HOUSTON — The Houston Texans have hired Brian Gaine – a former player at the University of Maine – as their general manager and extended the contract of Coach Bill O’Brien through 2022.

The team announced the deals Saturday. Gaine signed a five-year contract and O’Brien was extended for four years.

Gaine, a tight end at Maine who graduated from the school in 1995, brings 19 years of NFL personnel experience to Houston. He spent the 2017 season as the Buffalo Bills’ vice president of player personnel. He also served as the Texans’ director of player personnel from 2015-16 and director of pro personnel in 2014.

Texans owner Bob McNair calls Gaine an “incredibly smart, hardworking individual that understands the importance of good communication.”

Houston finished 4-12 this season after consecutive AFC South titles the previous two years. O’Brien’s 31 career victories in four years are tied for the most by a coach in franchise history.

STEELERS: At the time the score looked like a misprint.

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Jacksonville 30. Pittsburgh 9. A result so stunningly one-sided Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger stood in the locker room on that gray October afternoon only half-jokingly wondered if he still had “it.”

Throwing five interceptions, two of which the Jaguars returned for momentum-swinging, confidence-sapping touchdowns, will do that.

Yet Roethlisberger insists he’s not out for revenge in the rematch on Sunday when the Jaguars (11-6) visit Heinz Field in the divisional round with a trip to the AFC title game on the line.

There’s too much at stake for him to settle some sort of personal vendetta.

Only Jacksonville isn’t “anyone.” Not anymore. Not after the NFL’s top-ranked defense proved that breakout performance three months ago was a sign of things to come.

The Steelers (13-3) entered the season as one of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl. Despite a fall filled with drama (much of it self-created) Pittsburgh was really only pushed around once. By the Jaguars.

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Take Jacksonville lightly at your peril.

“Some people come in thinking a team may be easier by their record or tougher by their record, but we know that can’t be on our mind,” Pittsburgh running back Le’Veon Bell said. “I think that kind of got us in the first game because the Jacksonville Jaguars, they’re normally not a good team but those guys got players this year.”

Vikings: Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is still expected to back up starter Case Keenum during Sunday’s NFC divisional playoff against the Saints, but Coach Mike Zimmer kept the door open for Sam Bradford to be activated.

PANTHERS: Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis says the 2018 season will be his last.


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