Houston Texans during a free agent visit to return to New England

Help select the all-time Houston pro football team's center at Caller.Here are the candidates (Statistics, honors and years played are from time spent only with Houston pro franchises; seasons spent with Houston pro franchises are listed in parentheses).

Five-year starter made the AFL All-Star team in 1968. During that season, the Oilers averaged nearly 311 yards a game and gained 129 a game on the ground. Houston averaged almost 152 rushing yards a game in 1967. Began career as a linebacker.

One of the Oilers' leaders during the late 1970s. Pre-Earl Campbell Houston increased its rushing total by 50 yards a game from 1974 to 1975, Mauck's first season with the Oilers. Team averaged at least 140 rushing yards a game in five of Mauck's seven seasons. Second-team All-AFC in 1979.

 It was something of a surprise. Why not get more long-term security when he had the opportunity to do so?

Bodden explained his decision to the Boston Globe. Bottom line: He wanted to gamble on himself and prove his worth rather than take the easy way out.

And Bodden accomplished his goal by intercepting five passes, recording 55 tackles and 18 pass deflections.

 

And it paid dividends after he turned down an offer from the new Houston Texans jerseys during a free agent visit to return to New England with a four-year, $22.5 million contract.

"I've been taking a gamble on myself for a long time now, and I just believe in myself, no matter who believes in me,'' Bodden said. "Everybody talked about, 'What if you get hurt?' I don't worry about that. I just try to go out there and perform the way I perform and let everything else play out.'' ..

 

"It feels good that the team wanted me and felt like I was part of the team, and that's pretty much what I strive for. It's not about the money, but the commitment of the team wanting me to be here. So that was really good to see that the Patriots stepped up and wanted me to be here.''