Deshaun Watson trade rumor tracker: Timeline of dysfunction details Texans’ rift with franchise QB
Not so elementary, my expensive Watson.
The yearslong odyssey for the Texans to discover a true franchise passer culminated in Houston choosing the Deshaun Watson out of Clemson within the first spherical of the 2017 NFL Draft, however it seems just like the pairing will quickly come to an finish, with tumult surrounding the quarterback and the franchise resulting in numerous smoke and commerce rumors.
With organizational chaos dooming the Texans within the final two seasons, possession reportedly over-relying on the voice and opinions of Jack Easterby and reportedly utterly ignoring the voice of Watson, it is laborious to fault Watson for wanting out. He is a top-five quarterback coming off his finest season, nonetheless younger and with a contract that may show to be a cut price in just a few years.
Complete organizational instability — from the highest down — has led Watson to, reportedly, being extremely pissed off and able to transfer on from the staff that drafted him in 2017. This is a timeline of reviews and different rumors that element the interworkings of the Texans group and Watson’s displeasure with the state of affairs.
MORE: Here are Deshaun Watson’s best trade fits, from Jets to Dolphins
Deshaun Watson commerce rumors
Jan. 18: ‘Nice lather’ to get Watson out, however leverage in his favor
Supply: Josina Anderson, ESPN
Anderson reminds everybody a key level: Watson has a no-trade clause, and it isn’t fully within the Texans’ finest curiosity to commerce away a famous person of Watson’s caliber. In any case, it is a weak argument, particularly if the staff goes to proceed to do poorly by its star participant.
I do know there’s an important lather to propel Deshaun Watson’s potential departure from Houston & sure Watson holds a card w/ his no-trade clause, however from the membership’s/enterprise perspective it is smart any selections or not will likely be in its finest curiosity. Watson nonetheless makes {dollars}&sense.
— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 18, 2021
Jan. 18: Watson has but to ask for a commerce
Supply: Ian Rapoport, NFL Community
Regardless of all of the smoke surrounding Watson and the Texans in the intervening time, the famous person QB has but to ask for a commerce, per Rapoport. That hasn’t stopped groups from calling to test on Watson’s availability, although,
Jan. 17: Watson has ‘performed his final snap for Houston’
Supply: Adam Schefter/Chris Mortensen, ESPN
If the weeks of turmoil and confusion have left any doubt about Watson’s future in Houston, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that some folks surrounding the Texans group really feel Watson will not play one other down for the staff. A supply near Chris Mortensen added that the one treatment for the state of affairs between Watson and the Texans could be for proprietor Cal McNair to fireplace … Cal McNair.
Schefter additionally added that “Watson’s emotions can not and shouldn’t be underestimated.” No matter meaning.
There’s a rising sense from folks in and across the Texans’ group that Deshaun Watson has performed his final snap for the staff. It’s early within the low season, there’s a variety of time left, however Watson’s emotions can not and shouldn’t be underestimated.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 17, 2021
Jan. 16: Watson ‘simply needs out’ of Houston
Supply: Greg Bishop, Jenny Vrentas, Sports Illustrated
Regardless of the Texans making strikes to try to appease their disgruntled quarterback, Watson simply needs out of H-City, per SI. A fruits of the teaching and GM search and common organizational dysfunction has led to Watson taking a tough stance on his standing with the staff: Simply get me out of right here.
Jan. 15: A single tweet units NFL world on hearth
Supply: Deshaun Watson’s Twitter
Coming from a Schefter report that Watson’s anger was “at a 2, however now a ten,” the Texans QB sends out a single tweet that appears to verify this. A later tweet would really point out that these had been really track lyrics. (Positive, Deshaun.)
I used to be on 2 then I took it to 10
— Deshaun Watson (@deshaunwatson) January 15, 2021
MORE: Deshaun Watson’s latest tweet sends Twitter back into trade frenzy
Jan. 15: Watson photographed in Falcons gear
Supply: Instagram
A curious wardrobe determination by Watson, with a photograph on an Instagram story exhibiting Watson in a Falcons jacket, coincidentally, outdoors of a constructing in New York Metropolis. Watson is a Georgia native and certain grew up a Falcons fan.
It is only a jacket, however let your creativeness run wild.
