Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson returned to practice on Monday (Twitter link via Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com). Still, it’s not clear whether Watson has a future in Houston.
Watson will never play another down for the Texans, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). Meanwhile, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link) hears that the Texans haven’t ruled out keeping him. The front office may seek an “Aaron Rodgers type of solution,” according to Robinson. Of course, Watson’s situation is far different from Rodgers’ contract dispute.
The Texans’ position on trading Watson is still unclear. Over the weekend we heard that the Texans are not returning calls on the embattled QB. At the same time, they’ve yet to back down from their sky high asking price of five high draft picks plus quality players. Meanwhile, Watson is still facing 22 civil suits, potential discipline from the league office, and an ongoing legal investigation.
Despite it all, the Panthers continue to monitor Watson and “several” other teams have contacted the Texans about the four-year starter. If Watson is traded/suspended/parked on the exempt list, the Texans will move forward with Tyrod Taylor and third-round pickDavis Mills as their top QBs.
Trapped in a historically unusual position, the Texans have been receiving calls on their embattled and disgruntled quarterback. And, after coming off its no-trade stance last month, the team may be backtracking on the Deshaun Watson front for the time being.
The Texans are not returning teams’ calls on Watson, according to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer (video link). This news comes barely a week after Houston opened the door to a Watson trade. Unreturned calls could well be the product of Watson’s legal situation, which has diminished the three-time Pro Bowler’s value. Teams are almost certainly not willing to meet Houston’s lofty asking price — five high draft picks and quality players — while the 25-year-old passer is embroiled in his present legal situation.
The team has not softened its asking price on Watson, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, despite an ongoing legal investigation into numerous allegations of sexual assault and sexual misconduct. The Houston PD’s investigation, the 22 civil suits and the NFL’s inaction here has complicated the QB’s status. As of now, Watson is not practicing with the Texans. He is believed to be dealing with calf and ankle tightness, according to Sports Talk 790’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter).
Furthermore, the Texans may not be ready to close the book on Watson suiting up for them again. The team believes Watson will end up wanting to play in Houston again this season, Glazer adds, though the veteran reporter does not seem to believe the fifth-year QB will back down. Watson’s desire to be traded surfaced in January, and after he and the team discussed this stance in July, it appeared the sides were on the same page regarding a separation. The Texans signed Tyrod Taylor and draftedDavis Mills in the third round. Like just about everything Watson-related, this may be murky as well.
It would be quite strange if Watson suited up for the Texans again, and the notion of the QB playing in 2021 while multiple investigations ensue would make for an awkward start to the season. A team that would even come close to meeting the Texans’ asking price would want clarity on Watson’s status, which would likely require the NFL to intervene. Watson landing on the commissioner’s exempt list would pause trade talks but inject some stability into this situation. While that may well need to occur, the league is merely monitoring this situation as of now.
The Panthers are monitoring the Watson saga, too, and Glazer adds that “several teams” have contacted the Texans regarding their four-year starter. Under normal circumstances, the Texans could collect a monster trade haul that would allow Nick Caserio and Co. to begin a rebuild in earnest. It just seems highly unlikely any team would meet Houston’s asking price at this juncture, creating a standstill.
The Panthers are still eyeing embattled Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (via PFT). The Panthers were among the frontrunners for Watson before the lawsuits emerged and they’re not ruling out the possibility now, even after acquiring Sam Darnold.
Watson was not present at the Texans’ Tuesday practice, a sign that he could be placed on paid leave in one fashion or another. The Texans aren’t saying much about the situation as GM Nick Caserio weighs his options.
“We make decisions every day based on what’s best for our football team,” head coach David Culley said. “Nothing new today on that.”
The team reportedly wants a combination of five high draft picks plus quality players in exchange for the embattled quarterback. Caserio isn’t in any rush — he’s willing to pay Watson $10.54MM this year to stay away from the team in order to get the best trade return possible next year.
In addition to the Panthers, the Broncos, Eagles, and Dolphins have also been connected to Watson. At this points, the ‘Fins seem set with Tua Tagovailoa as their starter and Jacoby Brissett as his safety net. The Broncos, meanwhile, are prepared to move forward with Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater. That might leave the Eagles and Panthers as the only real suitors for Watson, but, given all of the complications, it’s hard to imagine either team meeting the Texans’ current asking price.
Deshaun Watson was not present at the Texans’ Tuesday practice, their first padded scrimmage of training camp. When asked by reporters, Texans head coach David Culley didn’t offer up much of an explanation.
“We make decisions every day based on what’s best for our football team,” Culley said (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com). “Nothing new today on that.”
Watson still wants out of Houston, even in the midst of 20+ lawsuits. The Texans are willing to make that happen, though they’re asking for a lot in return. Texans GM Nick Caserio reportedly wants a combination of five high draft picks plus quality players in exchange for the embattled quarterback.
