Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy doesn’t believe Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is a self-centered player who only looks out for his own well being or brand.
Dungy would know: the former Indianapolis Colts coach developed an acquaintanceship with Watson during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in Tampa in January 2017.
“I did that chapel service and I got to meet Deshaun,” Dungy said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Feb. 3. “From then on, this is three or four years now. I guess it was 2016 season, and no one at Clemson says a bad word about that young man — special, great leader, good person. That’s all you hear.”
Dungy explained that the former 2017 first-round pick from Clemson used his first game check to provide for displaced cafeteria workers at NRG Stadium, who were struggling with the devastation from Hurricane Harvey that hit in late August of that year.
“He’s indoctrinated himself into the city,” said Dungy. “He does so many things down there with the youth and reading and giving back. He grew up in a home that was donated by Warrick Dunn. So, he knows what it means to give back to the community.”
"I would say something really dramatic happened & I wouldn't put it on @deshaunwatson & I wouldn't say he's one of those spoiled guys who just didn't get his way"@TonyDungy on the #Texans & Deshaun Watson wanting out #PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/Taek7ZNR3Y
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 3, 2021
After signing his contract extension in September of 2020 that keeps under contract with the Texans through the 2025 season, Watson became indignant with the organization following the hiring of Nick Caserio as general manager. The lines of communication have broken down between ownership and the front office, save for Watson’s message that he wants out of Houston.
Said Dungy: “He does all of this and he is one of the most endeared people in Houston, and now for some reason says, ‘Hey, it’s over. I don’t want to play here.’ I would say something really dramatic happened and I wouldn’t put it on Deshaun Watson and I wouldn’t say he’s one of those spoiled guys that just didn’t get his way so he wants something different.
“Something happened. I think it’s going to take a long time to overcome whatever it was down there.”
Caserio stated on Jan. 29 the club has “zero interest” trading Watson, but the Texans still have a lot of work to get their franchise quarterback buying into the new regime led by Dave Culley on the sidelines.
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