Under ordinary circumstances, an underachieving team firing a coach and making a quarterback change would be headline stuff.
But with the dumpster fire that is the Redskins raging as we speak, the Texans are barely a smoldering trash can.
Interim coach Wade Phillips just said, among other things, that Case Keenum starting at quarterback was a “team decision,” via Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com.
If by “team” he means “owner Bob McNair said so as part of me being an interim coach again,” then yes.
Phillips said that Matt Schaub would likely back up, since T.J. Yates had a back injury. Asked how that happened, Phillips replied “I don’t know. Sitting on the bench, I guess.”
Schaub has come on in relief in two of the last four games, and Phillips said Keenum deserves a chance to show he can work his way out of trouble. Of course, Gary Kubiak making that might is likely a large part of the reason Phillips is interim coach again, as of Monday morning.
Phillips also said he’d discuss playcalling responsibilities with offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, which is a step short of an endorsement.
Phillips is in an odd spot, because he’s going to interview for the head coaching job while trying to bail a leaking ship for three more weeks. He declined to answer whether he’d consider being defensive coordinator again, which makes sense as he’s applying for the head coaching job.
It’s all very awkward. Of course, compared to what’s going on in D.C., it’s barely uncomfortable at all.