Tag: Texans front office

Deshaun Watson’s situation with the Texans could make the NFL more like the NBA

Deshaun Watson seeking a trade from the Houston Texans could shake up the NFL and make its superstars’ choices where to play much like the NBA.

Arian Foster made waves when he finally spoke on Deshaun Watson and his current disgruntled situation with the Houston Texans. Specifically, he said that, “if they’re smart, they’ll bend to his will.”

“If I’m the organization, I bend to his will. There’s no way you don’t. He’s a generational quarterback. You never had a quarterback like him. You’re not going to have a quarterback like him in the next who knows how many decades. You bend to his will. What do you need to keep you here? What would keep you here? What do you want? What do you need?”

This is a situation that isn’t new or even unusual in the sport’s landscape, however it is one that is totally unprecedented in the NFL. The NFL does not bend to player’s wills, it just doesn’t happen. We have seen LeBron James and other NBA superstars totally dictate their franchises general manager and head coaching hires, free agent signings, and even draft picks.

Yes, the Miami Heat did draft Shabazz Napier. LeBron left anyways.

The NBA and the NFL are similar in that superstar players are the fastest way to relevancy. It is not a situation akin to Major League Baseball where the Los Angeles Angels who can employ a generational talent [Mike Trout] and consistently fail to compete for championships. Star basketball and football players, specifically star quarterbacks in the NFL, offer an immediate recipe for success and relevancy in their respective leagues.

NFL player autonomy and the modern idea of “player autonomy” began in earnest in 1993. Before then, the NFL relied on a “reserve” system where players were obligated to play for the team’s that drafted them until they retired or were traded. Even after forfeiting the reserve system, mechanisms such as the “franchise tag,” which forces a player to re-sign for one year, were invented to allow the owners to stay in control.

Meanwhile, the NBA has a storied history of stars getting their way. The history of basketball is full of player’s forcing trades or signing in bigger markets to better satisfy their wishes. Kevin Garnett, Shaquille O’Neal and a myriad of other stars come to mind with the biggest being James. The former 2003 first-round pick has now won a championship with three different franchises, changed the face of the league in 2010 when he spurned the Cleveland Cavaliers, who drafted him, to sign in Miami with fellow All-Stars Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.

However, despite their similar impact in terms of championship necessity, NFL players and quarterbacks have never had the agency that NBA players have had. Their contracts contain less guaranteed money, their owners take in a larger percentage of profit, and their Player’s Association is considered the weakest in American sports. The recently negotiated CBA, which will allow Houston to hypothetically fine Watson indefinitely should he choose to withhold his services, is still an albatross against the players despite making necessary steps forward.

Todd McFall is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Economics at Wake Forest University and a frequently cited sports economist. His work frequently focuses on NCAA governance issues, however he joined the TexansWire to discuss this seemingly unprecedented situation in the context of history and the NFL Player’s Association. 

“The NFLPA is by far the weakest union in North American professional sport,” McFall said. “The personnel system the league has designed, with hard salary caps and franchise tags, makes it really difficult for a player to pull off the moves Watson is attempting.”

Now, at a similar crossroads as LeBron in 2010, Watson may be changing the course of the NFL. It has been no secret that Watson is not happy with ownership, the presence of executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby in the front office, and the entire process that went into hiring Nick Caserio as the new general manager. This is not to mention the sham of an interview process Eric Bieniemy has received, and the subsequent hiring of David Culley.

On Thursday, the inevitable finally happened and Watson requested a trade from the Houston Texans.

This all comes after Watson simply asked to have a voice in the decision making of the front office to represent the locker room. There was no claim that he should get to make the hire, but rather a request to make his voice heard and a subsequent guarantee from the owner that he would be involved in the process. Things have come a LONG way from 2017.

Spurned from even being allowed to give input, Watson now stands at the precipice of totally re-writing how the NFL functions. Historically star quarterbacks have played their entire career with one franchise until they’re too old and retire or are “replaced” by the team against their wishes. Peyton Manning only left Indianapolis because they wanted to draft Andrew Luck. Brett Favre left Green Bay because the Packers wanted to start Aaron Rodgers. Tom Brady is the only significant “free agent” superstar quarterback that comes to mind and he didn’t use this ability until he was 43 years old.