For his part, Caserio doesn’t seem to be in any rush. The Texans would have to pay Watson to not play if he’s placed on team or the Commissioner’s Exempt list. Still, his $10.54MM salary isn’t necessarily a backbreaker, and Caserio would prefer to wait it out. This way, he’ll have a chance at a better haul next year rather than accepting pennies on the dollar.
Up until today, Watson was at training camp and successfully avoiding $50K in daily fines. Even then, his participation was light with no team drills.
Deshaun Watson wants out of Houston, and the Texans are said to have moved on from their embattled quarterback. However, GM Nick Caserio has put a very high price on Watson. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports that Caserio is asking for a combination of five high draft picks and quality players in any Watson deal (via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe).
Although no team will pony up that kind of offer while Watson’s status remains so uncertain, Caserio can afford to wait out the process. Watson’s $10.54MM salary for 2021 is not untenable, especially for a club that will not be competing for a playoff spot. If Watson ends up on the Commissioner’s Exempt list until his legal situation is resolved, Houston would be paying him that salary to sit on the sidelines, but even that wouldn’t be a big deal for Caserio. As Volin observes, the rookie GM would happily pay out that money this year in order to maximize his return in a Watson trade in 2022.
Volin also notes that the team is taking efforts to protect its biggest trade chip. Watson reported to training camp to avoid the $50K daily fines mandated by the CBA, but his participation in practices has been light. He has been held out of team drills, and he worked as a scout team safety at one point.
Meanwhile, Tony Buzbee, the lawyer representing the 22 women who have filed sexual assault/sexual misconduct suit against Watson, issued a definitive denial of reports suggesting that the NFL has not been given access to speak to many of his clients.
“To suggest the NFL hasn’t got enough information or has not been provided access, that’s just demonstrably false. I think if you ask the NFL directly they would have to admit that,” Buzbee said (via Mark Berman of Fox 26). “I don’t know who the sources are or what they’re saying, but I do know my staff has spent many, many, many hours voluntarily, because the NFL asked us to, and these women have went out of their way to provide information.”
Deshaun Watson joined the Texans for practice on Wednesday morning (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Watson will be able to participate in training camp the rest of the way. The NFL issued a statement this week suggesting that Watson could still be placed on paid leave, pending the outcome of their investigation.
“The NFL’s review of the serious allegations against Deshaun Watson remains ongoing and active,” the NFL said. “We are working cooperatively with the Houston Police Department and ensuring that the NFL’s inquiry does not interfere with their investigation. As we continue to gather additional information and monitor law enforcement developments, we will make appropriate decisions consistent with the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the Personal Conduct Policy. At this time there are no restrictions on Watson’s participation in club activities.”
Off the field, Watson is embroiled in civil litigation with lawsuits from 22 different women. Even without criminal charges, Watson could still face league discipline.
Meanwhile, Watson still wants to be traded. But, by reporting to work, he’ll avoid $50K in daily fines. For now, new head coach David Culley will try to navigate things as best he can. Even with Watson on the field, the Texans are probably more focused on getting newcomer Tyrod Taylor and rookie Davis Mills up to speed.
With their training camp less than 24 hours away, the Texans are set to navigate a complex situation with their star quarterback. Deshaun Watson is expected to show for Houston’s Tuesday workout, but a criminal investigation and trade rumblings engulf the Pro Bowl passer.
Texans brass spent months denying Watson was available, but Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com report they are now willing to listen to offers for him (video link). Despite Watson’s legal entanglement, the Texans are asking for a historic return. They want three first-round picks and change for the 25-year-old standout, Pelissero notes.
The Texans and Watson met Monday, and while the summit was cordial, Rapoport indicates the fifth-year QB reaffirmed his trade stance. Under normal circumstances, Watson would bring back a bounty for the Texans and provide plenty of ammo to ignite their rebuild. Teams like the Broncos, Eagles, Panthers and Dolphins and perhaps select others loom as prospective suitors, and certain interested franchises have spent time examining Watson’s legal situation, per NFL.com. Watson has a no-trade clause. He was mentioned as interested in the Broncos, Dolphins and 49ers this offseason, but the talented quarterback likely has hurdles to clear before he gets his wish to leave Houston.
Watson’s legal drama clouds the trade environment, and the Houston Police Department’s investigation into his alleged sexual assault and sexual misconduct has seen some developments. Ten women have now spoken to police in this investigation, according to defense attorney Rusty Hardin (via ESPN.com’s John Barr). Eight of those accusers are part of the 22-woman contingent who have filed civil suit against Watson. Nearly half of the 22 women involved in the civil matter have spoken with the NFL, per Tony Buzbee, the lawyer representing them. No depositions have been scheduled, and, further complicating this investigation, Watson is not set to be deposed in the civil suit until February 2022.
