Other cities/franchises don't have 2 franchise players on 2 different teams basically saying their organizations suck and want out. And yes, other franchises are treated harshly when deserved. The NY Jets, for example, have been the laughing stock of football all year. You just likely pay more attention to all the things written about your own teams, which makes perfect sense, both because of your interest level and because we have a website here that basically collates all of them into one place. What city/team do you think should be getting reported on the same as the Rockets/Texans have these past few weeks?
That's not true. The SI story, for example, has all sorts of sourcing and new details. It includes comments from Cal and Jack and other sources within the organization, many of which corroborate the original reporting. We've learned more details as the week progressed - for example, I believe yesterday we learned that the 49ers' Saleh was on Watson's request list and hadn't been interviewed either (until then, we only knew about EB). This is how reporting works - you get the initial story, more reporters start digging, you get more info from more sources, and slowly more details of the full picture builds and builds. How else has reporting ever worked?
You know, Cal was born back when lead paint was used on toys and in home interiors... he probably teethed on windowsills, doorways, those old cast-metal cars that came before Hot Wheels, etc. Was told the same thing happened to a cousin of mine, and she's still convinced that Trump's glorious election was stolen. Jack Easterby? He's taking advantage of what Trump already demonstrated with similarly-afflicted people- speak to their basest of insecurities, convince them that their cause is the just cause... Make Texans Great Again. The rest is predictable.
You don’t think the Browns, Jets, Knicks, etc...all received their fair share of the spotlight at one point? The Texans are at the whooping post right now because one of the best players in the NFL is pissed off at ownership, that is a big story that Cal himself confirmed. Now we can question how pissed he actually is or whether something will come of it, but should be noted that Cal, Caserio, or DW4 have not even tried to downplay these "stories."
I’m talking more about the city as a whole and it’s major franchises. Boston, New York, LA didn’t receive near the hate for their roles in baseball scandals. Mavericks didn’t receive near the hate for mass sexual misconduct. Dodgers didn’t receive near the hate for reported trafficking. Angels didn’t receive near the hate for having staffer essentially supply drugs for an overdose. The rhetoric nationally always gets pushed back to Houston’s dysfunction. Im not even saying it’s not warranted, but be fair about all of it. Media is making some believe that this is some how political based, or race based. And people eat it up because it’s the “in” thing. Texans ownership is inept. Same as Rockets. But ineptitude is a far cry from some of the things nationally that get glossed over for the “major” markets.
And I’m fine with that. Just don’t make it something it’s not, for one. And two, keep it consistent with the “blue blood” franchise/cities. They have plenty of recent dirt that should be nation wide stories.
There you go, he was unhappy for not being in the search for GM and coach, but he didnt ask for a trade.
One of the main reasons we're being talked about so hotly right now is besides the fact that we're potentially trading a top-notch player in his prime, is the fact that the Jags/Jets/Knicks those storylines have been talked to death. The Browns were the NFL's laughing stock not even 2 years ago. Since 2015 they;ve had 5 different head coaches, and 10 different starting QBs. We're just the hot team now. If the Texans can find a way to make up with Deshaun they'll be right back in the annual 9-7 mix where we belong...Lol
It's disgustingly laughable that the Texans get rid of Bill O'Brien and yet somehow things get exponentially worse not better.
From the Athletic. There is a simple, logical and unlikely to be implemented solution to the Houston Texans’ crisis with quarterback Deshaun Watson. There are also much more disruptive possibilities, including trade scenarios like the five blockbusters we’ll reveal in this divisional-round playoff edition of the Pick Six column. Last week, we explained why Watson absolutely could force a trade if he were serious enough about his grievances. Subsequent reports have suggested Watson is indeed serious. He could be bluffing. Perhaps not. We do know this: While the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were advancing to the championship round, Watson continued to dominate the NFL conversation. The five Watson blockbusters include deals involving a range of teams. The full Pick Six menu emerging from this divisional-round weekend: Five sizzling Deshaun Watson trade packages Huge difference between Brady and Rodgers Early thoughts on AFC, NFC title games What the Chiefs’ win says about Andy Reid’s system Bills cornerback makes huge play (here’s how huge) Cook Index: Stacking all eight divisional teams 1. The gulf between Deshaun Watson and the Texans has grown. Here are the options and, as promised, five blockbuster trade proposals. Let’s jump into the blockbuster trade proposals first. I’ve arranged these by 2021 first-round draft positioning of the acquiring teams, on the logic that higher picks would be of greater value for the Texans, who would need to land a quarterback in the absence of Watson. We assume the Jacksonville Jaguars will use the first pick on Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, instead of immediately creating unrealistic expectations by adding Watson. We assume the price for acquiring Watson will be higher for Houston’s brethren in the AFC. And we realize Watson’s no-trade clause would let him screen potential suitors. Finally, while it’s easy to find salary-cap reasons for why certain trades might not work, it’s also easy for teams to find ways around those problems, should sufficient motivation exist. Trade No. 1: Watson to Jets JETS RECEIVE TEXANS RECEIVE Deshaun Watson Sam Darnold Randall Cobb 2021 1st (No. 2) 2021 3rd 2022 1st (highest of two) 2022 4th 2023 1st My partner on The Football GM Podcast, former NFL executive of the year Randy Mueller, shared this trade for the Jets. He set the price too high on purpose, because he would prefer repairing the relationship with