McFall likened the situation to Kyrie Irving who, disgruntled with LeBron after the 2017 season, forced his way off of the previously Eastern Conference champion Cavaliers. To those expecting Watson to land a trade, proceed with caution.

“Let’s be clear, the lack of strength the NFLPA has relative to the owners makes this very different than Kyrie Irving forcing his way out of Cleveland,” said McFall. “When players want out of an NFL deal, they generally have to stop playing for a considerable amount of time, maybe even retire, and find their way back to the league. Watson’s demands have little precedent in the NFL, which speaks to how little leverage the NFLPA has in negotiations and how good Watson believes himself to be.”

“How good Watson perceives himself to be” may be a perfect anecdote for this situation. Watson is indeed a stud, a bona fide top three quarterback in the league, and he’s aware of this. A 25-year-old franchise quarterback deciding to forge his own path, even if it means changing teams, is absolutely unprecedented in the NFL. It is a challenge that owners have never faced before and something that McNair may hear about from his peers before any trade is made.

Should the Texans trade Watson, they set a new precedent in the NFL. One that places star quarterbacks at the top of the pyramid rather than below owner, general manager, and coach as the hierarchy has traditionally stood.

Quarterbacks have long been considered short-term employees like any other player. Replaceable. Regardless of their importance to winning, they have not been allowed to dictate free agent signings or, much less, the hiring of a general manager or owner. As an example look at how long it took Rodgers to oust longtime coach Mike McCarthy to upgrade to Matt LeFleur. 

Should Watson be granted his trade to Miami, New York, or any other non-Kansas City team in the NFL, the narrative suddenly shifts. Keep your quarterback happy, no matter what, or he can ask to leave. 

This is why we suddenly stand at a potentially historical moment. Will McNair grant Watson’s wish and change the NFL landscape for his fellow owners? Does he bend dramatically in an attempt to accommodate Watson and fire the maligned Easterby? Or, as is the historical NFL precedent, does the owner hold his ground? Despite certainly creating a cancer in the franchise, McNair can do this. He is the CEO, Chairman, and son of the late founder of the team. 

McNair could simply decide to let Watson holdout or trade him. NFL franchises have always considered themselves greater than one player, look at how New England treated Tom Brady, and maybe McNair thinks the Texans can survive without him.

Precedent tells us this won’t workout for Watson and the team finds a way to placate the star. However, as the saying goes, “That’s why we watch the games.” Time will reveal if Watson takes the NFL to the NBA.

Arian Foster says Texans should bend to the will of QB Deshaun Watson

Former Houston Texans running back Arian Foster says the franchise should bend to the will of quarterback Deshaun Watson to keep him around.

Arian Foster believes the Houston Texans should do whatever it takes to keep Deshaun Watson happy, even if it means giving him increase organizational input.

Foster joined Sports Radio 610’s Edward Gilliard on the “Gems & Juice Podcast” to talk about the tension between the Texans and their three-time Pro Bowl quarterback.

“If I’m the organization, I bend to his will,” Foster said. “There’s no way you don’t. He’s a generational quarterback. You never had a quarterback like him. You’re not going to have a quarterback like him in the next who knows how many decades. You bend to his will. What do you need to keep you here? What would keep you here? What do you want? What do you need?”

The former All-Pro running back, who spent 2009-15 with the Texans, wasn’t throwing unprecedented ideas around. According to Foster, the Indianapolis Colts allowed quarterback Peyton Manning to have similar type of influence.

“I remember when Peyton Manning was with the Colts,” said Foster. “He was in the draft room. He had that much pull because that was his squad. You’re not going without Peyton. And, so, if you have that kind of generational talent, get him involved. What do you think this team needs?”

The 2010 NFL rushing champion opined that one of the problems with the NFL is ownership and front office personnel “have so much egos.”

Foster also took issue with the trade scenarios floating about, pointing out that no draft compensation could be high enough to account for losing a franchise cornerstone, especially at the most significant position in the sport.

