HOUSTON -- Mario Williams is living in his house despite the bustle of workers repairing damage from when Hurricane Ike's powerful winds left a tree resting on its roof.
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The rest of the Houston Texans are in a similar situation, preparing for their delayed home opener against Indianapolis in hurricane-damaged Reliant Stadium. Repairs to the retractable roof won't be finished for some time, so they'll play the 100th game in franchise history with the roof open.
That doesn't matter to these road-weary Texans. They're just glad to be home after three tough road losses, with a break between the first and second one that was spent dealing with Ike after it ravaged Southeast Texas on Sept. 13.
"Everything is getting back to normal. I've got guys working and stuff. It's just like anywhere else, where guys got to fix stuff," Williams said gesturing to men furiously working to prepare the stadium for the game Sunday. "We're trying to get stuff done, but it's just good to be back home."
Houston (0-3) can get comfortable here as the Texans play each of their next four games at home after the hurricane rearranged the schedule.
The Texans' return to football at home is only one more sign of recovery in an area that still has a long way to go, but is slowly getting back on track after Ike. Full story
Saints rookie DT Ellis leaves practice
METAIRIE, La. -- New Orleans Saints starting defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis left practice to have his right knee examined.
"He felt it kind of click on him, so we sent him in to have it looked at," Saints coach Sean Payton said following practice. "Hopefully, it's nothing serious."
If Ellis cannot play against Minnesota on Monday night, it would be a blow to a defense expecting to be tested by Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.
Ellis was picked seventh overall in this year's NFL draft and has started New Orleans' first four games.
Judge: FedEx Stadium must provide 'aural content'
WASHINGTON -- The Washington Redskins were ordered to provide deaf and hard-of-hearing fans with "equal access to aural content" in the team's stadium, such as music lyrics, ads and other broadcasts on the public-address system.
This week's court ruling is the first of its kind under the Americans with Disabilities Act and will likely affect other sports venues, said Joseph Espo, a lawyer for three Redskins fans who filed the lawsuit in 2006.
U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams said that since the suit was filed, the Redskins have resolved the "vast majority of the issues" raised by the plaintiffs by captioning play-by-play, emergency information and other content.
Williams ruled the stadium must go further to accommodate the deaf, writing that the Americans With Disabilities Act requires that the team provide "full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations available at FedEx Field."
