The Texans have completed their second year of training camp at The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia, and now "have a decision to make" on whether to "exercise a third year option" to hold camp there in '19, according to Aaron Wilson of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. The "cooler weather, deluxe hotel and facilities and the camaraderie built by being away from home are all major pluses" of training at The Greenbrier. The hot weather in Houston is "rough, of course, but it's expensive to hold camp" at the West Virginia resort and the Texans "like the upgrades they've made to their weight room." Ultimately, it "will be up to" Texans Owner Bob McNair and Vice Chair & COO Cal McNair to decide. Texans coach Bill O'Brien said, "We'll talk about that as an organization" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/8). Texans DE J.J. Watt said that "getting away from the heat was a relief." In West Virginia, Tyler Jackson notes in "addition to the heat relief, the trip halfway across the country allowed the players to eliminate outside distractions that they may face in Houston." The Texans "held fewer practices" at The Greenbrier this year than last. The decision on whether to exercise the third-year option will "likely be made after the season, but O’Brien has indicated he’s been pleased with the people, the fans and the accommodations that have been made for the team during its stays" (Beckley REGISTER-HERALD, 8/8).
ANYONE WATCHING? In Houston, Brian Smith notes the Texans for the first weeks of training camp were "far away in the small-town mountains of West Virginia." That is "clearly the main reason there’s so little local buzz for an NFL team that features one of the most promising young names in pro football" in QB Deshaun Watson. It is "expensive and challenging" for the Houston media to "make it all the way to The Greenbrier." It is "even more difficult and expensive for local fans." A few days into workouts, crowds "were minimal and sparse -- and that’s being nice" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/8).
