I don't disagree with you, but how do you make a player play who refuses to play? They can not withhold his game check as he is uniform. Maybe there's something in his contract that says he has to play to get his full game check. I don't know how that works.
What makes you think Watson has refused to play? Culley even said that Deshaun has done what we asked him to do and confirmed recently that he is not injured. Current Texan players still speak well of Deshaun despite his trade request and legal issues. Watson's usage in practice and him not playing during preseason is a decision made by the Texans - not Watson. The only explanation for this is that they are trying to trade him soon and Watson is keeping quiet and playing along to not interfere with that process (also there's the legal issues).
You know what Im surprised about? Deshaun Watson. I can't believe the person who professed his love for playing is will to sit an entire season. He knows the legal issues are preventing the Texans for getting the value he is worth. I'm sure he doesn't care but the business of football is the business of football. To choose to miss the season because of butt hurt is either bad advise or bad character.
Again, he hasn't chosen to miss the season. He has shown up to camp. Texans are the ones choosing not to play him.
Yes, David Culley said Watson isn't injured and has done everything they have asked him to do. Why would he lie about that? If Deshaun showed up to training camp and refused to play, he could be fined. Also, he is still highly regarded by his teammates. All the evidence points towards Deshaun being willing to play if the Texans asked him to do so. Texans don't want him to play and are seeking to trade him.
but do other teams know DW can play right now? There’s protecting trade value… and getting trade value. To get the most trade value it would be helpful to see him on the field being DW. Maybe it’s a distraction issue. Rockets played Harden for a bit until the distraction became too much. But at least folks got to see that despite him being somewhat unprofessional and overweight, he was still James Freaking Harden.
It's very likely that Culley and Watson had a convo at the beginning with both sides agreeing that this is what is going to happen. Watson agreed to not play. There is zero chance that Watson came into camp expecting to start and now the Texans are acting on their own. It was a mutual decision.
More than likely, Watson is refusing to play because he’s said as much if reports are true. And Culley/Caserio are protecting his value as much as possible by saying he’s doing everything that’s asked.
Absolutely teams know he can play right now. Not like he is coming off a major injury. Only risk to his ability to play is his availability.
Don't buy it. I don't think Watson wants to play and only shows up to collect the paycheck. There might be a behind the door deal with the league that they don't suspend him of he doesn't play
I bet the Texans told Watson they will trade him, but they won't take a bad deal and have probably asked him to either waive his no trade or provide a list of teams they can work with that he'd agree to go if a trade is consummated. The training camp stuff is both parties trying to make it work for their own selfish reasons.
I think this is 100% what happened. Caserio, Culley, Cal and co. must have gotten together at some point this offseason and come to this conclusion and brought it to Watson and his camp. It makes zero sense for Watson to step on the field and play for either side. The Texans have clearly moved on from him and are rebuilding, and he's clearly moved on from the franchise. But by him dressing and making an appearance on the field, it makes it look like he's doing what's being asked of him, so it at least helps his image, even if it's still a huge distraction. I'm still fully on board with the "trade Watson now for a bag of peanuts" camp, just because I'm sick of the distraction and think he's a bad human being. But I understand why things are playing out this way and don't fault the Texans for going this route. Watson cannot play another snap for the Texans, and I don't think he wants to.
