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TEXANS OFFENSIVE NOTES2010 TEXANS HONORSAFC Offensive Player of the MonthRB Arian Foster (Offense-September)AFC Player of the WeekRB Arian Foster (Offense-Week 1)WR Andre Johnson (Offense-Week2)FedEx Air Player of the WeekQB Matt Schaub (Week 2)FedEx Ground Player of the WeekRB Arian Foster (Week 1)BUTLER’S JOURNEYWhen the Texans offense takes the fieldon Sunday, it will mark the next step in along journey for LT Rashad Butler, whohas gone from the brink of a forced earlyretirement to a starting job in the NFL.Originally a third-round pick of the CarolinaPanthers in 2006, Butler did not seeButlerthe field as a rookie and was waived in 2007. The Pantherslet Butler go because for a reason they couldn’t determine,he rapidly began losing weight. Butler droppedfrom over 300 pounds to under 280, losing as much as 10pounds over a two-day period.Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) that causes chronic inflammation of the digestivetract and is characterized by abdominal pain and diarrhea.Like Crohn’s disease, another common IBD, ulcerativecolitis can be debilitating and sometimes can leadto life-threatening complications. There’s no known curefor ulcerative colitis, but therapies are available that maydramatically reduce the signs and symptoms of ulcerativecolitis and even bring about a long-term remission.Because Houston is home to the Texas Medical Center,the Texans were able to take Butler to some of the topphysicians in the world. Once his condition was diagnosed,the doctors placed him on a medication programto help him regain his appetite and energy. He remains onthat regimen today.“At first, when it was not diagnosed, it was really hard becauseI didn’t know what was going on. I never had anythingof this magnitude happen to me. But once everythingwas diagnosed and they got me on the medication I wassupposed to get on, it wasn’t hard at all. My appetite cameback really quick; my energy level came back really quick;my strength jumped up, so after that, it wasn’t hard at all.”- Rashad Butler, Sept. 22COLLEGE REUNIONThis is the way it was supposed to be:Texans offensive linemen C Chris Myers,RT Eric Winston and LT Rashad Butler allstarting in the front five...six years ago.Houston’s center and bookend tacklesall played at the University of Miami atButlerthe same time and were projected to beon the same starting offensive line in 2004until a set of unfortunate circumstancesdisrupted the plans.Myers started all of 2004 at right tacklefor the Hurricanes, while Winston, largelyconsidered one of the best linemen in theMyers country at the time, started at left tackleto begin his junior season.Butler started the season with an injuryand did not play until the fourth game ofthe year. In that same game, againstGeorgia Tech, Winston’s season endedwith an ACL injury. Butler ended up startingthe rest of the 2004 season at leftWinstontackle.Myers graduated the following spring, ending for certainany chance of the trio starting together. When the threeformer Hurricanes started against Dallas on Week 3, itwas a moment six years in the making.POWER VOffensive lineman often don’t get therecognition they deserve and the samegoes for fullbacks. Texans FB VontaLeach has been a key component inhelping RB Arian Foster set a franchiserecord with 231 yards against Indianapolisin Week 1 and lead the NFL rushingLeachthrough Week 3.His performance against Indianapolis didn’t go unnoticedby head coach Gary Kubiak.“Well, (Leach) was voted co-MVP of the game,” Kubiaksaid on Monday. “That’ll tell you how he played. With himand Arian together, it was the best I’ve seen Vonta playand I’ve seen him play some dang good games...He kindof makes us go when he’s playing that way, physical onthe isolations and those types of things. It kind of gets usgoing. He is the personality to help our team get going.Among many guys, it was an excellent performance on hispart.”In addition to his blocking, Leach has done well receivingout of the backfield with three receptions for 38 yards anda pair of first downs.34GAME 5 • TEXANS VS. NEW YORK GIANTS • HOUSTONTEXANS.COM