It’s safe to assume Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett won’t be utilizing the ‘save forever’ function on his DVR when it comes to the fourth episode of the HBO series Hard Knocks: Houston Texans, which aired Tuesday night.
Eight days after Mallett was informed he’d lost the training camp battle for the Texans’ starting job and five days after he overslept and missed a practice, Mallett’s rough week was featured by Hard Knocks producers.
A longer version of the previous episode‘s scene featuring Texans coach Bill O’Brien informing Mallett and Brian Hoyer of his decision to name Hoyer the starter aired this week. After O’Brien left the room, cameras showed Texans offensive coordinator George Godsey addressing both quarterbacks about the need to stay ready and do whatever is asked to help the team.
When Godsey finished talking, Mallett left the room without acknowledging Hoyer or Godsey.
Fast forward 20 or so minutes in another strong Hard Knocks episode and the reports that Mallett overslept last Thursday are confirmed. In one scene O’Brien is shown on the practice field telling a team security official not to check on Mallet and to call back a team official who’d been dispatched to check on him.
“I wouldn’t even try to call him,” cameras caught O’Brien saying. “Just let it go. He’s 27 years old. Tell Khalil (Reed, listed on the Texans’ website as a security and player engagement manager) to stop. He doesn’t need to do that s--t. Turn around and come back. F--k that.”
In the next scene Mallett is shown entering the office of general manager Rick Smith and discussing his missed practice.
“My phone turned off, man,” Mallett said. “I’m not about to (lie) or bulls--t you like that. I made a mistake. The timing f-----g looks so great. I went and got a battery alarm clock so it won’t happen again. I can’t even explain...when I woke up I was like, ‘You’ve gotta be kidding me.’”
Mallett told Smith multiple times he wasn’t mad about being named the backup and that he just picked the wrong day to have his phone go dead.
After Smith told Mallett he needed to “take ownership,” Mallett responded by saying, “No question. I am not blaming technology. I didn’t get up. I’m not trying to make excuses to you, to Bill, to anybody. You don’t gotta worry about that s--t no more.”
Said Smith: “That’s a strong statement there. We need that consistency. We have to know we can count on you. If you need something, come holler at me. You can come here (any time).”
As the scene ends, Mallett tells Smith he’s been “feeling awkward just walking around the building.”
Maybe the HBO cameras made it worse.