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Saturday’s excellent SI.com article that looked at the chaotic couple of weeks for Texans reports, among other things, that quarterback Deshaun Watson “just wants.” He probably does, but he hasn’t officially asked for that to happen.
According to a source with knowledge of the situation, Watts has not yet requested any specific trade.
Although it is moving in that direction, Watson realizes that the use of those words will do no good to the situation. This means that, so far, it has not gone through any compensation issues.
But turning things around will not be easy. The same organization that messed up now has to un-make it.
It’s not going well yet. Texans G.M. Invited Watson to provide input for both hire and head-coaching hire. He did, and the team ignored his input. The Texans initially ignored his recommendation that Chiefs ’offensive coordinator Eric Binyami be interviewed for a head-coaching job. According to a report last night, the Texans completely ignored Watson’s recommendation that former 49ers defensive coordinator (and now Jets head coach) Robert Saleh be interviewed for the job.
Those who point out that the quarterbacks are not expected to play such a role in the management of the team, two points: (1) Texans Asked To him to play that role; And (2) quarterbacks are expected to be half-members of management, so why shouldn’t they play such a role in team management?
Consider the specific dynamics in Houston. Texans owner Kell McNair and executive VP of foot operations. Jack Esterby decided to hire Nick Cesario as the next GM, how is he more qualified than McNair and Esterby Watson to call?
McNair and Isterby have made three general manager decisions in the past, none of which have been good. First, they tried (and failed) to hire saffron. Second, they decided to move on without GM III, they decided to make former head coach Bill O’Brien GM, a decision reversed in 2020 after just four games.
As a result of those decisions, the Texans didn’t get enough of Jadevan Clooney (and paid a large portion of his 2019 salary), the Texans left too much for Laremi Tunsil, and the text was snooked by the Cardinals for DC Andre Hopkins.
So what can Textons do at this time to avoid getting an official facial trade request from Watson? The only thing they can do is hire the best head-coaching they can, and hope the new coach can figure out how to stop Watson from trading in the short term.
