Texans to sign free agent linebacker Robert Jones By CARLTON THOMPSON Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle Linebacker, the weakest position on the Texans' roster, is about to get a little stronger. Sources say the team has agreed to terms on a one-year, $750,000 contract with unrestricted free agent Robert Jones, who has played 10 NFL seasons and won a pair of Super Bowl rings with the Dallas Cowboys. The Texans also have put in a waiver claim on punter John Baker, who was released by the NFC champion St. Louis Rams. The transaction won't be official until Thursday, but the Texans have first right on waiver claims and sources say Baker will become the third punter on the roster. Jones spent four seasons in Dallas, two in St. Louis and three in Miami after a one-year stint in Washington last season. He had 40 tackles in 12 games for the Redskins. His best season was 1994 when he registered 118 tackles for the Cowboys. The Texans have been on the lookout for help at linebacker. At 32, Jones will be the Texans' oldest defensive player and the second-oldest player on the team behind quarterback Kent Graham, 33. Whether in the expansion draft or free agency, the Texans generally have stayed away from players over 30. However, general manager Charley Casserly and coach Dom Capers always left the door open for acquiring an older player who filled a need and didn't take up a lot of cap space. Jones likely will compete with Jay Foreman for the starting inside linebacker position opposite Jamie Sharper. Kailee Wong and Greg Jones are the starting outside linebackers. The Texans acquired Foreman in the trade that sent return specialist Charlie Rogers to Buffalo last week. The roster tinkering is far from complete. The Texans will add 12 undrafted free agents today, and the group is certain to include linebackers. Baker, a Brenham native, attended the University of North Texas. Indianapolis originally signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2000. Baker averaged 42.1 yards on 43 punts last season and has a 40.7-yard average for his career. Chad Stanley and Aron Langley are the other punters on the Texans' roster. Stanley, who has averaged 39.6 yards during his three-year career, figures to be Baker's prime competition in training camp. Langley has logged training camp time with Tampa Bay, Chicago and Jacksonville, but he never has punted in a regular-season NFL game. The Texans allocated Langley to NFL Europe for its 2002 season. Former Cleveland Browns running back Ben Gay is another player with local ties who was waived Wednesday. Gay, who starred at Spring High School was caught in a numbers game with the Browns, who had four other running backs, including first-round draft pick William Green. Gay's chances of a homecoming with the Texans probably are not very good. The Texans have such a surplus at running back. They released Michael Basnight on Tuesday, three days before the start of a weekend minicamp.
