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Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints head coach
Alma mater: Naperville Central
Week 2: Payton has an offensive background and his Saints (2-0) are absolutely lighting up the scoreboard. Coming off a 48-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans leads the NFL by a wide margin in total yards (936) and points scored (93).
Coming up: At Buffalo Bills (1-1), Sunday 3:05 p.m.

Owen Daniels, Houston Texans tight end
Alma mater: Naperville Central
Week 2: Daniels caught a one-yard touchdown pass that tied the game 31-31 late in the third quarter in Nashville, Tenn. The Texans (1-1) then completed the comeback against the Tennessee Titans and scored a 34-31 victory. Daniels finished with six catches for 72 yards.
Coming up: At Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2), Sunday 12 p.m.

Chris Brown, Houston Texans running back
Alma mater: Naperville North
Week 2: Brown is becoming a contributor out of Houston's backfield. He carried the ball eight times for 25 yards (3.1 average), though nearly half of that output came on a 12-yard gain, his longest run of the day in Tennessee. With Steve Slaton struggling, the Texans are ranked last in the NFL in rushing yards per game (50.5). That could create more opportunities for Brown.

The Next Level Foundation, which was started by brothers Levelle and Chris Brown, is eligible for a community grant from Nike. The shoe company will retain final say over which organizations receive the money, but it's encouraging people to vote online to help influence the decision. Check it out here.

In Thursday's print edition we look at Levelle Brown and his foundation work, as well as give an update on his younger brother Chris, who sounds ready to contribute to the Houston Texans.

Here's the Q&A session between Chris and HoustonTexans.com in May.

Owen Daniels has signed a one-year, $2.79 million tender from the Texans, but he's still looking for a multi-year deal in Houston. The Pro Bowl tight end skipped Monday's mandatory minicamp as his agents continue to negotiate for a longer contract.

"We're happy he elected to come in and sign his tender and be part of this football team again," Texans general manager Rick Smith told the Houston Chronicle. "I'm a little disappointed he's not here today, but again, we talked about how it's a process and how complicated it is. At some point, I'm sure Owen will rejoin his teammates and be back and be a productive football player for us."

UPDATED LINKS: Reactions from Daniels' agent Alan Herman; the tight end takes his case to Facebook.

Looking for a long-term deal from the Texans, tight end Owen Daniels skipped Tuesday's organized team activities - which are not mandatory - in an attempt to push negotiations. The restricted free agent had been a part of the first three weeks of OTAs in Houston.

Houston Chronicle writer Megan Manfull reports:

"Obviously we're in the middle of negotiations," general manager Rick Smith said. "He's well within in his rights not to be here. We wish he were working out like he had been, but we understand it. Every day he is out here he's getting better.

"Things like this have a way of working themselves out."

The other day we caught up with Bears safety Glenn Earl, and eventually we'll do the same with Chris Brown, another Naperville North graduate and a running back with the Houston Texans.

In the meantime, here's the link for the Chris Brown Football Camp, which will take place July 10-11 at Calvary Church. The camp is free, but space is limited.

From afar, Owen Daniels seems like someone who gets it, so it wasn't a total surprise that the Texans Pro Bowl tight end didn't skip the team's offseason conditioning program. But the thought did cross his mind, as he told John McClain of the Houston Chronicle this week.

As a third-year restricted free agent who was tendered the maximum, Daniels is guaranteed a one-year deal worth $2.79 million, and any other team that signs him would have to forfeit first- and third-round picks, assuming the Texans don't match the offer. That's a steep price, but so is the $20.1 million in guaranteed salary Tampa Bay recently gave Kellen Winslow Jr.

The Naperville Central graduate told McClain that he'd like long-term security in Houston, but also realizes that the Winslow deal won't hurt his negotiations.