Said Foster: “I heard recently he’s worth three first-rounders. Like, dog, you can have five first-round picks and you’re not going to get a talented quarterback like that. You can have a first-round pick every year for the next 10 years and you’re not going to get a talented quarterback like that. Maybe, but you already have one. So, why not invest in this one? It don’t make no sense.”

The Texans will have to figure out a way to smooth things over with Watson quickly. A recent ESPN report indicated the former 2017 first-round pick would seek an exit from the club no matter who they hired as coach.

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Louis Riddick says Texans ‘blew it’ with Deshaun Watson communication

ESPN NFL analyst Louis Riddick says the Houston Texans made a mess of their relationship with QB Deshaun Watson due to communication issues.

ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Louis Riddick says the Houston Texans have no one to blame but themselves when it comes to the tension between the organization and quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Riddick, who was one of the two general manager finalists Korn Ferry presented to chairman and CEO Cal McNair, said on ESPN’s “Get Up” on Thursday that the Texans’ top brass is to blame for Watson’s grievances against the team because they didn’t handle the communication properly.

“This what happens when you get sloppy and careless regarding relationships and trust in any level of business, whether it be the NFL or anything,” Riddick said. “When you tell somebody something, in this case a franchise caliber player something, you know that he is someone that a lot of your success rides on. And you have open communication with him, which you’re assuming that they had open communication with him on. And then you just totally ignore it.”

Riddick, who was the director of pro personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles form 2010-13, explained the thought process Watson could be having about the hiring of general manager Nick Caserio.

Said Riddick: “So, the young man is sitting there going, ‘Wait a minute. I’m the face of the franchise here. I’m somebody you obviously invested in and have given you everything as far as that return on investment I can possibly give you. And you basically ignore me when you know that the relationship that you have with me, the relationship I have with the head coach, the relationship I have with the weapons that are around me are really what are going to drive us down here.'”

The Texans situation with Watson is also problematic due to the quarterback’s no-trade clause in his contract.

“This is what you inherit,” said Riddick. “You inherit a young player in his prime now who has it in his contract that he’s going to go where he wants to go, or you’re not going to send him where you want to send him. He’s going to have the right to say, ‘Hey, look, this is where I want to go.'”

Houston has other issues that are more pressing or need attention, such as the hiring of a new coach, adjusting to Caserio as general manager, and also deciding defensive end J.J. Watt’s future, as his contract has no more guaranteed money left on his deal.

“You have no one to blame but yourself as far as the people that are the chief decision-makers down there,” Riddick said. “You have no one to blame but yourself. That’s mind-boggling because this is about relationship management. That’s all it is. It’s about communication. That’s all it is, and you blew, and now you’ve ticked him off, and now you’re going to have to pay the price more than likely.”

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Report: Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair apologized privately to QB Deshaun Watson

Houston Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair has apologized to quarterback Deshaun Watson privately for not including him more in the final GM search.

At least Cal McNair is trying.

According to a new report from the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson, the Houston Texans chairman and CEO has reached out to quarterback Deshaun Watson privately and apologized for the uneasiness that has transpired this early in the offseason.

After the Texans hired New England Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio as general manager, Watson started giving the Texans the “silent tweetment” — not answering the organization’s calls while posting cryptic remarks about the situation on Twitter.

It’s a fluid situation, sources emphasized, that could lead to several potential outcomes, including a reconciliation, trading Watson or his withholding services.

McNair has apologized privately to Watson while publicly acknowledging the need for better communication. Watson became upset at not being involved in the hiring process for a general manager and coach after McNair assured him he would. The Texans hired Nick Caserio as GM and are still searching for a coach.

The key will be the coaching hire. If the Texans make a hire that Watson likes, it could keep him pacified. The team reportedly is already trying to make the situation more Deshaun friendly with blocking interview requests for offensive coordinator Tim Kelly.

Texans QB Deshaun Watson tweets he has ‘been trying to have some patience’

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson shared on Twitter that he is trying to be patient, and he has asked his mother to pray about his situation.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson took to Twitter Tuesday to share his latest thoughts his usual subtle style.

Since the 2020 offseason, it has been customary for fans and media to pick apart Watson’s tweets, looking for clues as to how he is really feeling about current situations. The Tuesday post on social media is no different.

