The mini-bombshell that dropped on the Houston Texans and the NFL last week - claims backed by two affidavits from other players and a video that the team held illegal blocking drills in an offseason minicamp - has a strong Bay State connection.

The player making the claims, 2006 Patriots sixth-round draft choice Dan Stevenson, has maintained a residence in Norwood. His lawyer, Jim Ciapciak, is based in Norwood.

Stevenson and Ciapciak, who met in part because of their ties to Notre Dame, took their story to ESPN's "Outside the Lines" when they felt rebuffed after repeated attempts to speak with the Texans about the issue, and they said the team denied that contact drills took place in an offseason minicamp that prohibits contact.

Stevenson said he severely injured his shoulder in one of the drills, which continued even after players complained to head coach Gary Kubiak. He is considering filing a lawsuit against the Texans, and currently has a labor grievance pending against the club.

In a brief interview with the Globe Friday, Stevenson said, "I really believe in what I'm saying, I really believe in my story, and if I can help and keep one person in the future from having gone through what I went through, then it's all worth it."