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HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans chose offensive tackle Tytus Howard of Alabama State with the 23rd overall pick in the NFL draft Thursday night http://www.detroitlionsteamonline.com/jahlani-tavai-jersey , hoping he can help protect banged-up quarterback Deshaun Watson.Watson was sacked an NFL-leading 62 times as Houston won the AFC South but lost to the Colts in the wild-card round. Watson played every game in his second year after having season-ending knee surgery as a rookie, but was hurt for a chunk of the season while dealing with a partially collapsed lung and broken ribs from taking hit after hit.General manager Brian Gaine said they became more impressed with Howard as the scouting process progressed.“I felt like with each interval he was able to pass each segment with flying colors,” Gaine said. “He made a very favorable impression as far the intangible profile, the person, the character that matched with the physical ability and the physical traits. We felt like he checked all the boxes.”It was the just the second time Houston had selected an offensive lineman in the first round. The last was left tackle Duane Brown with the 26th pick in 2008.Howard was a quarterback in high school before growing into his 6-foot-5, 322-pound frame.He said working with the strength staff at Alabama State helped him transform his body, and he got a little help in that area from his fiancée’s cooking.“My favorite would be her chicken spaghetti,” he said. “I used to eat that back to back nights. I’d eat the whole pan.”He has the versatility the Texans were looking for after starting at both right and left tackle in college and Gaine said he could also play both guard positions.He was named to the SWAC All-Conference team last season after starting 10 games at right tackle.“The way we look at Tytus is we see him as an offensive lineman … so he’s going to have a chance to compete for a starting role, I just don’t know what position it’s going to be,” Gaine said.The Texans had three picks in the first two rounds. They come a year after they didn’t have any picks in the first or second rounds because they shipped their top two picks to get rid of Brock Osweiler and trade up to get Watson in 2017.Howard can’t wait to begin working with Watson, who was the 12th pick in the 2017 draft.“I feel like with my athleticism I’ll be able to protect him longer since he’s more mobile and moves around a lot more,” Howard said. “I feel like me and him are going to build a great relationship while I’m there and help win some games for the Houston Texans.”Howard’s experience at quarterback in high school gives him a unique perspective when it comes to protecting quarterbacks in his current position.“I know how being sacked feels, so I try my best not to give up any sacks and I try to play long as I can to keep the guy from hitting the quarterback,” he said.The Texans believe Howard has a high upside since he’s only been an offensive lineman for a few years and are looking forward to seeing him develop in their system.“He has the height, the length http://www.houstontexansteamonline.com/kahale-warring-jersey , the size, the strength, he lifted well, he ran well, he moved well,” Gaine said. “And then with our infrastructure here in terms of our strength and conditioning program, our sports science element, our player wellness, our training room, our nutrition program, he’s going to have all these great benefits to really maximize his potential. Justin Timberlake was asked about a bromance with Tom Brady, a possible `N Sync reunion and serenaded with ”Happy Birthday,” but the superstar didn’t get a question about the wardrobe malfunction that rocked the world during a press conference Thursday to promote his return to the Super Bowl halftime show.

Timberlake ruled out any chance his former boy band `N Sync would join him Sunday or other potential special guests would show up – including Janet Jackson herself. Timberlake revealed only that his band, The Tennessee Kids, would join him onstage and predicted a show that will include things ”never done before.”

”It’s a moment where you have the opportunity to bring so many people together through what I think is the greatest art form http://www.indianapoliscoltsteamonline.com/bobby-okereke-jersey , which is music,” he said. ”And so that has been sort of the ethos of inspiration behind putting the set list together.”

”And, you know, I like to make dance music so I hope everyone is dancing,” he added.

Timberlake is returning to the halftime show 14 years after the ”wardrobe malfunction” with Jackson caused a national controversy. He was not asked about the incident during the press availability.

Timberlake was Jackson’s special guest during her performance when he ripped off a piece of her clothing and revealed her bare, pierced nipple. Timberlake later described it as an unintended ”wardrobe malfunction.” CBS, which aired the Super Bowl that year, drew a $550,000 fine from the Federal Communications Commission that was later overturned.

During his 20-minute press conference, Timberlake mentioned Jackson’s name when he spoke about who people thought he would invite as a guest during the halftime show. He also named Jay-Z, Chris Stapleton and `N Sync.

He also admitted he had a ”man-crush” on Brady, the New England Patriots quarterback, complimenting his skills and hair. But when asked if he was rooting for the Patriots or the Philadelphia Eagles, he punted: ”Go, Pack http://www.jacksonvillejaguarsteamonline.com/jawaan-taylor-jersey , go,” he said, referencing the Green Bay Packers, who didn’t make the playoffs at all.

Timberlake will be making his third Super Bowl musical appearance – a record. He first performed in 2001 when `N Sync performed alongside Britney Spears, Aerosmith, Mary J. Blige and Nelly.

He praised Minneapolis-born Prince, calling the late superstar ”in my opinion, the greatest all-around musician I can think of in popular culture.”

”He’s a huge influence on me. … The time that I got to spend around him, with him, talking about music – those are memories that I will take with me forever because he’s always been such a big idol of mine,” Timberlake said.

Timberlake has a new album, ”Man of the Woods,” out Friday and will host a listening party Thursday night at Paisley Park, Prince’s old estate.

”There’s a lot of bucket list things that are happening this week for me and that’s definitely at the top of that list,” he said. ”I get to walk the hallowed http://www.jacksonvillejaguarsteamonline.com/gardner-minshew-ii-jersey , sacred ground of Paisley Park.”

Timberlake turned 37 years old on Wednesday, and some of the media serenaded him by singing ”Happy Birthday” at the Hilton Minneapolis’ Grand Ballroom.

When asked if he would let his son, Silas, perform at the Super Bowl and follow in his footsteps, Timberlake said, ”I’d rather not think about it because he’s about to turn three.”

”But (Silas) did come to rehearsals yesterday and I was shocked at how quickly he could cover 100 yards,” he said.

”Speed runs in our family. I’ve been running routes, too. I just want to throw this out there to (Patriots coach Bill) Belichick, `If all of your receivers go down I’ll be ready, so shoot me a text.”’

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