Texans’ new director of college scouting comes from Patriots.

The Texans have hired former New England Patriots national scout James Liipfert as their director of college scouting, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.

Liipfert has worked for the Patriots for the past nine years, spending the past three as a national scout.

In NFL circles, Liipfert has a strong reputation as a good talent evaluator with a bigtime work ethic and attention to detail.

Liipfert overlapped with Texans coach Bill O’Brien during his tenure with the Patriots as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Initially hired by New England as a scouting assistant in 2009, Liipfert replaces Jon Carr. Carr was dismissed as director of college scouting along with assistant general manager Jimmy Raye and assistant director of college scouting Mike Martin on Sunday following the NFL draft.

Liipfert served as an area scout for the Patriots for five years.

Texans cut OT Rodgers

The Texans have cut offensive tackle Jake Rodgers.

Rodgers was signed to a reserve-future deal this offseason after joining the Texans on their practice squad last season.

The former Falcons sixthround draft pick from Eastern Washington has also played for the Giants, Panthers and the Steelers.

Outside linebacker Gimel President, who was waived Monday by the Texans, was claimed by the Titans.

Brandon resigns from dual role

Russ Brandon abruptly resigned his dual role as president of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres after being confronted by the teams’ owners regarding an inappropriate relationship with a female employee, two people with direct knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press.

The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because it is an internal matter, and owners Terry and Kim Pegula did not provide a reason for accepting Brandon’s resignation in a statement they released.

The relationship in question first became apparent to a number of team employees in late December, when the Sabres were in New York City to play the Rangers at the NHL’s Winter Classic, the people said.

Kim Pegula will take over Brandon’s roles overseeing the Bills, Sabres and Pegula Sports Entertainment, the company that controls the owners’ numerous holdings.

In a text to the AP, Brandon said he has contemplated stepping down from the job for some time and felt the timing was right after the conclusion of the NFL draft.

Raiders’ Alexander suspended 4 games

Raiders offensive lineman Vadal Alexander has been suspended without pay for the first four games next season for a violation of the league policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Alexander won’t be eligible to play until an Oct. 7 road game against the Chargers. He can return to practice Oct. 1, a day after the Raiders host Cleveland.