The 25-year-old, three-time Pro Bowler tweeted an image of himself sitting in the back of a minivan while in New York City. The caption on Watson’s tweet read, “I been trying to have some patience, I told my momma she should pray on it.”

While Watson did not specify the situation for which he needs patience, nor what his mother needs to pray about, it seems obvious the former 2017 first-round pick is referring to the Texans.

Since Jan. 5, when reports emerged the Texans would be hiring general manager Nick Caserio, a friend and colleague of Jack Easterby’s when they were with the New England Patriots, Watson has been disgruntled. It also doesn’t help that there are trade rumors galore, even though teams have not called nor have the Texans indicated they would be willing to move Watson.

Deann Watson has been a key part of Watson’s life and continues to be a significant source of inspiration in his career.

“I’ve been doing something that I love to do for so long, and to be able to see the rewards that come with it was her biggest thing, and to see the tears, she was just like, hey, don’t worry about us, we’re going to be fine, you go win the championship,” Watson said of his mother on Sept. 5, 2020, during his contract extension presser. “That literally was the first thing she said. Congratulations, but you’ve got a game to win Thursday [at Kansas City] and you’ve got a championship to go get, and then she started getting into all the other stuff.

“I mean, having that mother that understands my priorities and my goals in life, I mean, it’s amazing. It makes life a lot more easier, so it was awesome.”

Watson is seeking the counsel of his mother once more as the abnormal situation with the Texans continues to brew.

Texans DE Charles Omenihu says Jack Easterby has been good to him

Houston Texans defensive end Charles Omenihu says that executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby has been good to him.

Charles Omenihu has no problems with Jack Easterby.

The former 2019 fifth-round defensive end from Texas took time to answer questions Monday while helping distribute 1,000 meals to residents in Houston’s Third Ward at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church.

“All of the decisions are really not up to me,” Omenihu said of the executive president of football operations. “So, my opinion really doesn’t change anything. All I know is Jack has been good to me. Jack has always been somebody that talked to me on the side and continue to give me a lot of support in my time with the Houston Texans. I can’t thank him enough for that. So, anything else beyond that is really I wouldn’t know and out of my control.”

Omenihu has known nothing but Easterby’s presence in the organization, first coming in as an executive vice president of team development in April of 2019. The 6-5, 280-pound defensive end was selected at the end of that month’s draft.

Deshaun Watson asks Texans fans to not protest outside NRG Stadium, citing COVID-19 concerns

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson called off a peaceful march in his honor to take place outside of NRG Stadium.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson took to Twitter Monday morning to call off a protest at NRG Stadium in his honor.

James Carlson of TexansUnfiltered.com organized a peaceful rally for Watson to air the fan base’s grievances against the Texans organization, who they believe is treating Watson unfairly throughout with the general manager and coach hiring processes.

The protest was slated for 11:00 a.m. at Lefty’s Cheesesteak on Kirby Drive, just down the road from NRG Stadium.

However, Watson took to Twitter to call off the protest.

“I’m hearing there is a march planned on my behalf in Houston today,” Watson tweeted. “Although I am humbled I ask that whoever is organizing the march cancel for the sake of public safety. Covid is spreading at a high rate & I don’t want any fans to unnecessarily expose themselves to infection.”

According to Texas Medical Center, there were 3,297 cases of the novel coronavirus reported on Jan. 17.

“If we are here to show support for Deshaun then we need to listen to his request,” Carlson said in a statement to Texans Wire. ‘We accomplished our goal, this was just a warning shot at the organization.”

Though the march may be called off, the situation is still abnormal between the Texans, Watson, and now the fan base. Houston still has one big hire to make with a new coach, and it will determine whether the anxiety subsides or intensifies.

Is Texans president Jamey Rootes about to leave the franchise?

There are reports that team president Jamey Rootes won’t be returning to the Houston Texans for his 21st season.

The Houston Texans could be on the verge of another shakeup in their front office.

According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, there is speculation that team president Jamey Rootes will not be back for his 21st season with the franchise.

Rootes has been the team’s only president since the 2002 season, and has been a key part in helping the Texans consistently rank as one of the top-10 most valuable NFL franchises.

