Speed Reads....

The Texans will be wearing red helmets for their Week 9 home game against the Eagles, thanks to the NFL "allowing teams to wear a second helmet in 2022." The Eagles game "will be part of Amazon’s Thursday night slate." The Patriots and Saints also plan to wear alternate helmets in 2022 (NBCSPORTS.com, 7/12).

Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman is one of this year’s recipients of the Joe Lapchick Character Award. The award is presented to "those who have shown the character traits of Lapchick." Ackerman and the other recipients will be honored at a luncheon on Sept. 16 in N.Y. (AP, 7/12).

Gillette Stadium is employing Evolv Technology's weapons detection security screening tech for Patriots and Revolution games at the venue. The Evolv Express system uses sensor technology combined with AI and analytics to help spot weapons and other potential threats (Gillette Stadium).