Ryan's Story

QB Ryan Mallet seems to be a different player since the Pats traded him to the Houston Texans last year. He created quite a stir when he missed the team's charter flight to Miami the other day. He ended up buying his own ticket and flying commercially to get to the game.

Coach Bill O'Brien said they are handling it internally, but they don't have too many options. If they release Mallet, they won't have a backup to Brian Hoyer.

This is a critical season for Mallet. He already has a reputation for showing up late during training camp. If he ever did it with the Pats, the fans never heard about it.

Mallet seems to be sulking after losing his starting job to Hoyer. Things are not working out for him in Houston.

The lack of good quarterbacks in the NFL is working in his favor.