Demeco Ryans has signed and there is peace in the land.

Fans are so happy for Demeco right now that you would think they are related to him. It just goes to show you how adored he is by Texans nation. From the first time he stepped on the field you knew he had "it." And he has done nothing but lead and produce in a Texans uniform.

With Brian Cushing having been drafted last year and the capable Zac Diles helping out, the Texans certainly have one of the top linebacking groups in the NFL.

Owen Daniels and the team have made a temporary arrangement that lets him work out with the boys while trying to work out a contract. O.D. gets a chance to prove he's healthy while hoping the team will show him some Demeco love.

But Owen's injury could mean that his deal is still in the distant future. The Texans would not have given him the highest tender if they didn't want him yet they can't be 100% confident just yet that he's good to go for another Pro Bowl run.

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Is the Astros 2010 season stillborn?

There is so little excitement around this team but could they surprise people?

Even last year's dreadful campaign began with the glow of an NL best run in the second half of 2008. Then a horrible spring threw a bucket of water over that.

If everyone was healthy you could say that the positive attitudes of Brad Mills and his staff might energize the team on a 'little engine that could' run to flirt with contention in the shaky NL Central. But Roy O's body and Lance Berkman's knee are not exactly topics of joy in the ticket office.

We had Mike Schmidt on the show Tuesday and he raved about Ed Wade's construction of the nucleus of a very productive two year Phillies run. We may be on the right track but it could take a while to get to our destination.

March Mad Moments

My favorite moments at the Microphone during March Madness

Miami Beating Ohio State (and Michael Redd) in 2000 in Nashville to advance to the Sweet 16
The Hurricanes were the best defensive team in the Big East and made the big stops down the stretch in what still is their biggest win in team history.

UMass defeating Georgetown (and A.I.) in the 1996 Regional Finals in Atlanta
Calipari and Camby put the breaks on Iverson and a tough Georgetown team to get the Minutemen to the Final Four.

Northwestern State beats #3 seed Iowa as one of the big upsets in NCAA history
The Demons roared back from a 17 point deficit with 8 minutes left to stun Steve Alford's Hawkeyes as Jermaine Wallace hit a late three.

Wisconsin takes out Tulsa to get to the Sweet 16 in 2003
Devin Harris was bottled up so he found Freddie Owens in the corner for the game winning three. I worked the tournament with Tom Penders for Westwood One. Pender's alma mater UConn was also at the site making for some nice off mic moments with Jim Calhoun and Emeka Okafor.

UAB knocks out top overall seed Kentucky in the second round in 2004
Chuck Hayes could not get the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 as Mike Anderson's team pulled off the upset with Squeeky Johnson running the show.

Findlay defeats Cal Poly Pamona to win the 2009 Division II Final on a buzzer beating three in O.T.
This was special because Findlay went undefeated and Tyler Evans, who hit the three, was only in the game because D-2 player of the year Josh Bostic fouled out. The call was everywhere and I was a very lucky announcer.

First day of free agency is a literal free for all with players hoping on planes shortly after getting late night phone calls from interested teams. Riiggghhhtt.

Remember in 2003 when Jeff Posey signed with the Bills at about 12:01 EST. That was probably the fastest negotiation in NFL history.

What about Lions coach Jim Schwartz going to Kyle Vandenbosch's house and wooing him to Detroit. I can imagine him waiting outside in his car for the clock to strike midnight. What if another coach had pulled Eddie Murphy's 'banana in the tailpipe' gag from Beverly Hills Cop?

Some Texans fans were already on the air Friday morning complaining that a deal had not gotten done.

This is the very beginning of this process. The team has got to have earned your trust by now that they draft well and, for the most part, get good players through free agency. I remember when they first signed Kevin Walter and many people complained. Now they 'can't live without him.'

Robert and Rich were asking if listeners were OK with letting go of Dunta Robinson. Ask me when we're on the road trying to stop Mark Sanchez on a final drive in October. It's a bit too early to get bent out of shape about these things.

Remember, the Texans brass is hardly perfect but they do have mountains of information of this stuff compared to you. That's not to say you're not entitled to your opinion and it can't be right sometimes.

Last year they needed RB help for Slaton. The draft picks they wanted were off the board when they wanted to make their move. And Chris Brown was not exactly a smashing success as a consistent threat.

Give this offseason a little time to marinate and we'll see how it goes.

I loved the Gold Medal hockey game. I was on the edge of my seat. I jumped off the couch when Parise scored the tying goal. But when Crosby knocked in the game winner I felt no pain.

My test for how much of a fan you are of a team or situation involves measuring the amount of pain you feel in a loss. Anyone can jump on a bandwagon but how do you feel when it spins out? When the Texans lose I'm pretty beat up. After the USA lost I simply fired up the barbecue and cooked dinner.

We're starting to get some complaint calls about the Rockets not playing hard enough or just well enough. This year for the organization is like playing at the YMCA when there is no one waiting. The pressure is off because no one really expected anything. It's like the whole administration gets a pass because of Yao and TMac. The players certainly don't have the same feeling because you never know when you can be shipped out or left out of the future plans.

Certain things have become too important. Wine had become too important. Athletics for sub 6-year-olds have become too important. And information on NFL teams prior to the draft has become over analyzed and over interpreted. How else can you explain the reaction to Rick Smith's "you can't keep everyone" comment in describing the Texans free agency situation.

Because Smith made the comment in the same conversation that involved Kevin Walter the national media thought it meant Walter was gone. And you wonder why there is such a thing as 'coach-speak.' Media take little phrases and blow them up into huge headlines, especially on slow news days.