Justin Gatlin's Tryout With The Texans: What's Up With That?

Reports are that former track star Justin Gatlin and unofficially world's fastest man tried out for the Texans as a wide receiver. I have to say when I first read that report, it sounded pretty peculiar.

I don't know the reasons for it, but here is my rank speculation:

1. The Rick Smith-run Texans try out lots of players. When he was with Denver, he was known for finding players during the season to fit needs over the course of the season.

2. The Texans have tried out players in the past seemingly to light fires under their current players. For example, after games where kicker Kris Brown and punter Chad Stanley struggled this season, the Texans started trying out kickers.

Returner and wide receiver, Jerome Mathis, was taken off of the PUP list yesterday. He was out after surgery on a stress fracture in his foot, and is expected to play this Sunday. Gary Kubiak really wants him to be prepared to play both kick returner and wide receiver but it sounds as though Mathis has been reluctant to test his foot with the wide receiver duties. Mathis is known for his speed, and college track background, so maybe a try out of a track guy is supposed to encourage him to do better at wide receiver.

3. For Gatlin, I'm guessing it is about the money and the fame, as he is banned from track and field until 2014. (The above picture is from the 2006 ESPY Awards). The Texans had an immediate payout from an football inexperienced fast guy in Mathis, so maybe his people thought the Texans would be receptive to Gatlin trying out for the team.

I can't imagine he gets signed, but then again, I have a hard time predicting how the Texans make choices with the new organization, other than they like grabbing ex-Broncos/Packers as a stopgap measure.