The Facts: Texans GM Rick Smith explicitly stated that Matt Schaub is the Texans' starting quarterback for 2008 but added that Rosenfels is critical to the team. "It is very, very important to have a good backup that can go in the game, that your team feels comfortable with, that you don't feel like you miss a beat when he's in the game and we certainly feel fortunate we got a guy like Sage in that position for us," Smith said at the NFL scouting combine.

Diehards Line:Despite a huge difference in pay (Rosenfels was signed in 2006 to a four-year, $6.4 million deal; Schaub signed a six-year, $48 million deal last offseason), Smith said the team won't hesitate to start Rosenfels if he outplays Schaub this season. "That to me always plays itself out on the football field," Smith said. "I don't think you can let finances, ego, I don't think you can let anything stand in the way of playing the best football player because that is going to win you football games on Sunday. ..." For those who missed it, Rosenfels played in nine games and made five starts in place of Schaub, who underwent shoulder surgery after the season. The Texans won four of Rosenfels' five starts. They won four of Schaub's 11 starts.