Eric Winston a guest on the Jim Rome Show

Houston Texans tackle Eric Winston was a guest on the Jim Rome Show on SportsRadio610 early this afternoon.  Rome and Winston talked about a variety of subjects.

Rome:  On whether the Texans can take a "big swing" and "much bigger step" this year after three consecutive seasons of 8 and 9 wins: 

Winston:  "We left a lot of games on the field last year.  In terms of closing games out, that's what good teams do (to win those games) and that's the difference between 8-8 and 10-6 or 9-7 and 12-4.  That's the big step we're talking about"

Rome:  How small is that margin between winning and losing?  (in terms of leaving games out there)

Winston:  I think people don't realize how small that margin really is.  Thirteen or fourteen games are going to come down to a critical series in the fourth quarter.  We have to be a more mature team in the fourth quarter whether it be making that key drive, key stop, kicking a field goal, blocking a field goal, whatever it takes ... that's what teams like the Colts and Patriots do well.  It's not like they're killing everybody but they're making those key plays (in the 4th quarter)"

Rome:  Is it just a mindset, just because those guys have done it so many time before, they expect to do it again?

Winston: "Yeah, whatever you want to call it ... swagger, confidence .. those guys that have done it before, they know what to expect.  And I think last year we really went through it ... went through a gauntlet of emotions and things that went on during games ... everything a team can go through and we didn't always come out on the right side of (the scoreboard) ... and I think those experiences will really help our maturity level and help us win those games this year"

Rome: For those who don't know, coming from Midland, Texas, how did you end up at the 'U?'

Winston:  (laughs)  "Well, I was a tight end coming out of high school.  I had scholarships to play in a lot of places.  I was a bigger tight end so I wasn't going to go to Oklahoma to play in a spread offense (or Texas Tech).  Jeremy Shockey was there and he's from western Oklahoma (not too far from Midland), Bubba Franks (Big Spring), and K.C, Jones (Midland) who was already in business at that point ... I just talked to those guys a lot and it was time for me to take a big leap.  A&M was on it's way down at that point, Texas didn't feel like the right fit so I took a trip to Miami (and the rest is history)."

Rome:  What's it been like to come back and play in your home state?

Winston:  "It's been nice... getting to come home, it's been awesome.  Getting to play in Houston.  Getting to build this franchise - getting it to what we hope it (will be) that's really been the fun part.. When I came to (Midland Lee) high school, we were already good.  When I came to Miami, we were already good.  Here. getting to build this team, it's been awesome, ... and like you said in the open we're hoping to take that big step and put this city over the top." 

Rome:  On whether another former 'cane, Andre Johnson, is the best offensive player he's ever been around?

Winston: "In high school I grew up with Cedric Benson and he might have been one of the greatest running backs in Texas high school history, then going to Miami and seeing Willis McGahee ... Jon Vilma ... great players ...but there's no one that can compare to everything that Andre does.  The way he handles himself, the way he works.  There's no receiver in the NFL right now that will run every route in the playbook without apprehension.  He goes over the middle, he runs comebacks, he runs digs, he runs fades, he runs stops and screens, he does it all with a smile on his face.  He's such a good player but he's even a better person and that's what makes him such a great teammate because sometimes you get those guys that are tough to deal with.  (Andre) doesn't say a word, he's the hardest working guy out there, he just goes out there and handles his business and it's been really fun having him (as a teammate)."

Rome:  On where Winston stands on Dez Bryant refusing to carry Roy Williams' pads:

Winston:  I've never been a big fan of the hazing thing ... cutting the hair, tying guys up to the goalposts or whatever ... dousing them with water.   I always thought that was kind of silly.  But there is a certain right of passage (for rookies) and carrying a couple helmets, doing the little things, bringing in donuts for Saturday meetings...that's something every rookie does.  Houston was a great place for that because it didn't happen for very long.  A player would say 'here's my helmet rook' and you did it like ten times and you were done with it for the whole year.  The guys respected you because you showed that you were willing to do something like that.  But (for Dez) to take a stand on that ... does he have a point?  maybe ... but it's just silly.  That's where you're going to make your stand?  I don't know what the locker room is like up there but (sometimes vets will take offense at things like that).  They think 'you're not trying to be (one of the team), you're trying to do your own thing' and some of the older vets don't like it that much. And when it comes time when a player (like that) needs some help, not only on the field but off the field, some of the vets may not be as receptive..."

Rome followed up by saying he didn't consider what Bryant was asked to do "hazing" to which Winston agreed.

Rome finished out the interview by asking Winston about his interest in horse racing.  Rome and Winston happen to have bought into the same partnership in two horses, so expect Winston to be a frequent guest on Rome from now on - not only to discuss the Texans but also to discuss the ponies.