HOUSTON (April 10, 2006) -- Eric Moulds thinks he is one of the missing pieces the Houston Texans need to help revive an offense was among the NFL's worst last season.
The Texans will add another huge piece April 29 when they pick first in the draft, but for now the former Pro Bowl receiver is the team's biggest offseason acquisition.
Moulds was introduced in Houston after being traded from the Buffalo Bills for a fifth-round pick last week.
"I looked at the weapons they have with Andre (Johnson) and David Carr, and I just thought they were missing a couple other players to get them over the top," he said. "And I feel like I'm one of those players that can help them."
Moulds had two years remaining on his contract with the Bills, but said he wouldn't return after he twice refused to take a major pay cut last month.
The 10-year veteran signed a four-year contract with Houston.
Moulds should immediately give a boost to Johnson, who struggled last season as the Texans failed to establish another credible receiving threat.
Last season was the worst performance of Johnson's three-year career. He had 688 yards receiving after piling up 1,142 yards and getting a Pro Bowl nod in 2004.
"I think now defenses have to play more honest," Moulds said. "They're going to have to account for Andre on the other side. They're going to have to account for me on one side if they double Andre. So our game is going to help each other out and I think it is going to help to make David Carr a more successful quarterback."
General manager Charley Casserly introduced Moulds, saying his presence gives Houston its best receiving corps in the team's short history.
"We're very happy to have Eric with us," Casserly said. "He gives us a proven receiver to go along with Andre Johnson. Now we can line up and we have two first-class wide receivers and we feel very fortunate about that."
Moulds had 675 career catches for 9,096 yards and 48 touchdowns in 10 seasons with Buffalo. Only Andre Reed has more catches (941) and yards (13,095) among Bills receivers.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound player had 81 receptions for 816 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games with Buffalo last season. He has caught at least 50 passes in each of the past eight seasons and has four career 1,000-yard seasons.
He said that other teams, notably Philadelphia, courted him, but Houston seemed the "most sincere" in its desire to sign him.
After playing with a virtual revolving door of quarterbacks in his 10-year career, Moulds said Houston's commitment to Carr was an attractive aspect of coming to Houston.
The Texans exercised the option on Carr's contract in January to keep him with the team for at least three more seasons.
"I played with 10 different quarterbacks, and so now that I know that David Carr is the guy, he and I and Andre can just get on the same page and just work," Moulds said. "We look good on paper right now. Now it's up to us to go out there and get it done."
After spending his entire NFL career in Buffalo, Moulds said he is looking forward to Nov. 19, when Houston plays host to Buffalo.
"It's going to be emotional," he said.
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