Professor Casserly?s Lessons Outline a Course for Living Charley Casserly spent more than 30 years in football, coaching and scouting and eventually running two N.F.L. teams. But Casserly started as a teacher.

A Top Overall Draft Choice Picks Up Speed After a dismal rookie season, Houston?s Mario Williams is playing better and with more confidence for a team that is doing the same.

Top Draft Pick From 2006 Leads Texans Past Broncos Michael Vick asked for leniency in a handwritten letter to the federal judge who sentenced him to 23 months in prison for a dogfighting conspiracy.

N.F.L. ROUNDUP; Chargers Are Allowed to Return Home to Face the Texans Chased from their homes and practice fields by deadly wildfires, the San Diego Chargers will be back at home to play the Houston Texans at Qualcomm Stadium tomorrow as scheduled. The game's date and time had been in doubt because Qualcomm was used as an evacuation center as wildfires swept San Diego County. The stadium was to close as an evacuation center at noon yesterday.

Titan Sets Record With Eight Field Goals HOUSTON, Oct. 21 (AP) Rob Bironas kicked an N.F.L.-record eight field goals Sunday and the Tennessee Titans needed every one of them to hold off the Houston Texans.