The Sports Xchange

HOUSTON — Cut by the Houston Texans in March when they granted his request after he demanded his release or to be traded after being informed by the team that he’d have a reduced role this year, former star wide receiver Andre Johnson took issue this week with how the divorce was characterized.

Normally understated, Johnson’s voice got a bit sharper when asked about his release from the team.

“I was released from the Texans, so get that straight,” said Johnson, now with the Indianapolis Colts after signing a three-year, $21 million contract in March, during a conference call with Houston reporters Tuesday in advance of playing against his old team Thursday night at NRG Stadium.

When asked if he thought the Texans wanted him back, Johnson replied: “No, I didn’t.”

Johnson, who spent 12 years with the Texans, didn’t want to discuss his conversation with Texans head coach Bill O’Brien where he was told he’d be released. Johnson was scheduled to have a $16.1 million salary-cap figure this season with the Texans prior to his release.

“I don’t really want to talk about that,” said Johnson, who still counts $7.319 million against the Texans’ salary cap. “It happened, it’s over with. That was several months ago. Everybody has their own opinion about that situation. He knows what happened, I know what happened. I don’t want to talk about that.”

Johnson emphasized, though, that he didn’t harbor any bad feelings toward the Texans.

“Not at all, I don’t have any ill will with them or the organization,” Johnson said. “I have a lot of friends on the team, a lot of guys I went to battle with. It’s the nature of the business. Sometimes, that eventually happens. Other than that, I’m not really worried about that.

“When you spend your whole career with one team, you kind of feel like you’ll end your career there, but it didn’t happen. That’s the nature of this business. You move on from it.”

Johnson has seven catches for 51 yards with the Colts and no catches over the past two games. He has a smaller role as the Colts feature T.Y. Hilton as their top receiver.

“I think my time will come,” Johnson said. “Just being patient.”

Johnson was asked if he believes he’ll be booed or cheered Thursday night when he returns to Houston.

“Everybody has the right to their own opinion,” Johnson said. “I know what I did when I played there for 12 seasons. The people who were there at the games know what I did. The people who work at the organization know what I did.

“They have a right to their own opinion. If they boo me, they still know deep down what kind of guy I was on the field, what kind of guy I was in the community. They have a right to their own opinion.”

SERIES HISTORY: 27th regular-season meeting. Colts lead series, 22-4. The Texans are 4-9 at home and 0-13 on the road against Colts. The Texans lost 33-28 to the Colts in their last game against them last season.