When it comes to the 2023 NFL season, there may not be a more remarkable story than the rise of the Houston Texans. And now, as the Texans prepare to host a postseason game after posting a 10-7 record en route to winning the AFC South, they’re pulling out the receipts.
In particular, the franchise followed Bill Simmons’ preseason announcement that rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud would have been asked for a bust.
Not only is the Ohio State product likely to be named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, but he also generated MVP buzz in his rookie season with 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions.
In a post on Monday, the Texans’ official Season split between them. During The Ringer’s NFL draft preview, “The Sports Guy” stated,
“I think Stroud is a bust.”
RAHHH 🤡 pic.twitter.com/NeBKXLsOjP
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 9, 2024
Even Simmons’ assessment that Stroud had fallen in the draft was proven wrong almost immediately when Houston selected him with the No. 2 overall pick a day later.
Against all odds, C.J. Stroud led the Houston Texans to the AFC South championship and a playoff berth in his rookie season.
Name a good QB with two initials 🤨 … you can't.@BillSimmons is calling it now: C.J. Stroud will be a bust. pic.twitter.com/Sxwgx1UBJP
— #RingerNFL (@ringernfl) April 26, 2023
One of those targets was none other than Bill Simmons, a well-known anti-aggregator who declared Stroud a “bust” the day before the 2023 NFL Draft in April.
The Texans took this three second clip and edited a lot of Clown’s voice into it, then Simmons fixed Clown’s head and then went into the hype segment.
But NFL players are not respected anywhere, and neither are social groups.
Texans troll ‘clown’ Bill Simmons over C.J. Stroud cold take https://t.co/zeSckr0VQ9 pic.twitter.com/OUUm0j5md9
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 9, 2024
In Simmons’ statement, he admitted that ideas were cold at the beginning of this year. However, the Texas community has undergone significant changes.
C. J. Stroud had a great season, turning the Houston Texans around and restoring hope among fans in a city that had three terrible and embarrassing seasons. Almost let this team go after the season.
First-year head coach DeMeco Ryans won just three games last season, leading the Texans to the playoffs for the first time since 2019. He went to prison as a teenager.
“And it occurred to me that I could do that,”
Stroud said.
However, he still considers himself an individual and sometimes finds it difficult to open up about the problems he has faced since his father, Coleridge Bernard Stroud III, went to prison in 2016.
After rushing for 470 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Tampa Bay, he spoke for the first time about his father and his desire to reform the prison when asked about his records.
“I don’t like people in my industry, but at the same time, making people vulnerable is as glorious as being independent,”
he said.
“I was raised not to let people make you feel bad and vulnerable, and I learned that later in life.”
“I want people to know that I’m not the only victim of this, but you can do more than that for the kids who are going through it.”
Few teams go from league laughingstock to playoff contender in one season, and for the new fourth seed, the task is even more difficult.
But most everyone associated with the Texans agrees that the new quarterback is so special that he has raised the bar for the franchise.
“There’s not a lot of conversation that anyone on this team has had with C.J.”
“We’ve had meetings where you say he wasn’t there,”
Slovic said.
“He’s a very present person and he’s very involved emotionally and mentally … on a personal level and what we’re trying to achieve football-wise.”
The elder Stroud received a longer sentence for the crime because he was sentenced 20 years ago.
“I learned what happened and what he was advocating not to do,”
Stroud said.
Many times, people with alcohol problems and similar issues don’t need jail, they need rehabilitation and help.
“Stroud has partnered with billionaire Michael Rubin’s Reform Alliance to help push for prison reform and wore donated uniforms to the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats game late last year.”
“They know I have a lot on my plate, and they respect that, and they like to know what’s going on,”
Stroud said.
“I talk to him about things that I probably wouldn’t talk to a lot of people about because he’s my dad.”
While Stroud was at Ohio State, many of his games were broadcast on national television, so his dad, or Pops as he was called, watched his games.
Many, including NFL draft picks, believe the Texans are going to have another bad season and therefore not get any chance at a national championship game.
For Stroud Sr., that means he won’t see his name thrown out. For now, it’s the only way his father can watch Stroud play.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “I thought my dad would come and watch me play. That’s what I thought, okay. This is hope.”
Fans had this to say:
See, not everyone could predict the Texans future like me. Well, not their opponent, but playoff birth and time. https://t.co/hfdeMSAvqZ
— Dr. Lös Real Polyamorous Tantric Sex Guru (@LosRealAli) January 9, 2024
When it comes to Stroud, the line is pretty long with experts who were wrong on the guy. Simmons has his share of whiffs, as does many. I guess these particular Texan fans have to point out one person?
— Sam Armstrong (@dawgpoundsammy) January 9, 2024
Without a doubt, Simmons is a clown. And so are his sources Fitzy, Sully and Masshole.
— Rico Realistic (@SSU_Egg) January 9, 2024
I got a box of tissues that knows more about Houston sports than Bill Simmons.
— Patrick Creighton (@PCreighton1) January 9, 2024
Don’t care what doubters say, my Houston Texans won the 2023 NFL draft, the season, the past weekend, the whole damn year. And they’re just getting started. Go Texans!!!
— Sergio – Houston Stroud! (@sgtexans) January 9, 2024
😂😂😂😂 The Admin is on a roll. Don't let them catch a breath. Bill really is a 🤡.
— Dennis (@DennisHonorebel) January 9, 2024
Can someone make a Bill Simmons emoji like this one 🤮 where instead of barf coming out its mouth it’s 💩?
— Chris (@ctcitnetter) November 6, 2023
Bill knows literally nothing about football, it’s incredible
— law and ska (@apbinaz) November 6, 2023
Not a QB or football player, and I know he also went by a few other versions of his name, but… MJ?
— Eric Mills (@suburbanoasis) April 26, 2023
We need @BillSimmons to write down/type up, fax & email every player in every draft from here on out that he has "locked in" as a bust because CJ STROUD just broke the rookie record for most passing yards in a single game. Not to mention, he's already got a plaque in canton OH 🤘
— Space City Swarm 🤘 (@Spacecityswarm) November 5, 2023
