Eventually the qb is going to want to try because you know ages 25-30 only happen once in your life. So maybe he'd acknowledge reality and understand that he has to deal with the hand delt or else he's ruining his prime years disgruntled. Hey if there was some time machine where you could relieve 25-30 again, this wouldn't be a concern
To be clear I am not saying Watson is an Angel, he signed a contract months ago and now wants to be traded. I am saying what I believe the reality of the situation will be and that will be with Watson traded to a team he agrees to play for. The Texans gain nothing by keeping him for a year on the sidelines. He isn’t suddenly going to be happy playing for the Texans.
Again, what team wants a QB leading their team that doesn’t want to be there, doesn’t like the organization and has asked to be traded. How does that translate on the field and in the locker room. With the media? It would be one thing if they had a realistic chance to change his heart and mind by winning 12 games, but they don’t and that doesn’t even get into the fact the people he dislikes are still in the building.
Nook, I think you are probably right. Frankly, my goal is that the Jets offer the mega package. I don't suspect Texans find a QB as good as Watson for quite some time, but they sucked anyway, I think Wilson has potential to be as good as Watson, and the rest of the draft haul plus whatever defensive players are available the Texans desperately need. Plus, consider if they do open the floodgates of star QBs asking for and getting traded, they can always trade for one themselves later i guess if Wilson sucks or they just decide not to draft a QB with the haul (eg. could trade down and get even more of a haul). Or find a Carson Wentz, or Matt Stafford type situation. That said, some things that make it certainly plausible this standstill can continue: - Cal is obviously a weird dude. He might just take a stance. - Cal is likely being pressured by other ownership if not also league execs to not give in. - They might not get the Jets mega haul, and if not that, I don't think there's a single other package that really excites me half as much. - I don't think Watson's trade value changes one iota in the next 12 months. The only downside for the Texans here is public perception, and absolutely they will and/or should be running their own "campaign" to save face. The more effective that campaign is, the easier it will be to hold firm on their position. At least that's the way i hope they're approaching the situation. If they're "pressured" into taking CMC, 2 first and 2 seconds that'll be meh. The Dolphins package? Tua, firsts and a second? Nah. Not that they're bad packages, i just think they could get the same package next offseason, and would be willing to wait and see if anyone offers anything crazy mega beyond that. If not, i have no qualms "wasting a year" as a fan... the team needs massive draft capital and a year to further suck and clean up their cap sheet wouldn't be the end of the world. I've heard "you never know who will be at the top of the draft next year!" which is true, but the reality is there are always teams with bad QBs at the top of the draft. And if the 2022 top QB prospects aren't as good, even better for the Texans potential return. And if they are good, that's also a still great situation, maybe you get a chance to draft one of them because they still won't be better than Watson so you can still get the trade you want.
The issue is not magically convincing Watson. It’s the non-existent precedent for a trade market like this... and the concern around the league for this being a new precedent. The Texans don’t have to trade him right now. They’re going to be bad... and should be bad in order to acquire as much assets as possible. Likewise, Watson doesn’t depreciate in value this season... or even next season. if he holds out, they actually save money and will still get a huge windfall for him. lastly, mindsets do change once those checks stop coming in or narratives shift... no matter what is being said now.
The precedent is coming whether the NFL likes it or not. If it’s not Watson it will be Russell Wilson. If not Wilson maybe it will Lawrence...who knows. The players have the media and most of the fans on their side. The narrative is completely pro player. LeBron was forward thinking enough to never actually demand a trade. He was smart enough to sign shorter contracts and move to better situations as a free agent. Maybe these alpha qbs will consider doing the same.
Maybe I’m missing some of the talk in general. But for most part reading Reddit and other medias, there isn’t a ton of support for the players. There’s fans that want them but not willing to pay a price either.
Watson’s trade value may not go down next season but it sure isn’t going up either. Right now he is 25 years old coming off an all time great season according to advanced stats. The acquiring team would get him for a very reasonable 5 yrs/ 168 million. And most of that would be after a new TV contract kicks in. If the plan is to trade him...do it now and be done with it and start the rebuild.
I guess it depends on the source. ESPN is definitely pro Deshaun. And in the clips posted on Twitter most of the comments seem to be pro Watson too.
Espn and Twitter are basically the same thing now. When you say espn to me... it’s the espn I get on Twitter or elsewhere. I suspect most people my age (which isn’t young anymore lol) and younger are the same or more so. I’d say my sports Twitter is 65-70% pro Watson at the moment. Reddit and other popular but less echo chamber sources are a little less pro Watson.
The NFL owners have always squashed the players association. It’s never been close. if the owners don’t want something to happen, it likely won’t happen. Yes, Watson may start a new trend... or the owners stand firm and he runs the risk of being Kaepernick’d.
All of that would still be true if Watson sat out a year, except the Texans would then have the #1 pick to go with it, a much better way to start a rebuild.
Making him sit out a year is good for a few different reasons, you get the tank season and the top pick PLUS you get the picks you'd get when you trade Watson.....PLUS you get to steal a year of his career as punishment for him being a little b****. That's win/win/win.
None of that matters unless the players are willing to miss checks to get a better CBA. The ones they keep signing keep putting them behind the 8-ball in these situations.
Is it worth tanking if there is no generational prospect? Might as well get the process started this year in what projects to be a pretty deep draft.
True the owners can and will win in a stand off but this is the ultimate pick and choose your fights. Is it worth it for the Texans and the NFL to martyr Watson out of principle? The superbowl was a dream match up and the ratings were not good. Alot of dark clouds out there. Do they really want to alienate more fans?
The NFL is untouchable in terms of garnering sports interest... as long as gambling is legal. What do the owners have to lose in terms of putting their foot down to ensure newly extended players don’t force their way out after the team has one bad season.
You forget which team you're dealing with. The Texans philosophy is to identify the point at which a player's value is the lowest and trade him then. It's likely they trade him after the draft but before the season - the point at which there are the fewest bidders and can extract the least value. It's the Texans way.
I suspect the Texans and Caserio would like to build a legacy too. How many seasons do you think they are willing to delay a rebuild with no benefits simply out of spite?
