Texans running back Steve Slaton led the AFC in yards for scrimmage as a rookie in 2008, and is looking to avoid a drop off. "That's what I'm trying to prevent," Slaton said. "(Sophomore slumps) happened to a lot of people and didn't happen to a lot of people. I'm just trying to be one of those people that it didn't happen to." Houston running backs coach Chick Harris believes that Slaton can improve. "He's a young guy, and God bless him, he did a wonderful job last year, but he has a lot more to do," Harris said. "It's a matter of being a better football player each day he comes on the football field, and trying to improve everything he does, not make any of the mistakes he made last year, and show that he has matured and he knows a lot more about our offense. "He has a lot of work to do."

Quarterback Dan Orlovsky, now with the Texans, "felt terrible" after stepping out of bounds and causing a safety with the Lions last season. "That wasn't the impression I was looking to make," Orlovsky told the Hartford Courant. "But I felt terrible. It was a stupid play and I was really down about it, but Jared DeVries, a defensive end and an 11-year veteran, comes up to me right after the play and says, 'Forget about that. We need you. Everybody makes mistakes.' "Calvin Johnson comes up to me and says, 'Man, I didn't mean to laugh, but that stuff was funny.' So I mean, it happened. I'll be remembered for it, I'm sure. But you have to move on, and I did. After that game, I just went back to paying attention to detail again and doing the little things ? like I always did."

Texans owner Robert McNair is in favor of an expanded NFL season that would include fewer preseason games. "I think the feeling is that the preseason games ? a couple one or two ? can be converted to regular-season games," McNair said. "And that the fans would probably be happy with that. Most of the players and owners would be happy about it, too. "But there's still a lot of details to be worked out. International play works into it. If you extend the season, it's easier to play international games; it's easier to play games on a neutral site."

Brian Cushing said in a radio interview in Austin that he?ll ?take action toward? NFLDraftBible.com for its erroneous report that Cushing tested positive at the Scouting Combine for steroids. That action could include a letter from a lawyer demanding a settlement, and it could include a lawsuit. Cushing explained that, with the draft over, the next step will be to address the April 2 report from NFLDraftBible.com. ?I?m pretty tired of everything happening with all these supposed rumors [and] people trying to tarnish my reputation,? Cushing said. ?I?m not sure what happened. I?m don?t know if it?s my playing attitude [or] people just don?t like how I handle myself. But you know that?s too bad for them.?