‘Hard Knocks’ episode 4 recap: Charles James makes the cut

Nothing lasts forever -- except for DeflateGate. That will outlive even the cockroaches. But like Bill O’Brien reminded the Texans as the 75-man roster deadline loomed, their NFL careers and opportunities have an expiration date. And in the penultimate episode of Hard Knocks, some of those players saw their time in Houston come to an end.

For a select few who are both super lucky and enormously talented, their careers take off right away. Odell Beckham Jr., who had a cameo in the episode, became such a rookie sensation last season that he’s on the cover of Madden 16, which also made an appearance in the same scene. For others, like Aaron Rodgers, they had to bide their time until it was their turn to become stars.

And for many, many others, the faceless names on a cold, unforgiving list of roster cuts, their chance in the league is fleeting and unmemorable.

The best part of Hard Knocks is that it puts names to those faces, but it’s also the worst part of Hard Knocks. Witnessing that raw display of emotion when a player on the roster bubble has his own triumphant moment is undeniably special -- and it’s nearly unbearable when he makes a mistake that could cost him a spot on the team.

Last week, linebacker Kourtnei Brown was presented with the game ball after he made the biggest play of the game for the Texans. This week, he didn’t set the edge on a fourth-down play, and the Saints running back took off for a 45-yard touchdown. Brown knew he messed up and afterward the look on his face -- a 27-year-old who has been cut by five teams and has never played during the regular season -- was heartbreaking:

Brown survived the first major roster cut, but the final 53-man roster will be set Saturday. You probably hadn’t heard of Brown before watching this show. Now, you’re probably rooting like nothing else for him to make the team.

The same is true for MVP of Hard Knocks, Charles James. If James doesn’t make the final cut, though, there would likely be a revolt, and Erin Andrews would lead the charge. Before the Texans’ game against the Saints, Andrews pulled a Charles James and introduced herself to let him know she had jumped on board his bandwagon.

James also gave us the highlight of that game when, after successfully lobbying to go in as a running back, he scooted down the sideline for a 73-yard touchdown. His teammates mobbed him in the end zone -- and the play was called back due to a holding call. Although it didn’t count on the scoreboard, the touchdown counted to James, who received the game ball this week.

The head coach gave him a friendly salute for his efforts:

So James might’ve scored an almost touchdown in garbage time of a preseason game. And he didn’t beat his friend ODB at Madden. But if he’s still on the roster when the Texans open their season just over a week from now -- and his effort and spirt certainly make it seem like that will be the case -- those No. 31 jerseys will be flying off the shelf.

Much to O’Brien’s disbelief (though c’mon, is it really that shocking?) Brian Cushing couldn’t spell the word “opportunity” -- he thought there was an “e” in there. Perhaps he was just getting confused because EZ’s real name (Uzoma Nwachukwu), as Cecil Shorts pointed out last week, doesn’t actually have an “e” in it.

But Cushing is hardly alone. J.J. Watt decided it was pop quiz time for Vince Wilfork and John Simon, neither of whom could spell spaghetti. Watt chose “spaghetti” to test them on their spelling prowess supposedly because he remembered it from his fifth grade spelling bee. The real reason might have been because Watt was hungry for something to eat besides protein shakes. And since it wasn’t a cheat day, he couldn’t devour some barbecue with Wilfork.

When you’re a world-class athlete, though, you can get away with not being a Gokul or Vanya. Just ask American Pharoah.

Shhh, he’s right behind you, Coach.

Does it even matter why Vince Wilfork was wearing nothing but overalls and cowboys boots? No, no it does not.

Ryan Mallett was so bored by himself that he slept through his alarm and missed practice one day. Somehow, O’Brien only dropped one f-bomb when it happened.

Apparently football players need 10 hours of sleep, though -- this according to Watt, who advised EZ to go to bed around 8:30 at night. In earlier episodes, it seemed as if Watt simply enjoyed life’s little pleasures like breakfast and naps, but, uh, maybe J.J. Watt is an 80-year-old man trapped in the body of a 26-year-old who does nothing but work out, sleep and give his teammates spelling tests.

With 12 wide receivers on the roster before the first cut, it was inevitable that a few would get waived before Tuesday. Luckily our favorite wannabe astronaut EZ is still around -- for this week anyway. By Saturday, the Texans will only keep five or six receivers.

EZ’s college teammate and fly fishing buddy Travis Labhart was one of the receivers sent packing. It wasn’t a huge surprise to viewers: Labhart was one of the last players to get on the field Sunday, he doesn’t have ideal size or speed and he looks like the least football player ever. But the writing was also on the wall for Labhart, who was contemplating giving up his football career. His next path could still be in football, however, after O’Brien suggested he’d make a good coach. So maybe it’s not the last we’ve seen of Labhart on the sidelines.

The actual process of cutting players is almost clinical. Offensive tackle Aaron Adams, who was responsible for the holding call that wiped out James’ touchdown, was told “the playing wasn’t great” (ouch, but well, James should’ve had that score!) and at the end, the players who were released packed up their belongings in clear, depressing plastic bags.

Most brutal of all was when O’Brien gave OL David Quessenberry the news that he wouldn’t play this season. Quessenberry, who was diagnosed with lymphoma a year ago but is now in remission, was placed on the non-football illness list. Oh yeah, and he was also told this on his birthday.

But like with Labhart, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The Texans still have the rights to Quessenberry, and O’Brien insisted that next season, “You’re going to play.”

Despite the harshness, O’Brien also acknowledged that it’s difficult to cut players he’s come to know and respect. Next week will be even harder for O’Brien and for the audience. But like with any good season finale, not everyone will make it through the final episode.

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