Texans sign Former Coog Megastar Allen Aldridge...

Alright, "megastar" might be a stretch, but I was a huge Aldridge fan during his U of H days...

http://espn.go.com/nfl/columns/pasquarelli_len/1380443.html

In a move that provides the Houston Texans depth and flexibility, and even potential help on their special teams, ESPN.com has learned the expansion team Thursday signed linebacker Allen Aldridge, an eight-year veteran and unrestricted free agent.

Aldridge, 29, played the last four seasons for the Detroit Lions but, despite being a starter in each of those campaigns, was not retained there. He will sign a one-year contract that is worth $675,000 and the deal includes a $25,000 signing bonus.

Because of a new rule that grants a salary cap break for teams that sign veteran players to minimum-salary contracts, Aldridge will count only $475,000 against the spending limit for the 2002 season.

The Texans are expected to release 10-year veteran linebacker Robert Jones, signed last month to a one-year, $750,000 contract, ESPN.com has learned.

Aldridge visited with Houston officials a few weeks ago but the team did not make an offer to him at the time. He worked out for the Tampa Bay Bucs on Wednesday, and the Texans suddenly demonstrated newfound interest, and quickly arrived at a deal. Aldridge also had drawn interest from Denver, where he began his NFL career.

The former University of Houston star recently completed a new home with 15 minutes of the Texans' practice facility and had hoped to sign with the expansion franchise early in the free agency period. His hope is to finish his career in Houston, where his parents months ago purchased season tickets for Texans games.

Aldridge could vie for a starting job with the Texans, likely at inside linebacker, where the team still has a need. At worst, he provides veteran backup help, and he has started at all three linebacker spots at various junctures of his career. The past two seasons he was the strongside starter for the Lions in 30 of 32 games.

As a bonus, Aldridge can also perform the deep-snapping chores, one of the reasons the Bucs had indicated an interest in him.

Aldridge entered the league as the Broncos' second-round choice in the 1994 draft, moved into the starting lineup in '95, and has started 12 or more games every season since then. For his career, Aldridge has appeared in 128 games and started 104 of them. He has posted 467 tackles, 10½ sacks, one interception and 21 passes defensed.