When Wade Phillips interviewed for the Texans head coaching job, he proclaimed his love for Johnny Manziel by endorsing him for the number one pick, which Houston holds. Phillips didn't get the job.

"When I did the interview with the McNairs, I told them they ought to take Johnny Football," Phillips said on 610 SportsRadio in Houston, ESPN reported. "That's what I told them, and I'm sitting here now without a job."

Likely, that isn't the reason, based on reports from sportsonearth.com indicating that ownership is sold on Manziel, but the coach hired over Phillips, Bill O'Brien, isn't. Perhaps, then, it was Phillips' less than specific reasoning for why he wanted Manziel.

"I thought it would be the Earl Campbell of Houston -- the reincarnation," Phillips told the station. "The Heisman Trophy winner comes to Houston, from the state of Texas. I thought it would be a neat deal."

Citing past homegrown stars of different positions and calling the pick a "neat deal" (I'm sure Phillips had more to say, but still) sound exactly like the type of pre-draft talk that leads to draft busts. Phillips, who began last season as the team's offensive coordinator and was promoted as interim head coach when Gary Kubiak was fired, was not kept on staff by O'Brien.

As of yesterday, Mel Kiper Jr. wouldn't necessarily agree with Phillips and Houston ownership in terms of talent evaluation, though he does believe they'll select him number one. Kiper has Manziel first on the draft board, but not in the same spot on his Big Board, which simply assesses talent.

Given the uncertainty at the top, Todd McShay decided to play it safe and project Jadaveon Clowney, whom he also ranks as the class' biggest talent, to the Texans. In perhaps too appropriate of a match, he has Manziel going fifth to the Raiders; before that, it's Teddy Bridgewater (#3 to Jaguars) and UCF QB Blake Bortles (#4 to Browns). At number two to the QB-equipped Rams (Sam Bradford has a huge contract) is Auburn OT Greg Robinson.