Leach took a black marker and wrote across the front of his shirt: "Vote 4 Me, Pro Bowl '09."

While Leach made it clear he was looking forward to returning to Green Bay for today's game against his former team - temperatures in the teens notwithstanding - he also had his eyes on another destination: Hawaii.

"I kind of felt left out," Leach said. "I've just seen a lot of shirts going around, and I didn't see any with Leach's name on it, so I decided to make my own. I wanted to put it out there to vote for me. I am on (the ballot), so vote for Leach, Pro Bowl '09."

The Texans did make a number of shirts campaigning for different players on the roster. Wide receiver Andre Johnson spent much of the past two weeks wearing one urging votes for tight end Owen Daniels. Other shirts promote Johnson, Mario Williams, Chester Pitts, Jacoby Jones, Kris Brown and DeMeco Ryans.

With fan voting ending Dec. 9, Leach wanted to get into the mix, and there is good reason. He has made big contributions to an offense that ranks fifth in the NFL by helping clear the path for rookie Steve Slaton to rank among the NFL leaders in rushing.

"I walked into the weight room, and (Leach) said, ?Hey, Dre, look,'?" Johnson said. "I looked and just fell out laughing. He's not wrong. He's promoting himself. He's doing a good job with it."

While Leach might be a long shot to make the Pro Bowl, he can make his final case at Lambeau Field today.

Leach was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Packers in 2004 and released in September 2006.

Mainstay in Houston

Mike Sherman, who was the Texans' assistant head coach at the time, urged the team to sign Leach, who has been a mainstay in the lineup the past two years.

"He's becoming a leader on this Football team," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "He's been our sixth captain the last two weeks, and he tells me he needs to be a captain again this week because he's a good one.

"He's played very well for us. He's taken to Alex's (Gibbs) system. He's learned from Alex what Alex wants from him. (He's) a very physical player."

When the Texans' first signed Leach, he spent time playing behind Jameel Cook. It wasn't until the Texans really let Leach loose on the field that they realized what kind of player they had.

?He'll eat you up'

"He's a body type where sometimes he might not be as flexible as some people," running backs coach Chick Harris said, "but once you put him in a game and you say, ?That's the guy you have to get,' he'll eat you up."

It's not surprising that Leach is a converted linebacker. His Texans teammates have nicknamed him "The Hammer."

Slaton is more than appreciative of Leach's play this season. Slaton is second in the NFL in yards per carry (5.0), and his 904 rushing yards rank 10th overall and third in the AFC. His 130 rushing yards against Jacksonville last week were the second-most by a back on "Monday Night Football" this season.

"Without him, I wouldn't be able to do a lot of things," Slaton said of Leach. "Just like the O-line and receivers, Vonta is definitely a big reason I'm having a big year."

...

Texans UPDATE

Monday: Texans 30, Jaguars 17.

Record: 5-7.

Today: At Green Bay, noon.

TV/radio: CBS; 610 AM, 100.3 FM and 1010 AM (Spanish).

Weather: Partly cloudy, 13 degrees at kickoff.