The Houston Texans coaches and players hit the field again Friday as preparations for the 2013 season start heating up with the beginning of rookie mini camp.
But before talk turns to how good new wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins looks (trust us, he'll look great — no NFL team has ever left rookie camp not raving about its new draft picks), how Case Keenum and Collin Klein have developed as quarterbacks and who will refute the next ridiculous J.J. Watt rumor first, the Texans coaches and players stepped up for charity.
In the weeks before this three-day, five-practice rookie camp, the Texans held their annual Texans Insider Dinner, bringing a host of heavy hitters to River Oaks Country Club, and the Houston Texans Foundation Charity Golf Classic. As these exclusive CultureMap photos from the Insider Dinner (which was only open to VIPs and major sponsors) show, almost everyone got into the spirit.
Yes, there's actual photo evidence of Texans coach Gary Kubiak cracking a huge smile — not just a wary in-season one. No one ever doubted that defensive coordinator Wade Phillips knows how to have a good time and the Son of Bum seemed as at ease as ever.
The Texans leadership group was well represented — chief operating officer Cal McNair with his wife Hannah, team president Jamey Rootes, general manager Rick Smith and offense coordinator Rick Dennison and his wife Shannon — all made the rounds. Last year's first round pick Whitney Mercilus and Pro Bowl center Chris Myers (with his wife Jenny) also mingled.
But young offensive lineman Ben Jones just may have stolen the show. Jones — who Watt pegged as a future Duck Dynasty star in a recent Sports Illustrated feature — showed up in a jacket and dress pants. No flannel in sight.
J.J. Watt may want to take a second look at that.
To get more yourself, click through the complete CultureMap gallery above. The dinner and golf tournament ended up raising more than $370,000 grand for the Houston Texans YMCA, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Houston and the Houston Food Bank.
And now, it's back to the work of football. After rookie camp, it's on to OTAs (starting May 20) and the already fast countdown to a season of Super sized expectations.
Rhonda and Gary Kubiak
