Texans Daniels is Ready to Prove Himself Again

Houston Texans Pro Bowl tight end Owen Daniels told FOX 26 Sports Friday he will undergo surgery November 17 to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Daniels said renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews will perform the surgery in Birmingham, Ala.

He suffered the knee injury in the Texans win Sunday over the Bills.

Daniels was having a spectacular season while he worked toward a long-term contract he and the club were unable to complete prior to the season.

A restricted free agent in 2009, he signed a one-year contract worth $2.792 million.

Unless the NFL and the National Football League Players Association are able to work out a new Collective Bargaining Agreement by March, 2010, Daniels will be a restricted free agent again and he expects to be playing under a similar contract.

"The ball will be in their court," Daniels said Friday in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. " I'm pretty sure of the route that they'll probably take just in terms of covering their own backs, probably the same situation as this year.

"If they want to show me some love that would be great, but if not, I've got a chip on my shoulder right now."

Daniels believes he has good reason to have a chip on his shoulder.

"I try to be nice and friendly and pretty political about things," Daniels said. "I don't want to step on anyone's toes.

"I feel like I proved myself once and I was proving myself again this year and now I'm just going to have to go out and prove myself again and that's why there would be a chip."

At the moment Daniels ranks second in the NFL among all tight ends with 40 receptions and he missed most of Sunday's game.

His 519 yards receiving also ranks second in the league. Daniels five touchdown catches are third among all tight ends in the NFL.

"I wanted to prove this year that I was one of the best, if not the best tight end in the league," said Daniels. "I think I put a lot on tape to go in that direction and put me at least in the conversation."