News: BTB: Hurricane Harvey means Cowboys likely to have surprise guests this week as Texans fly

[NewsBot]

Hurricane Harvey is forcing the Houston Texans to alter their plans.

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past week, you are aware of the impact that Hurricane Harvey on the Texas coast. There is severe flooding and devastation throughout the region and the last thing anyone in the area needs to worry about is football.

The Houston Texans played their third preseason contest in New Orleans this weekend and rather than making an attempt to return to the Bayou City the team will instead fly into Dallas. It is not known when the Texans will find themselves able to return to their own facilities.

Mother nature is not doing anything to make it easy for the team to return to its own facilities in the near future. With Harvey stalled in the area there is no relief in sight from the flooding. Rains are forecast throughout the upcoming week.

While the worst of the storm surge had ended by midday Saturday, the coastal flooding threat was due to increase as already-swollen rivers and bayous get pounded with heavy rain, CNN meteorologist Michael Guy said. Sea water pushed onto the shore also won't recede quickly, he said, meaning "this is going to be a long, ongoing flood event."
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Although head coach Bill O’Brien states that he is unaware of any specific plans, he is certain that something will be worked out to accommodate his squad.

“I don't know the ins and outs," he said when asked about possible places to practice. "I'm sure there are plenty of places. I'm sure we could probably work with the Cowboys to use their facility. I'm not privy to that information right now." - Bill O’Brien
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It is hard to imagine that the Dallas Cowboys would not be willing to come to an arrangement to help out their cross-state rivals. The Jones family has great respect for Texans owner Bob McNair and it is likely that something has already been arranged.

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton confirmed that the Texans and Saints had discussions earlier this week regarding the possibility of New Orleans serving as host for Houston should it become necessary.

Still, an arrangement with Dallas was more logical with the two teams slated to meet in Houston for the annual wrap up contest that traditionally ends preseason football for the two franchises. With the Texans already in Dallas it would be a simple matter for the Cowboys to host the game originally scheduled to take place in Houston.

It may be a day or two for official world to be announced but it looks all for all the world like the Cowboys will be sharing facilities with the Houston Texans over the next few days and hosting them on Thursday night if need be.

Depending on how events in Houston play out, the Texans could find themselves looking at an even longer sojourn than the upcoming week.

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