Texans in trade discussions over top pick

INDIANAPOLIS – Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush might not land with the Houston Texans after all.

Texans general manager Charley Casserly said Sunday that the Texans have been talking to teams about possibly trading the first pick in the 2006 draft.

It has been widely speculated the Heisman Trophy winning running back out of Southern California would end up with the Texans because they recently gave quarterback David Carr a three-year contract extension.

The Texans, who finished 2-14 last season, have multiple needs that might be filled with one major move.

“There’s clearly players at the top of this draft that are marquee players,” Casserly said. “Players that are impact players, players that are going to go to the Pro Bowl, players that are going to sell tickets. We’re going to get offers for this pick. We’ve already had discussions with teams. There’s value in our pick.

“Whether it’s Reggie Bush, Vince Young or Matt Leinart, those three players are going to produce trade offers. We are definitely going to have some choices come draft day.”

Holmgren’s move

Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren has told the competition committee that he intends to step down from the committee.

Two prominent committee members, Atlanta Falcons general manager Rich McKay and Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian, said Holmgren’s decision had nothing to do with his criticism of the officiating this year.

Holmgren said he erred in November when he released information from an NFL memo that officials made two incorrect calls in the Seahawks’ game against the New York Giants. After the Super Bowl, Holmgren again questioned several calls in the 21-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I think Mike works hard and has a lot of responsibilities,” McKay said. “They went to the Super Bowl this year, and I think he needs a little time off. I didn’t think it was driven by the calls on Super Bowl Sunday, I really didn’t.”

Tied up

Defensive lineman Mike Kudla came into the combine hoping to break the weight lifting record set by Isaac Sopoaga of Hawaii in 2004. He settled for a tie.

At the combine, players are tested by the number of bench press repetitions they do at 225 pounds. Kudla did 45, initially thinking he broke Olshansky’s record by two.

“I thought I had it, but right after the guy from Denver said you tied it,” Kudla said. “I had 46 right there, but I couldn’t quite get that last inch up.”

Linebacker A.J. Hawk, a teammate of Kudla’s at Ohio State, said he was surprised Kudla didn’t do more. Kudla’s personal best came last summer when he lifted the 225-pound bar 52 times.