HOUSTON - The Houston Texans are nearing a deal to trade quarterback Matt Schaub to the Oakland Raiders, two people familiar with the negotiations said Friday. Kolo Toure Liverpool Jersey . The people spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the deal was not yet complete. Schaub must still pass a physical in order to finalize the trade. ESPN first reported the trade and said the Raiders would give up a late-round pick in this years draft for Schaub. Schaub was Houstons starter from 2007 until last season, when he was benched in favour of Case Keenum after a terrible start to the year. The Texans were expected to contend for a Super Bowl last season, but instead became the NFLs worst team, sinking to 2-14, which tied the worst record in franchise history. It was clear after last season that Schaub didnt have a future in Houston, but his departure looked to be imminent on Thursday night when the Texans signed veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Houston also has the first overall pick in this years draft, which includes top quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel. The pending acquisition of Schaub is the latest attempt by general manager Reggie McKenzie to find a quarterback to lead the Raiders back into relevance after 11 straight years without a winning record or playoff berth. Since dumping Carson Palmer last spring, McKenzie traded a 2014 fifth-round pick for Matt Flynn before cutting him early last season; spent a fourth-rounder last year on Tyler Wilson before losing him off the practice squad to Tennessee; and signed Matt McGloin as an undrafted free agent. McGloin showed flashes in his six starts last season but is viewed more as a potential backup than a starter. The only other quarterbacks on Oaklands roster are Terrelle Pryor, whose running style does not fit what the coaching staff wants to do offensively, and veteran Trent Edwards, who was signed earlier this off-season. The move puts less pressure on Oakland to use a high draft pick on a quarterback in May. The Raiders pick fifth overall in the draft but could use that selection to fill another hole. With loads of salary cap room to start the league year, the Raiders have targeted veterans with only one of their acquisitions younger than 29. That appears to be part of an effort to turn the team around quickly. McKenzie and coach Dennis Allen oversaw back-to-back four-win seasons since arriving in Oakland and owner Mark Davis is running out of patience with this regime. They are hoping last year was an aberration for Schaub. While the Texans had plenty of problems, Schaubs poor play was perhaps the biggest. The Texans won their first two games before Schaub began to struggle and he threw six interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns in the next three games. He started the sixth game of the season and left with an injury before being replaced in the starting lineup by Keenum, an undrafted free agent who spent 2012 on the practice squad. Keenum was injured late in the season, forcing Houston to go back to Schaub for the last two games. He didnt fare any better than he had before he was benched and he threw four interceptions combined in the last two games as Houston wrapped up the season with a 14-game skid. The 32-year-old is a two-time Pro Bowler, who last made the game in 2012. He had been solid for the Texans since taking over the job after being traded from Atlanta in 2007, but his best seasons came in 2009 and 2012 when he started each game. In 2009, he led the NFL in yards passing (4,770), completions (396) and attempts (583) and was fifth in touchdown passes (29). In 2012, he threw for 4,008 yards with 22 touchdowns and 12 interceptions to help Houston to its second straight AFC South title. He spent three seasons with the Falcons as Michael Vicks backup before joining the Texans, and has thrown for more than 24,000 yards with 130 touchdowns in his 10-year career. AP Sports Writer Josh Dubow contributed to this report Rickie Lambert Liverpool Jersey . But there was even more to like at nights end, after Ladds late-game equalizer and shootout winner lifted the Jets to a 5-4 win over the San Jose Sharks. Ladd tied the game at 4-4 with 1:43 remaining on a quick shot from the left circle with Blake Wheeler screening goalie Antti Niemi. Adam Lallana Liverpool Jersey .com) - Milan Lucic potted a pair of goals in support of a lightly tested Niklas Svedberg in the Boston Bruins 3-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils.(SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Knicks havent prevailed on the road since spoiling LeBron James homecoming in Cleveland on Oct. 30. The Knicks have lost nine in a row on the road and will play their next three games away from home, starting with Tuesdays matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. New York is only 4-18 overall, only two games better than the NBA-worst Philadelphia 76ers, and will also make stops in San Antonio and Boston. The Knicks suffered their eighth straight loss Sunday versus the Portland Trail Blazers, 103-99, and were led by Carmelo Anthonys 23 points and 10 rebounds. It was Anthonys first double-double of the season and hes sixth in the NBA in scoring with 23.2 points per game. J.R. Smith scored 20 points off the bench and Amare Stoudemire ended with 16 and 10 rebounds. Iman Shumpert had 11 points and the Knicks made 51.9 percent from the field (5-of-19 from 3-point range). New York had a 97-95 lead with 3 1/2 minutes left on Anthonys layup, then the Blazers closed the game on an 8-2 run. Theres a level of attention to detail that were still below in order to win these games, said Knicks head coach Derek Fisher. Were obviously doing enough to be in the game and have a chance to win. Seven of New Yorks eight consecutive loosses have been by seven points or less. Lazar Markovic Jersey. The Knicks are 0-5 on the first game of a back-to-back. The Pelicans went 1-2 on a recent road trip and won for the second time in seven tries with Sundays 104-87 triumph over Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday scored 23 and 22 points, respectively, with Davis pulling down six rebounds with two blocks. Ryan Anderson and Tyreke Evans scored 11 points apiece and Omer Asik collected eight points and 11 boards for New Orleans, which limited Bryant to 14 points and shot 51.8 percent. The Pelicans, who never trailed after a 9-7 lead early on, survived with 16 turnovers and held the Lakers under 20 points in both the first and third quarters. New Orleans also had a 50-34 rebounding advantage. We played a great team game, said Pelicans head coach Monty Williams. Cant say enough about our ball movement. This is a great win for our team. New Orleans is 5-2 at home and will play the first of two meetings with the Knicks this season. The Knicks will host the Pelicans at MSG on Jan. 19 and split two meetings last season with each team winning on the road. The Knicks have won nine of the last 11 games in this series and five straight trips to the Big Easy. cheap nfl jerseys authentic jerseys nfl wholesale wholesale jerseys cheap jerseyswholesale jerseys ' ' '
