Texans general manager Charley Casserly has indicated a willingness to trade the No. 1 overall pick in the April 29 NFL draft. Now the question is which team, if any, will take the bait. The Jets? A person with knowledge of a potential draft-day deal said last night that the Texans might be interested in the Jets' No. 4 overall pick if the right package were presented. Such a trade almost certainly would include defensive end John Abraham. If it were made, the Jets would be interested in drafting quarterback Matt Leinart, the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner who led USC to back-to-back national titles. "The Giants traded up from No. 4 to No. 1 to get Eli Manning," the person said. "So why not the Jets? This could be their chance to make the same kind of splash as the Giants. Leinart has that star quality that would play well in New York." Neither Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum nor coach Eric Mangini has tipped his hand about draft-day intentions. But a person familiar with the Jets' thinking last night shot down any proposed deal, saying, "There's nothing to it."

Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush might not land with the Houston Texans after all. Texans general manager Charley Casserly said that the Texans have been talking to teams about possibly trading the first pick in the 2006 draft. It has been widely speculated that the Heisman Trophy winning running back out of Southern California would end up with the Texans because they recently gave quarterback David Carr a three-year contract extension. The Texans, who finished 2-14 last season, have multiple needs that might be filled with one major move. "There's clearly players at the top of this draft that are marquee players," Casserly said. "Players that are impact players, players that are going to go to the Pro Bowl, players that are going to sell tickets. We're going to get offers for this pick. We've already had discussions with teams. I think there's value in our pick. "Whether it's Reggie Bush, Vince Young or Matt Leinart, those three players are going to produce trade offers. We are definitely going to have some choices when it comes to draft day."

One of the debates about the 2006 NFL draft was quelled Friday when the Houston Texans, holding the first pick for the first time since their 2002 expansion season, re-signed the player they took with that pick, quarterback David Carr. Signing Carr ends speculation that the Texans would trade him, then draft USC quarterback Matt Leinart or Texas quarterback Vince Young instead of USC halfback Reggie Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner. Bush and Leinart will be among the All-Americans honored tonight when the Walter Camp Football Foundation holds its 39th awards dinner at the Yale Commons. It has long been assumed that Bush will be the top pick after a spectacular junior season. He gained 1,740 yards rushing and 478 yards receiving and scored 19 touchdowns, including an 84-yard punt return. The Houston Chronicle reported in January that Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll gave Bush his blessing to forgo his senior season only after being assured by Texans owner Bob McNair that Bush would be the top pick.

The Texans have finally exercised the $8 million option that extends quarterback David Carr's contract through the 2008 season, a person close to the team said today. An announcement is expected Friday. Also, the Texans are expected to hire former Green Bay coach Mike Sherman as assistant head coach/offensive line, although the move may not become official before next week. Sherman has been on a family vacation and still must work out a contract, but he?s expected to report for work Monday. The decision to extend Carr?s contract has nothing to do with the top pick in the draft. The Texans still haven?t decided if they?ll select University of Texas quarterback Vince Young or Southern California running back Reggie Bush.

The Texans have hired Johnny Holland as linebackers coach. Holland, who grew up in Hempstead and played at Texas A&M, coached Detroit's linebackers the last three seasons. A week ago, he accepted a job offer from Buffalo, but when Gary Kubiak invited him to return to Texas, the Bills agreed to let Holland leave. Holland, 40, played linebacker at Green Bay. He has been an NFL linebackers coach for 11 years, including the last three at Detroit, where he once worked with Texans defensive coordinator Richard Smith.