Im really starved for football talk and at least this is some news. Spears should provide solid depth on the OL. Texans | Spears Signed - from www.KFFL.com Fri, 2 Jul 2004 19:58:51 -0700 The Houston Texans have signed free agent OT Marcus Spears (Chiefs), according to HoustonTexans.com. Terms of the deal were not released. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spears should help Texan's depth By Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com Houston Texans: Still trying to add offensive line depth before the start of training camp, the Texans on Friday signed veteran free agent Marcus Spears, who had been released by the Kansas City Chiefs on June 16. A versatile 10-year veteran, Spears figures to be a valuable backup for the Texans at both tackle and guard. He becomes the second veteran tackle added by Texas this offseason, with the club having acquired former Miami Dolphins starter Todd Wade earlier in the signing period. Wade is slated to be the starting right tackle. Spears, 32, had been with the Chiefs since 1997 and started at guard and tackle at various times in his tenure with the club. "By letting him go now," said coach Dick Vermeil upon Spears' release, "it enhances his opportunities to get a job, and he will get a job." Indeed, there were several teams interested in adding Spears, who is also regarded as a player of high character. Details of his contract with the Texans were unavailable, but the deal is expected to be a modest one. In releasing Spears, Vermeil and general manager Carl Peterson cited the improvement of young players for creating a tight "numbers game" on what traditionally has been one of the league's top offensive line units. The Chiefs added offensive linemen Brett Williams and Jordan Black in the 2003 draft and Kevin Sampson in this year's lottery. Kansas City traded for former Philadelphia Eagles starter John Welbourn seven weeks ago and also added former New York Giants starter Chris Bober early in the free agency signing period. The combination of those elements has created considerable competition and provided great depth, but also made Spears expendable. Originally a second-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 1994, Spears played little during his three-year stint with the club, appearing in only nine games. He signed with Kansas City as a free agent in 1997, after spending some time in the Green Bay Packers camp, and his most extensive playing time came in 2001 when he started all 16 games, five at right guard and 11 at right tackle. For his career, Spears has appeared in 89 games and has 18 starts. He also played for the Amsterdam Admirals of the NFL Europe League in 1996. The Texans also on Friday claimed rookie wide receiver Andrae Thurman off waivers from the New York Giants.