Watson or waiting out the quarterback to shipping away the best thing Houston has going. This deal would dent the draft capital Jets general manager Joe Douglas has accumulated, but Watson would bring instant star power to the only franchise without a Pro Bowl selection on offense over the past five seasons. “I wouldn’t do that if I were the Jets because they have (Mike) LaFleur coming in as offensive coordinator and they will probably feel Sam Darnold can be salvaged to some degree,” an exec said. “I think Darnold has a chance if he gets out from under what he’s been under. They need to fill that roster.” Trade No. 2: Watson to Dolphins DOLPHINS RECEIVE TEXANS RECEIVE Deshaun Watson Tua Tagovailoa 2022 4th (via Arizona) 2021 1st (No. 3) 2022 1st 2023 2nd (can upgrade) The Texans went 4-12 last season even though Watson ranked first in expected points added (EPA) per pass attempt. The Miami Dolphins went 10-6 even though Tua Tagovailoa, their rookie quarterback, ranked 29th in that category (Ryan Fitzpatrick was 17th). Imagine how many games the Dolphins might win with Watson throwing passes for them. “This works for Houston if they like Tua,” an exec said. Houston would be buying back the third pick in April’s draft, which Miami acquired in the Laremy Tunsil trade. The 2023 second-round pick involved in this deal would upgrade to a first-round choice if the Dolphins reached the playoffs. Right now, the Dolphins might not know whether they have a quarterback good enough to overtake Buffalo in the AFC East and contend for a championship. Watson would make them such a team. “The one constant with Tua, even though he was up and down, is his accuracy,” an offensive coach said. “From that standpoint, you can say he’s got a chance.” Trade No. 3: Watson to Falcons FALCONS GET TEXANS GET Deshaun Watson 2021 1st (No. 4) 2021 2nd 2022 1st 2023 2nd (can upgrade) Watson goes home to Atlanta in this scenario, revitalizing a franchise whose owner, Arthur Blank, hopes for a quick return to relevance under new coach Arthur Smith and new GM Terry Fontenot. The Texans would not get Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan in return, preferring instead to use the No. 4 pick on a Watson replacement. The Falcons could try to trade Ryan to another team (San Francisco?) if the Texans were not interested, perhaps as part of a three-team deal. The 2023 second-round choice headed to Houston in this deal could upgrade to a first-rounder if the Falcons reached the playoffs. “Matt Ryan would be a hard sell in Houston with a new coach,” an exec said. Trade No. 4: Watson to Lions LIONS GET TEXANS GET Deshaun Watson Matthew Stafford 2021 1st (No. 7) 2022 1st 2022 2nd Matthew Stafford would head home to Texas under this scenario, finally escaping Detroit, only to land with a franchise that appears to have sunk lower. Houston would regain some of the draft capital needed to refortify its offensive line and defense over the next couple of seasons. Would Watson approve a trade to Detroit? That’s a question for another day. “I like this deal best of the five,” an exec said. “Stafford is only 32 and can play another five years, at least. You might not get a quarterback at seven if you are Houston, but you wouldn’t need one.” Trade No. 5: Watson to 49ers 49ERS GET TEXANS GET Deshaun Watson Jimmy Garoppolo Nick Bosa 2021 1st (No. 12) 2022 2nd (can upgrade) The Texans would be getting from the 49ers a premium pass rusher to succeed J.J. Watt, plus a quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo who would be familiar to new GM Nick Caserio, a fellow New England alum. The 2022 conditional second-round pick would upgrade to a first-rounder if the 49ers reached the playoffs with Watson. This deal was tough on a couple of fronts. Garoppolo and the 12th pick might not sufficiently replace Watson, while the 49ers would be losing a dominant pass rusher one year after unloading DeForest Buckner. Three paths forward for Watson The Texans could solve this problem, it seems, in a single news release announcing the hiring of a head coach with impeccable integrity and credibility — Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier comes to mind as an example — while announcing a mutual parting of the ways involving executive vice president Jack Easterby. Owner Cal McNair seems all-in with Easterby, so the second part of this scenario might be unlikely. But if the Texans were to hire an especially credible coach who reached out to Watson in a respectful manner, the tensions that have persisted would seem to dissipate some, unless Watson and his agents were dead set on forcing their way out, in which case public opinion could turn against the quarterback. Another option would include the Texans trading Watson for a bounty in a James Harden-type deal that would turn Watson and his agents into trailblazers who toppled the established NFL system of player control. Football players (and especially football agents) have long envied their more empowered counterparts in the NBA and MLB. Under this scenario, Watson would invoke his no-trade clause to hand-pick potential destinations, then broker what could become a massive trade involving multiple first-round draft choices. The third option would have Watson and the Texans engaging in a staring contest. If Watson blinked first, he would report to the team and resume his role as starting quarterback, probably in time for the start of the season, to avoid missing game checks. This has generally been the way of the NFL world for decades, but that could be changing. If the team blinked first, Watson might pull a Carson Palmer by threatening to retire, missing regular-season games and making it clear he would not report to the team no matter what. Under this scenario, the regular season might begin without Watson, with the Texans deciding after a while they would be better off getting whatever value they can command, which might be less at that time of the year. Palmer went that route with the Cincinnati Bengals a decade ago. The Oakland Raiders acquired him for a first-round pick in the draft and a second-rounder in the draft after that (the second-rounder could have upgraded to a first-round choice if the Raiders had reached the AFC title game).
Haven't watched Texans since inauguration season with David Carr, at that point I decided to save myself the misery. Is this Watson guy any good?
If Texans are going to trade Watson it better be for Herschel Walker or Ricky Williams type deal ask for the moon.
