Texans Make the Big Move, Taking Lineman Boselli First

With face-painted fans shouting his name, Tony Boselli became the Houston Texans’ top pick Monday--the second time an expansion team began building a franchise around him.

“We have a Hall of Famer and we haven’t played a game,” General Manager Charley Casserly said.

After five Pro Bowl seasons as an offensive tackle with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Boselli proved to be too attractive for the Texans to pass up, even at a huge cost.

Hundreds of Texan fans wearing blue-and-red jerseys and helmets with bulls’ horns cheered the choice of Boselli, a former USC standout who missed most of last season because of a shoulder injury.

He seemed equally enthused about joining the new team.

“I’ve been with a group of guys that no one thought could play before,” Boselli said. “The sooner this team comes together and becomes cohesive the sooner we can be good.”

Boselli was the first player chosen by the expansion Jaguars in 1995 and quickly became a dominate offensive lineman. He has given up 151/2 sacks in his seven pro seasons.

The first eight choices came from three teams--the Jaguars, the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens, all of whom had cap problems.

“Obviously Charley knew the teams in cap trouble--us, Baltimore and Jacksonville,” said Terry Bradway, general manager of the Jets, who lost starting right tackle Ryan Young and starting cornerbacks Aaron Glenn and Marcus Coleman.

The Texans, who will play their first game against the New York Giants on Aug. 5 in the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, also took three players from Jacksonville--defensive tackles Seth Payne and Gary Walker were the other selections besides Boselli. Baltimore, the 2001 Super Bowl winner, lost starting linebacker Jamie Sharper and Jermaine Lewis, a top kicker returner.

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New Houston Texans

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