A Sea Of Red

Posted: **June 9th, 2007, 12:33 am**

Gado's absence not a bad one

By Adam Schefter
NFL Analyst

Adam Schefter's "Around the League" reports and commentaries can be seen regularly on NFL Total Access.

(June 7, 2007) -- Some players miss offseason conditioning drills because they want a new contract. Others are unhappy with the direction of their teams. But Houston running back Samkon Gado has the greatest excuse in National Football League history.

Gado missed four weeks of conditioning drills in Houston's training facility because he has been ... studying for his medical boards.

Samkon Gado is after more than just touchdowns this offseason.
There's a sentence that might never have been written before, ever.

Gado is scheduled to take the MCATs July 13 in Columbia, S.C., with the hopes of becoming an orthopedic surgeon after his football career.

"I wanted to take the MCATs in May," Gado said Thursday, "but when I saw the size of our playbook, I pushed it back to July."

Texans head coach Gary Kubiak has been as accommodating as he needs to be for Gado, who is one of the great men in the NFL. Essentially, in Gado he trusts. It also has helped that Gado has put himself through his own rigorous workouts in South Carolina, when he wasn't studying three hours a day for the MCATs.

"This is the best shape I've ever been in," Gado said. "I promise you, I wasn't sitting around South Carolina just studying and doing nothing. Now that I'm back here training, it's like I'm taking a break."

Upon returning to Houston, Gado also has been reunited with his former Packers teammate Ahman Green, one of the Texans' two high-priced, high-profile acquistions.

"As soon as he came in, I called him and said, 'Man, I'm trying to start a career here, leave me alone!'" Gado joked. "No, I love Ahman. I told him that it's a blessing to have him here. I don't say that because I'm supposed to. I say that because I mean it. Anything that he has done I want to do because I want to have the success in this league that he has."

Gado's success goes beyond the league. He is a student of the game, and of medicine, which he began learning about when he was a pre-med major at Liberty University. Gado will face plenty of tests in training camp. But no test will be bigger than the one he faces July 13.

Posted: **June 9th, 2007, 7:08 am**

great story. samkon gado is just a really great guy with the right priorities.

Posted: **June 9th, 2007, 7:22 pm**

Anybody know what Gado's position on the depth chart is measuring up to be for this season?

Has he moved up to be a possible #2 behind Green or will he be in more of a third place position?

Posted: **June 9th, 2007, 8:05 pm**

Don't they usually decide after training camp? If you go to the Texans site, he's 4th behind Green, Lundy and Dayne but hopefully he'll move up b/c of his hard work!!

Posted: **June 10th, 2007, 8:48 am**

It's only a matter of time before Green and Dayne both get hurt. Lundy has proven to be ineffective. Gado has a great chance at getting some good carries this year.

Posted: **June 10th, 2007, 11:58 am**

he'd have a better shot in Philly

Posted: **June 10th, 2007, 12:59 pm**

PAmedic wrote:he'd have a better shot in Philly

You not kidding....but we got Tony Hunt....that at least make you happy.

Posted: **June 11th, 2007, 10:14 am**

I saw Sam here in Lynchburg at Dinner on Friday...is that a bad thing?

Posted: **June 11th, 2007, 10:17 am**

Hold My Own wrote:I saw Sam here in Lynchburg at Dinner on Friday...is that a bad thing?

As long as he wasn't slicing steak at the 'Golden Corral' again, I'd say no, not a bad thing.

Posted: **June 11th, 2007, 10:23 am**

K...i didnt know if he was supposed to be at camp right now or not and that meant he was let go

Posted: **June 11th, 2007, 2:07 pm**

The Texans are having their Mini-Camp this week before taking a month off before Training Camp.

In addition to Ahman Green, Lynchburg native Ron Dayne and Former Wahoo Wali Lundy, Samkon will also have to be battle Chester Taylor for a roster spot. It will be real interesting with everyone other than Green competing for 2 or 3 openings. Its far from certain that Samkon will make the team. But I like his chances.

Posted: **June 11th, 2007, 6:08 pm**

Hold My Own wrote:I saw Sam here in Lynchburg at Dinner on Friday...is that a bad thing?

Looks like there was a friends wedding he attended (via Facebook).

Posted: **June 11th, 2007, 6:12 pm**

Sly Fox wrote:The Texans are having their Mini-Camp this week before taking a month off before Training Camp.

In addition to Ahman Green, Lynchburg native Ron Dayne and Former Wahoo Wali Lundy, Samkon will also have to be battle Chester Taylor for a roster spot. It will be real interesting with everyone other than Green competing for 2 or 3 openings. Its far from certain that Samkon will make the team. But I like his chances.

Where did Chester Taylor come from? and I thought it was Chris Taylor and I thought they let him go? Yeeeesh, where have I been? SuperJon....not one word from you!!

Posted: **June 11th, 2007, 10:17 pm**

It is Chris Taylor and he is still with the team at this point. Kubiak apparently really thinks he has serious potential.

Posted: **June 12th, 2007, 2:36 am**

Lynchburg native Ron Dayne

When did he live in Lynchburg?

Posted: **June 12th, 2007, 3:08 am**

He was born and grew up in Lynchburg. In fact, he played in a TRBC soccer league that I coached in for Christian Service. He was thin & fast back then and his team beat my squad. He moved away in high school to New Jersey but he still has a ton of family in the 'Burg. I've joked with him about the soccer.

When Samkon arrived in Houston, Ron & Wali had lockers right next to him and were probably the only guys in the stadium who knew immediately about LU & Lynchburg.

Posted: **June 12th, 2007, 8:14 pm**

As I type (8:13p e.s.t.) they're featuring the Houston Texans mini-camp on the NFL channel

Posted: **June 13th, 2007, 9:00 am**

VIA ESPN.COM

Says Green: "Regardless of my age, if I have a good back behind me, I'm going to have a big smile on my face. Right now it's Ron Dayne and me [in Houston] and I was happy when I heard they had re-signed him. When you have two running backs, you have a chance to be successful because they'll make each other better and they'll keep each other fresh. We're not robots out there. It helps to have some help."

No love for Sam

Posted: **June 13th, 2007, 9:25 am**

pfff. I wouldn't be too worried about Ron Dayne.

Posted: **June 14th, 2007, 9:37 am**

I'm pretty sure they just said there was going to be a special on Sam on ESPN First Take.

Posted: **June 14th, 2007, 9:52 am**

Actually Dayne was the only one of the Texan RBs to be productive at all last season (hence the need to vastly overpay for Green). In fairness, the Texans O-line was beyond hideous due to injuries.

Posted: **June 14th, 2007, 10:10 am**

SuperJon wrote:I'm pretty sure they just said there was going to be a special on Sam on ESPN First Take.

When?

Posted: **June 14th, 2007, 10:12 am**

I'm guessing between now and noon.

Posted: **June 14th, 2007, 10:14 am**

Posted: **June 14th, 2007, 11:23 am**

They just said Sam would be on next.

If you can't see it now, it'll be on around 1:30 again.