By Joe Platania

It is well known that the Houston Texans have one of the AFC's up-and-coming squads, good enough to be mentioned in the Super Bowl conversation.

But there must be something in the air down there -- its renowned smog, perhaps? -- that hasn't exactly helped former Texans take to Baltimore very well.

It may be the fact that the Texans are one of two NFL teams that have never beaten the Ravens (Dallas is the other). It could trace back to the fact that the Baltimore Colts -- the second version -- were born in 1953, when a team called the Texans (then based in Dallas) went bankrupt.

Whatever it is, it has led to a few odd moments for ex-Texans in Baltimore.

Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, in town last March for the Ed Block Courage Awards banquet, rolled his eyes and sighed whenever the subject of last year's Divisional Playoff game came up, a contest in which the Ravens eliminated Houston.

As well as fullback Vonta Leach has helped the offense, there were a few instances in last year's team highlight film when he and Ray Rice had visible disagreements about which direction certain plays were going.

Then, there's safety Bernard Pollard, the winner of the media Good Guy award last year. He was presented with a set of boxer shorts to help him, shall we say, cover up certain elements whenever he met with the media.

But things might be changing: during Saturday's stadium practice, ex-Houston wideout Jacoby Jones caught a touchdown pass and celebrated with the crowd, an exorcism of sorts.

"This is the first time they cheered for me instead of booing me," Jones told the team Web site. "It was fun. I felt good in that purple, being part of the purple nation. It felt good."

Posted Aug. 6, 2012