HOUSTON (AP) — A person with direct knowledge of the deal says the Houston Texans have agreed to a new contract with left tackle Duane Brown.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the deal had not been announced.
The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Brown has started all but four games since the Texans drafted him with the 26th overall pick in 2008. Brown earned Associated Press All-Pro second team honors in 2011 after helping the Texans set a franchise record for yards rushing (2,448).
The Houston Chronicle and KRIV-TV first reported Brown's deal. Brown's agent, Andy Ross, did not immediately return a phone message.
The Texans (No. 6 in the AP Pro32) play San Francisco (No. 4) in their second preseason game on Saturday at Reliant Stadium. Quarterback Matt Schaub and outside linebacker Connor Barwin also remain unsigned beyond this season.
Houston will break in new, full-time starters on the right side of the line, but Brown has proven to be a durable anchor on the left side, starting all 16 regular-season games in three of his first four seasons. Schaub called Brown the best left tackle in the league before training camp began.
Brown was suspended four games in 2010 for a positive test for a supplement on the league's list of banned substances. He acknowledged then that he made a "naive" mistake and was scared straight by "the longest four weeks of my life."
Offensive line coach John Benton says Brown has shown a new level of maturity and leadership since returning from the suspension.
Brown seems to have luck on his side, too, lately. Early in camp, Brown got tangled in a pile and came out limping. An MRI exam showed only a bone bruise in his lower left leg, and Brown was back at practice the following week.
Brown married radio host and MTV personality Devon "Devi Dev" Anjelica in Southern California in July and the two went on a weeklong honeymoon in Thailand. His wife acknowledged him on Twitter soon after news of his contract leaked out.
"Congrats to the man I love (at)DuaneBrown76 on a well deserved new contract," she wrote. "(asterisk)Houston Texas, home of the Texans.(asterisk)"
Online: http://bigstory.ap.org/NFL-Pro32 and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