The speculation on McClain’s part is corroborated by a recent Sports Illustrated report from Jenny Vrentas and Greg Bishop.

In the season’s final weeks, [Jack] Easterby’s relationships with the business side of the Texans’ operations also frayed. One person was surprised to see him sidling up to Rootes, the team president, at one of the later home games, despite a relationship that many of the same sources considered frosty. “There’s something going on with Jack and Jamey,” the person who saw them told a coworker. After the season, multiple sources heard that Rootes was considering resigning. That he did not, those same sources said, spoke to his desire to fight for an organization he had helped lead for two decades. (Rootes did not respond to multiple requests for comment.)

If there is any change with the Texans, or there is any negative outcome to be had, scrutiny immediately falls upon Easterby, the executive vice president of football operations. If Rootes leaves the Texans, Houston sports fans will be wondering if he is another casualty in one of Easterby’s power plays inside the organization.

Independent of Easterby, the departure of Rootes would be another significant shakeup to an organization that has undergone significant front office and coaching changes since founder Bob McNair’s death in November of 2018, and it will be another challenge chairman and CEO Cal McNair will have to expertly handle to set the Texans up for success in the 2020s.

Texans’ Cal McNair accepts responsibility for Houston fans being upset

Houston Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair says that he accepts the blame for the fans being upset and the media being extra scrutinizing.

Someone has to take the heat; it comes with the territory of being a leader.

Cal McNair is the top dog in the Houston Texans’ power structure as the team’s chairman and CEO. Houston sports fans have been agitated since the trade of three-time All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Instead of success with a couple different pieces for Deshaun Watson to work with, the Texans failed to launch with a 4-12 finish, Bill O’Brien fired as coach and general manager, and the dysfunction persisting as Watson’s communication with the organization has been laconic since the hiring of general manager Nick Caserio.

As a result, the media has focused on the Texans and scrutinized all of their decisions as the outcome so far has been nothing more than to perturb Watson.

McNair accepts the responsibility.

“Change is hard, and we’re going through change,” McNair said Friday via John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. “I accept that everything hasn’t gone perfectly. We’re working through it. If players, media and fans are upset, that’s on me. And I’ll apologize for my actions or communications that’s created mistrust.”

Part of why fans are frustrated is because of the elevation of Jack Easterby, a former character coach for the New England Patriots from 2013-18. The Texans hired Easterby as executive vice president of team development in April of 2019 in another move that had all the signals of Houston trying to be the Patriots’ southern command. Easterby was promoted to executive vice president of football operations at the same time O’Brien was promoted to general manager in January of 2020.

Easterby has been as much a part of the 4-12 debacle as anyone else, and given his friendship and work history with Caserio, a former New England Patriots director of player personnel, the front office hire reeked more of cronyism than a commitment to winning.

“I accept the fans’ frustration,” said McNair. “I’ll listen and learn and commit to getting better. We’re trying to win and chase championships, and I’m committed to doing that.”

The next hire the Texans have to make to resume as a fully operational franchise is coach, and the right hire could turn the tide to where McNair is accepting credit again and not blame.

Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair says he feels Andre Johnson’s passion

Houston Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair says he understands and feels Andre Johnson’s passion towards the organization.

Andre Johnson is a quiet soul who puts his head down to control what he can control.

Rarely does he get involved in any controversy, drama, or skirmish. If he does, he brings the fire. Ask Cortland Finnegan.

The Texans Ring of Honor member took to Twitter recently to express his disdain for the organization’s direction and implored franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson to stand his ground as the organization gets ready to hire a coach to replace Bill O’Brien, who was fired on Oct. 5, 2020.

Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair said Friday he appreciates where the three-time All-Pro receiver, who played for Houston from 2003-14, is coming from.

“We have a long relationship with Andre, as you know, and I’d just say we feel his passion,” McNair said via FOX 26’s [KRIV-TV] Mark Berman. “He’s got a lot of passion for the Texans, for the game, and we share that.”

McNair says he spoke to Johnson early when he was appointed to McNair’s five-man advisory committee on finding a new coach. However, McNair acknowledged he has not spoken since, although he has reached out to Johnson.