Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson is working towards his degree at the University of Miami. Johnson promised his mother that he would complete his studies. "I told my mom I'd finish," he told the Houston Chronicle. "I just never said when." Johnson turned 29 this year. "I was sitting around one day this season thinking about what I'd told my mom," he said. "Why not do it now? I've been out seven years and just felt it was time." He's 30 hours away from a liberal arts degree and is taking three sociology classes worth 12 hours this spring.

Texans rookie linebacker Brian Cushing will not play in the Pro Bowl due to a variety of injuries. Cushing dealt with with foot, knee and rib injuries, as well as a broken finger, this season. He was the Associated Press' Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The Broncos have given the Texans permission to speak with offensive line coach Rick Dennison about becoming their next offensive coordinator. "I've got Rick coming in [Sunday] night and will be with him all day [Monday]," Houston head coach Gary Kubiak told KRIV-TV in Houston. It's considered a formality that Dennison will wind up replacing former Texans offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who is leaving Houston to join his father Mike Shanahan with the Redskins.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick believes that wide receiver Wes Welker was injured on a field in Houston that was in horrible condition. Welker suffered a serious left knee injury in a 34-27 loss to the Texans on Sunday on what Belichick called "one of the worst fields I've seen." Belichick said the field was inconsistent -- spongy in parts and hard in others -- causing players to get a different feel with each step.

Texans linebacker Brian Cushing has been named The Associated Press 2009 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Cushing received 39 votes Tuesday, easily beating Buffalo safety Jairus Byrd, who had six of the 50 votes cast. "I'm just a much smarter football player," Cushing said. "I'm much more advanced than I was this time last year and it was just a good way to start out a career. I'm happy about how everything turned out this year. Of course the playoffs would have been nice, but now we know what we have to do for next season." Cushing had 133 tackles, 86 of them primary, according to the Texans, who went 9-7 for their first-ever winning season.

Texans owner Bob McNair says that head coach Gary Kubiak will return to the club for next season. Houston defeated New England 34-27 on Sunday to finish 9-7 and barely out of the playoff picture. "Gary's my coach," McNair said. "I know there was speculation that he might not be (back in 2010), but he will be. He'll definitely be back. I don't see any reason why he wouldn't be." Kubiak will be entering the final season on his five-year deal. "That means a lot to me," said Kubiak, whose team became the last one eliminated from the playoff race when the Jets won Sunday night. "It shows me that Bob believes we're headed in the right direction. He's great to work for. He's always positive, supportive and very thorough. "I'm glad we won this game and finished with a winning record. That's for him and everyone in the organization."

Texans owner Bob McNair isn't ready to confirm that coach Gary Kubiak will in 2010. "What I have said is I think he's done a very good job," McNair said. "We'll sit down to have our review at the end of the year and make our plans for the coming year." The Texans are 8-7 and they need a victory and some help to make the playoffs for the first time in team history.