There’ll be an early games thread posted at 11:45 a.m., and we’ll see if a late games thread needs to happen based on how many comments we have in the early games thread. SNF thread will post at 7:00 p.m. CT for the 7:20 p.m. scheduled kickoff.

Saturday football info can be found at https://506sports.com/ncaaf.php. What are some good shows on TV that you are enjoying? I’ll list a few of mine at the moment.

The Hunters (Amazon Prime original series. 1 Season. Renewed for a 2nd season).

Al Pacino isn’t his usual bombastic self. Instead, he plays a quiet, soft-spoken survivor of The Holocaust who leads a group of “hunters” who track down Nazis who’ve somehow escaped Germany (many years prior to the 1970’s setting of this show) and now live in America. I almost have to put on the subtitles because he speaks so softly, and his Jewish accent is top notch and very believable; almost to the point you forget it’s Al Pacino. Logan Lerman, who played jittery replacement assistant tank driver “Norman” in the WWII movie “Fury,” plays his character perfectly. The writing is top notch. The casting is perfect. It’s like Inglorious Basterds and Charlie’s Angels had a baby together: Charlie’s Basterds. A++ show, IMO.

Fargo (Season 1, 2014) An FX series now showing on Hulu and maybe Sling as well.

Martin Freeman, Billy Bob Thornton, and Colin Hanks are terrific in this miniseries set in tranquil 2006 Minnesota. The 1st season follows hitman Lorne Malvo (Thornton) who stops at a hospital in Bemidji, Minnesota following a car accident and influences local mild-mannered insurance salesman Lester Nygaard (Freeman) with his violent and deceptive ways. Their meeting sets forth a series of murders throughout the city. Meanwhile, Deputy Molly Solverson (Tolman) of Bemidji and Officer Gus Grimly (Hanks) of Duluth attempt to solve several crimes across the state that they believe may be linked to Malvo and Nygaard.

I binged this 10-episode Season 1 in like 2 nights. By the time I hit episode 5, I was like “Eff it, I’m watching it all the way to the end.” I have no regrets. The show is darker than the trailer shows. Lots of quirky offbeat humor, for sure, but man oh man there are some dark comedy and heavy-handed brutality in the show, as well.

Quick Draw (Hulu original series, 2013)

This is like The Office, but set in the Old West. Unique characters abound, and from what I gather the show is mostly improvisational by the actors.

Fresh off the stagecoach from Harvard, Sheriff John Henry Hoyle and his reluctant Deputy Eli introduce the emerging science of forensics to hunt down the Wild West’s most dangerous criminals.

Thanks to BarryFromTexas for providing the weekly Heh Report.

Very little news again. Something to watch is the opportunity rookie WR Isaiah Coulter might receive if a WR or two departs via trade. Coulter lands on the active roster while Scharping hits the COVID-19 reserved list.

When Could Newly Activated Rookie Make Texans Debut?
By Cody Stoots, SI.com

Excerpt: He plays primarily outside wide receiver and showcased plenty of talent at Rhode Island. Often described as raw by draft evaluators, Coulter impressed in limited opportunities against Power Five competition. He’s long and speedy with good body control.

“There’s definitely a chance he can contribute to this team,” wide receiver coach John Perry said. “His development has been outstanding. He’s got a lot of very valuable traits that we can use and utilize when he does get the opportunity.”

While he is active, the numbers game doesn’t favor Coulter being active on gameday just yet. Brandin Cooks, Will Fuller, and Kenny Stills handle the majority of the snaps outside. Randall Cobb has been the primary slot presence all season. Coulter has only recently started to practice with the team too. 

A spot could free up for him soon should the team trade one of their veterans. It would allow Coulter to be active but ease into any reps the team had for him on gameday.

Texans news is hard to find this week. The trade deadline is probably the only thing to really look forward to with no Texans game to be played due to a bye. Chris Roling with BleacherReport has 5 “Blockbuster” deals in mind, and 2 of those involve Texans players.

Blockbuster Deals That Would Blow Up the 2020 NFL Trade Deadline
By Chris Roling, BleacherReport

Texans Trade Kenny Stills to Packers for 2021 Third-Round Pick
Excerpt: Stills is on the last year of his deal, so the Texans could always seek out a trade partner to get something in return for his likely departure as the wideout room undergoes massive change again. He’s 28 and still plenty capable, but been a non-factor with just 18 targets. 