Jan. 12: Texans request interview for Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy
Supply: Ian Rapoport, NFL Community
The Chiefs OC is a sizzling commodity on the teaching scene, and was even advisable to Watson by some man named Patrick Mahomes. Whereas the Chiefs hadn’t initially put in an interview with Bieniemy — lacking the window wherein coordinators can interview through the playoffs — new GM Nick Caserio is taken with talking with him. Due to tampering insurance policies, the Texans will not be allowed to talk with Bieniemy till after the Chiefs are eradicated.
The #Texans have formally requested an interview with #Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy, supply mentioned. Already a busy candidate, Bieniemy provides one other to his checklist.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 12, 2021
Jan. 12: Andre Johnson speaks, presents Watson recommendation
Supply: Andre Johnson by way of Twitter
Within the phrases of Deandre Hopkins, when ‘Dre speaks, we hear. The previous Texans extensive receiver took to Twitter to supply Watson some sage recommendation: Stand your floor. He additionally roasted the Texans and their devotion to Jack Easterby, who many query
If I’m @deshaunwatson I’ll stand my floor. The Texans group is thought for losing gamers careers. Since Jack Easterby has stroll into the constructing nothing good has occurred in/for the group and for some purpose somebody can’t appear to see what’s occurring. Pathetic!!!
— Andre Johnson (@johnson80) January 12, 2021
MORE: Andre Johnson thinks Deshaun Watson is right to turn on ‘pathetic’ Texans
Jan. 10: Watson’s anger reaching boiling level
Supply: Adam Schefter, ESPN
Heads exploded when then head coach/GM Invoice O’Brien opted to commerce star extensive receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals, with Watson himself taking the commerce in stride. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reviews that Watson’s anger vaulted from a “2 to a ten” with the group opting to not rent ESPN analyst and former front-office exec Louis Riddick to its GM function.
Additionally price noting: One supply mentioned this week that, after Houston traded Professional Bowl extensive receiver DeAndre Hopkins final low season, Deshaun Watson’s anger stage was “a 2….This time, it’s a ten.” https://t.co/CsqZYbe3OK
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 10, 2021
Jan. 10: Extra particulars emerge about rift; Dolphins might be a commerce vacation spot
Supply: Chris Mortensen, ESPN
If Watson had been to be moved, then the Dolphins might be a viable vacation spot for a commerce, in keeping with ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. Miami, who holds Houston’s first-round decide within the 2021 NFL Draft, would reportedly be open to buying and selling quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and commerce belongings in alternate for Watson, per Mortensen.
Sources say Watson might play hardball with Texans a couple of commerce. His new $156 million contract features a no-trade clause however knowledgeable hypothesis from a supply is that he would contemplate the @MiamiDolphins wherein Tua Tagovailoa and extra compensation goes to Houston.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) January 10, 2021
Jan. 7: The Texans identify Nick Caserio new GM
Supply: “Actually us, the Houston Texans.”
A serious a part of the reported rift between Watson and the Texans surrounded Houston naming a common supervisor with out Watson’s enter, a promise that had been supposedly made to Watson through the season. As a substitute, proprietor Cal McNair Jr. and Jack Easterby.
MORE: Ranking the NFL’s head-coaching vacancies
Jan. 5: J.J. Watt presents an ominous apology
Supply: JJ Watt’s mouth
After the Texans fell in Week 17 to the Titans in Week 17, NFL cams caught JJ Watt and Deshaun Watson in a candid second as the 2 had been strolling off the sphere. “I am sorry, I am sorry,” Watt mentioned. “We wasted one in all your years.” The Texans would end 4-12.
Oct. 5: Texans hearth Invoice O’Brien
Supply: “Actually us, the Houston Texans.”
Properly, a couple of yr, many losses and one too many trades too late, the Texans determined to fireplace head coach/common supervisor Invoice O’Brien after a sluggish begin to their 2020 season. The staff would identify Romeo Crennel the interim head coach.
O’Brien’s tenure as HC could be mired in personnel controversies and several other lopsided trades that go away the Texans with no first-round decide in 2021.
April 2019: Jack Easterby employed by Houston
Supply: The Texans
“I believe the finest option to inform the story is by beginning on the finish, briefly, then going again to the start, after which periodically returning to the finish, perhaps giving completely different characters’ views all through.” — “The Other Guys,” 2010
Arguably the genesis of the chaos in Houston was the hiring of Patriots staff chaplain — later “character coach,” no matter that’s — as its govt vice chairman of soccer operations.
Easterby’s meteoric rise to a such a excessive workplace in an NFL franchise is met with skepticism from all avenues, and would come again to hang-out the staff later.
