A GQ First Half

Adrian Peterson sees his shadow: NFL's best befuddled by unlikely defensiveforce

Glover Quin excelled in Adrian Peterson duty.
Adrian Peterson

Want to know how Adrian Peterson smells? Curious about what flavor of gum he prefers?

Houston Texans safety Glover Quin can probably tell you.

Quin turned into Peterson's shadow at Reliant Stadium on Sunday afternoon and he proved surprisingly hard for the best tailback in football to shake. When the Texans needed someone to keep Peterson in check, someone to make sure a nice run didn't turn into a giant run, someone to stop more runs from developing even before they started, Quin was there.

The tone for Peterson's first half was set. Wherever he went, Glover Quin would be there.

It started on the Minnesota Vikings' first play of the game. When Peterson took his first handoff and ripped off a 20-yard run, it didn't look good for Houston. Except Quin quietly made sure Peterson went down after 20 yards.

And on the very next play, Quin burst into the backfield and took the 6-foot-1, 217-pound Peterson down behind the line of scrimmage with no help.

In many ways, the tone for Peterson's first half was set. Wherever he went, Glover Quin would be there.

Twenty four minutes into the game, Quin already had seven tackles. After gaining 20 yards on that first carry, Peterson picked up 20 yards on his next 12 touches.

The Texans still went into the locker room trailing 13-3, with the rumbling at Reliant turning into downright boos at times. But that was largely because of what Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder was able to do and what Houston quarterback Matt Schaub wasn't able to do.

If Peterson hadn't been kept in check for a half, it could have been much worse for a Texans team that stands a win away from clinching homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. Quin played a major role in that.

The fourth-year pro often gets lost amid all the star power Wade Phillips' Bulls On Parade bring to the table. When you're playing with J.J. Watt, Johnathan Joseph, Danieal Manning and Antonio Smith, it's easy to get overshadowed.

Even if you can play a hell of a shadow.

Quin — who likes to go by the nickname GQ — is enjoying a breakout season though. And on Sunday, he'd show Peterson and everyone else why he was on the better-tackling safeties in all of football.

No matter what's going on around him.

The Texans drove into Vikings territory on two of their first three drives, but ended up having to settle for a 51-yard Shayne Graham field goal on one and saw the other end when the ball was ripped from Arian Foster's grasp inside the 30-yard line.

Linebacker Jasper Brinkley dislodged the football. It was only Foster's third fumble of the season, but that didn't make it damage Houston any less.

Quin helped make sure it didn't hurt more though, ensuring the Texans stayed within range.

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chill out

Houston Astros ballpark gets cool new name for the next 15 years

Courtesy of the Houston Astros

The Astros' stadium will have a new name in 2025.

The Houston Astros are about to have the coolest ballpark in Major League Baseball. The team announced on Monday, November 18 that its has reached a naming rights agreement HVAC manufacturer Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc.

Beginning on January 1, 2025, the stadium will be known as Daikin Park (die-kin). Scheduled to run through the 2039 season, the new name replaces Minute Maid Park, which has been the stadium’s name since 2002. It opened in 1999 as Enron Field.

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Astros fans online are already calling the new stadium “The Ice Box,” replacing its informal “The Juice Box” moniker. That name feels likely to stick.

Japan-based Daikin Industries is a leading manufacturer of HVAC systems. It sells air conditioning units and other products under brand names such as Daikin, Goodman, Amana® and Quietflex. Critically, it operates Daikin Texas Technology Park in nearby Waller, which is the largest HVAC manufacturing facility in North America. The company employs approximately 10,000 people in Greater Houston, according to a release.

“We are excited to be partnering with Daikin for our ballpark’s naming rights,” Astros owner Jim said. “Daikin is an international company that proudly calls the Greater Houston area its North American home. The Houston Astros and Daikin share the same values, a commitment to excellence and a desire to give back to our local community. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of this ballpark in 2025, I am proud to have Daikin alongside us to create even more special memories for our fans now and in the future.”

The Astros will use the revenue for new stadium amenities and other upgrades. It will also continue the team’s various community initiatives. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. the Houston Chronicle notes that naming rights deals may be worth anywhere from $3.5 million per year (T-Mobile park in Seattle) to $11 million per year for the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field.

The team’s first game in Daikin Park will take place on Monday, March 24, which it plays an exhibition against its Triple-A affiliate, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. It will open the regular season on Thursday, March 27 against the New York Mets.

“Daikin fit all of the criteria we set out to find in a naming rights partner,” Astros senior vice president Matt Brand added. “Their name and reputation fit our iconic downtown Houston home, and their values mesh perfectly with those of the Astros. We are grateful to partner with the entire Daikin team and to help them succeed in their business goals. Daikin Park will be a special place for our fans for many years to come.”

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