Man on a mission

McGahee visits Texans, says he'll play in NFL this season

Suggs, Johnson visit HOUSTON (AP) -- The last time Terrell Suggs came to town was to accept the Lombardi Award as the nation's outstanding linemen. He returned Wednesday along with Miami wide receiver Andre Johnson to visit with the Houston Texans. This time, it was all business. "When I came for the Lombardi, I didn't think I was going to win, so I was just coming here to see Houston and have fun," Suggs said. "Now it's a strict business trip. I'm feel like I'm interviewing for a job." Suggs, who performed poorly in an NFL-audition workout last month, and Johnson, a possible No. 3 pick by the Texans in the first round, continued the Texans' red-carpet treatment for some of the top names in the April 26-27 college draft. "I'd love to be here on a great team and great quarterback," Johnson said. "It's something about talking to the coaches and being around here that there is something special going to happen to this team." Johnson, a junior for the Hurricanes last season, said he'd talked with Texans quarterback David Carr. "He's a great quarterback. I've talked to him a few times and he's a great guy," Johnson said. "I met with him today. He's hoping I can be here." FULL STORY

HOUSTON (AP) -- Miami running back Willis McGahee would have been a shoo-in first round draft pick in next month's college draft before he suffered a serious knee injury in the national championship game against Ohio State.

The Houston Texans are still interested, although in a later round, and McGahee said Thursday he'll play this season for some NFL team.

"It's mostly mental. The knee will get stronger," McGahee said. "A lot of players, when they come back from knee injuries, they're afraid to do certain things because it's all in your mind. You get your mind right, you can do anything you want to do."

McGahee, headed for a big-time NFL contract until he tore three ligaments in his left knee in the Fiesta Bowl, said he would have preferred broken bones to torn ligaments.

"Unfortunately, it was torn ligaments so I had to start over from scratch again," McGahee said. "When I got in the hospital it didn't matter if I felt sad or mad, so I just let it pass over."

McGahee's injury prevented him from participating in the NFL Combine on Feb. 20, but he expects to be selected on draft day and he's not worrying how high he'll be taken.

"I was curious at first, but I don't want to get too curious because then I'd get my mind set on one thing and it would be something else," McGahee said. "Nobody knows where I'm going so I'll just sit back and wait."

McGahee rushed for a Miami record 1,753 yards and 28 touchdowns last season. His injury came in the fourth quarter of Miami's 31-24 double overtime loss to the Buckeyes for the national title.

The Texans want to improve their offense in their second season and could use the third overall pick in the first round, to select Miami receiver Andre Johnson, who visited the Texans on Wednesday.

"When the running game wasn't going so good, we went to Andre and when the passing game wasn't going good they went to me," McGahee said. "He's not an average receiver. He's 230 pounds and runs a 4.3 in the 40. He's a freak on the outside but he's a good player.

"Whoever gets him will get a playmaker."

Johnson expects the team that ends up with McGahee to get a bargain too.

"I'm not surprised that he's done so well," Johnson said. "I've been his teammate and I know his work ethic. It just doesn't happen that two players would get drafted by the same team, but I'd love to play on the same team with him again."

 

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