A team like the Green Bay Packers might have plenty of interest in a half-season rental considering its top two wideouts, Davante Adams and Allen Lazard, haven’t been able to stay on the field. Aaron Rodgers continues to feast regardless with his team at 5-1, but adding a guy who averages 15.7 yards per catch for his career and has 500-plus yards in six of his seven seasons would be a savvy win-now move.

Texans Trade J.J. Watt to Saints for 2021 Second-Round Pick
Excerpt: As mentioned already, the Texans figure to look toward the future. 

That could mean trading 31-year-old J.J. Watt, who has a team-high $15.5 million cap hit (7.1 percent of the cap) this year that escalates to $17.5 million in 2021.

Granted, it would take a desperate team to take on Watt at this stage of his career, but the New Orleans Saints have shown time and again they’re all-in on winning now as the Drew Brees era nears an end, even if it means creatively shifting around some cap allocations to make a big addition work.

Watt is a major risk mostly because he’s played more than eight games in a season just once dating back to 2015. But putting him on a front seven with Cameron Jordan and others would make for one of the scariest units in the NFL.

The Saints are in an arms race with Tampa Bay in the NFC South after Antonio Brown landed there, and Houston is desperate to start cleaning up the mess left by a fired head coach and doesn’t pick earlier in the 2021 draft than the third round. It’s a stars-aligning moment that could make for a surprise blockbuster.

Browns have about $31m in 2020 cap space, so yeah they need a WR with OBJ out for the year. OH SNAPS! it’s a depressing look at Texans rookie snap counts. Look at 6 ways that the Chiefs scheme Kelce open, which is nice.

With Odell Beckham done for the year, could the Texans trade Will Fuller to the Browns?
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt: Houston needs draft picks.

The former 2016 first-round pick from Notre Dame is in the final year of his contract. By sending Fuller to Cleveland for draft picks, it allows him to showcase what he can do for a team in contention and get a head start on free agency. It could also help the Texans stock the cupboard draft picks wise. Even if they get a third or lower for Fuller, they can combine that with their other picks to get back into the top-100 and start picking players who can really help the team.

With the trade deadline looming, the Texans need to be sellers and start looking at putting themselves in the best position to win 2021 as their current chances are probably shot.

Welcome to the NFL, rookie. By the way, you’re not going to play.

Real, actual plays schemed to get a man open. Is this…legal??

No sense in posting news about things that are no longer news: Horrid run game, horrid defense, and another loss. The only news as the Texans head into a bye week is this: The Trade Deadline. Cody Stoots says Watt should request a trade. Do you agree?

Column: ‘Angry’ Watt Should Request Texans Trade
By Cody Stoots

Excerpt: The weeks of frustration – wait, make that years – seem to be weighing heavily on Watt. He’s been short in his responses to questions in the postgame for the majority of the season. I’m not suggesting that he frequently uses the microphone in the form of a grand orator, a slick comedian or a master of ceremonies.

But forget being regaled with verbose statements; with a series of less-than-10-word answers Sunday, his message to me, however subliminal, was how much he did not want to be on that podium … how much he does not want to be 1-6. …

And maybe how much he should no longer be in Houston.

While he said last week his goal was to win a championship for the City of Houston – a typically fine statement from the icon he is – Watt, 31, did add the caveat “until the day I’m not a Houston Texan anymore” when he was asked about trades. 

Not that he needs permission from me, or from any other long-time Texans watcher. But I say, as the Nov. 3 NFL trade deadline approaches, he should ask if that day could arrive this week.

Watt’s legendary accomplishments in Houston, on and off the field, will never be forgotten. He is at present adding little to his incredible resume while on this forgettable Texans team. 

In a sense, Watt initiating the conversation would be doing Houston a favor, as asking for the trade makes easier a difficult conversation for the Texans front office.

Yes, interim general manager Jack Easterby will have to field calls and find the true value of Watt. No, Easterby has never done that before. Yes, the Texans would be trading the best player in franchise history. No, the return won’t be wondrous and I think is unlikely to include a pick in the first round.