Brian Gaine has had a long journey to the top.

After 19 years serving in various roles in the personnel departments of several NFL teams [url=http://www.sanfrancisco49ersteamonline.com/deion-sanders-jersey]Deion Sanders Jersey Limited[/url] , Gaine is the one calling the shots now.

”I started at the bottom and worked my way to the top at every level of every organization that I’ve been in,” said Gaine, who was introduced as the Houston Texans’ general manager on Wednesday.

Gaine spent time as a player for three seasons before turning to the other side of the game in 1999 as a scout with the New York Jets. He has also worked with Dallas (2005-07), Miami (2008-13), Houston (2014-16) and Buffalo (2017) – most recently as the vice president of player personnel.

”I do believe, with a great amount of humility, I’ve been in five different organizations, so I have a unique perspective on what it has taken to win and what it has taken to achieve,” Gaine said. ”I’ve had a chance to play a small part in going to the playoffs and winning division titles in each of those organizations. But most importantly, I think it requires good people, people that love football and are passionate about winning. Equally, a good process.

”I’ve seen varying processes in terms of how to build a roster and how to build a championship-caliber team, and I hope to implement some of those things here at the Texans.”

When Gaine last worked for the Texans [url=http://www.billscheapstore.com/tremaine-edmunds-jersey-cheap]Tremaine Edmunds Bills Jersey[/url] , he served as the director of pro personnel in 2014 and then as the director of player personnel for two years. Heading into this new role with Houston, Gaine said he will work collaboratively with Texans coach Bill O’Brien, who recently received a four-year extension.

”What you see on Sundays obviously is the result of player acquisition and coaching, but there’s a process that’s involved in terms of getting to Sunday,” he said. ”Bill and I are very philosophically aligned in terms of how to do that, how to build a right program, how to build a right culture, and it’s not just the football roster, but it’s also the football operation and that requires every aspect that touches the game and touches the locker room.

”All those aspects of the football operation, Bill and I are philosophically aligned in terms of how to run it and how to do it.”

One position on the Texans’ roster that Gaine won’t have to worry much about is quarterback – once Deshaun Watson returns from injury.

Watson tore a knee ligament during a practice on Nov. 2, but quickly established himself as an exciting playmaker. He finished his rookie season passing for 1,699 yards and 19 touchdowns – the most TD throws in a quarterback’s first seven career games since 1970.

”He’s certainly a foundational piece for us, in terms of what we can build around [url=www.chicagobearsteamonline.com/walter-payton-jersey]Walter Payton Jersey Youth[/url] ,” Gaine said. ”It certainly would be an advantage for any general manager coming into a team to have a quarterback in place that you believe in, that you know that can help you win football games.”

Having a high-caliber player such as Watson at their disposal, Gaine – who has been evaluating players since arriving back in Houston – understands they have to put pieces around him to help him succeed on the field.

Some of that will be done through free agency, but also in the draft, in which the Texans will not have a pick in the first or second rounds this year.

”We will pursue every avenue to improve this roster, as it relates to the draft, to free agency, to waiver claims, to trades, to practice squad steals, to tryouts, workouts,” Gaine said. ”Whatever we have to do to upgrade the roster in any aspect of the operation [url=http://www.titanscheapstore.com/rashaan-evans-jersey-cheap]Rashaan Evans Jersey[/url] , we’ll continue to do that. If free agency presents the opportunity for us to add a championship piece to the roster, we certainly will pursue that.”

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AP NFL website: 鈥?Nick Foles threw a deep pass into the wind on the first play from scrimmage against the Falcons, LeGarrette Blount scored the only touchdown on fourth down and wide receiver Nelson Agholor ran 21 yards on a new play.The Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) are aggressive no matter what.They’ll need that approach when they face the Minnesota Vikings (14-3) and their top-ranked defense in the NFC championship game on Sunday.“You’d probably call me unorthodox with some of the decisions I’ve made on fourth downs and going for it, 2-point conversions, things like that,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson said Wednesday.“Sometimes you just don’t do the norm, you just don’t do what everybody expects you to do and sometimes that can help you. I’m calculated by it, but at the same time, I’m going to make sure that I’m putting our guys in a good position.”Foles underthrew the long pass to Torrey Smith to start the divisional playoff game, but a pass interference call gave the Eagles a 42-yard gain to the Falcons 25.Jay Ajayi fumbled on the next play or perhaps the game wouldn’t have come down to a defensive stand at the end to preserve Philadelphia’s 15-10 win.“Take a shot,” Pederson said explaining his decision to throw long into a stiff wind.On the touchdown drive early in the second quarter, Philadelphia faced third-and-3 from the Falcons 24. Foles faked a pitch to running back Corey Clement and handed off to Agholor on an inside counter with Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson pulling out and leading the way. Agholor took it to the Falcons 3. It was the first time Pederson called the play this season.“Coach has just had a knack of seemingly calling those at the right time,” offensive coordinator Frank Reich said.“It comes up different every week. We really work well as a staff together in game planning. Sometimes we think we like something and we go out on the practice field and it doesn’t quite look like it’s ready. So [url=http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/davante-adams-jersey]Davante Adams Packers Jersey[/url] , we have to keep it in the crock pot for another week or start over with a new recipe.”Three plays later, tight end Trey Burton lined up at fullback and Blount followed his block into the end zone for a 1-yard TD run. Pederson didn’t think twice about going for it instead of kicking a game-tying field goal.“The ball was just inside the 1-yard line, and we had confidence to go for it in that situation,” Pederson said. “We were real close and the guys did a great job.”During the regular season, only Green Bay (28) went for it on fourth down more than Philadelphia (26). The Eagles converted 17 times for 65.4 percent, third-best behind New Orleans (80 percent on 12 for 15) and Jacksonville (76.9 percent on 10 for 13). Minnesota is 1 for 7 on fourth down, fewest attempts in the league.“You always want to be aggressive,” Foles said. “I love Coach’s calls.”AP NFL website: .