Texans' O'Brien: Players should be able to meet with teams before free agency

The Houston Texans agreed to a four-year, $72-million deal with quarterback Brock Osweiler without meeting him in person, a situation head coach Bill O'Brien admits is troubling.

O'Brien spoke to Peter King of The MMQB as part of a piece highlighting the issues with the NFL's legal tampering window, during which teams are allowed to negotiate with agents but cannot meet with or speak to players not under contract with them.

"There really should be a period where, say a week before free agency, a guy can make some trips," O'Brien said. "Without that, you have to find a way to research guys, but without seeing him and talking to him face-to-face, there's always going to be something missing."

Prior to March 9, the only face-to-face interaction that had occurred between O'Brien and Osweiler was a quick hello during a joint training camp practice in 2014, according to King.

O'Brien did his homework on Osweiler, though, studying tape from last season and from his days at Arizona State. He said on "Pro Football Talk Live" that he was particularly impressed by Osweiler's performance against the previously-unbeaten New England Patriots in Week 12.

"It stood out to me," O'Brien said. "That one game, knowing the type of team he was going against, what was on the line in that game, I thought he did a really nice job."