runner-up effort.