Hardin’s team has cooperated with this investigation, but the NFL has yet to interview Watson. This would represent a key step before a Watson placement on the Commissioner’s Exempt list occurs. As of now, however, such a move does not appear to be on the front-burner. Although that could certainly change if the criminal investigation gains more steam, the Texans are now set to have a quarterback in camp entangled in a multifront legal battle and one who has no interest in playing for them again.
Deshaun Watson will report to training camp. As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com observes, Texans quarterbacks are reporting to the team today, and Watson will be with his fellow signal-callers (Twitter link).
Watson, of course, is embroiled in civil litigation thanks to the sexual misconduct and sexual assault lawsuits that 22 different women have filed against him, but it’s presently unclear if Watson and the plaintiffs are close to a settlement. And, as Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network tweets, no criminal charges are imminent either. So even though there was a belief that the NFL would step in and park Watson on the Commissioner’s Exempt list if and when he reported to camp, Garafolo believes the league will simply monitor the situation for now.
Another veteran NFL reporter, Josina Anderson, has the same understanding. Anderson’s sources say the league will wait for official findings from Texas authorities before taking any action of its own (Twitter link).
Despite the maelstrom of controversy surrounding him, Watson remains adamant that he wants out of Houston (though as ESPN’s Ed Werder tweets, no rival clubs have asked Watson to waive his no-trade clause as of yet). However, since holding out of training camp would subject him to unwaivable $50K daily fines, it was expected that the three-time Pro Bowler would show up as required.
This is a unique and complicated situation for rookie head coach David Culley and rookie GM Nick Caserio. Having commissioner Roger Goodell step in and declare Watson temporarily ineligible would help to bring a little normalcy to training camp, but it doesn’t sound as if that will be happening (at least not before practices begin). So Culley will be tasked with handling the Watson matter while also trying to get free agent acquisition Tyrod Taylor and top draft choice Davis Mills ready to go for the start of the season.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com hears that the Texans have moved on from Watson and are prepared to go forward with Taylor and Mills, unless Watson’s presence at the team facilities somehow leads to a reconciliation (Twitter link).
One of the key points in this year’s draft came at No. 9, when the Broncos — who did extensive work on quarterbacks coming in — passed on Justin Fields and Mac Jones to selectPatrick Surtain II. Denver passing on potential long-term starters transpired shortly after new GM George Paton acquired Teddy Bridgewater from the Panthers.
With the Broncos choosing Surtain, Bridgewater and Drew Lock reside as their quarterbacks. They split reps down the middle this offseason and will continue this competition during training camp, when chapter six in the franchise’s post-Super Bowl 50 quarterback saga commences in earnest.
The Broncos have started an NFL-most 10 players at quarterback — counting Phillip Lindsay‘s wildcat snap in the COVID-19-created Kendall Hinton game last season — since Peyton Manning‘s March 2016 retirement. Denver has tried free agency (Case Keenum, the second Brock Osweiler acquisition), the trade market (Joe Flacco, Bridgewater) and the draft (Lock, Paxton Lynch) to fill this spot. The Broncos’ most successful post-Manning season — 2016, when the team went 9-7 — came with 2015 seventh-rounder Trevor Siemian at the controls.
Now on his fifth team, Bridgewater is still just 28 and has a history with Paton. The Vikings drafted the Louisville alum in the 2014 first round, when Paton was working as GM Rick Spielman‘s top lieutenant. The former Jets (briefly), Saints and Panthers quarterback has developed a reputation as a risk-averse passer, and Carolina was eager to jettison him after authorizing a three-year, $63MM deal in 2020. The trade agreement knocked Bridgewater’s 2021 cap hit down to just $4.4MM and made him a 2022 free agent. But Bridgewater makes sense for a team with high-end defensive capabilities, which a healthy Broncos iteration possesses.
Bridgewater finished 17th in QBR last season; Lock ranked 29th. The 2019 second-round pick was often erratic during his second NFL season, tying for the NFL INT lead (15) despite missing three games. Lock, however, was thrust into an unusual spot in 2020 — learning a new offense in a virtual offseason — and lacked top receiver Courtland Suttonfor most of the season. But, with longtime GM John Elway ceding the reins to Paton, Lock’s grace period is over.
The elephant in this room: will the Broncos’ interest inAaron Rodgers be relevant soon? The Broncos have lapped the field in Rodgers rumors, with the Raiders — another team Rodgers is open to joining — comfortable withDerek Carr for the time being. Depending on which skill-position players would be left in Denver after a trade, Rodgers would be equipped with a host of young weapons and a defense positioned to be one of the league’s best.
Even as some around the league wonder if the Packers are bracing for the reigning MVP’s exit, they are holding firm and possess leverage. Despite a return that could feature two or three first-round picks and one or more established young starters, Green Bay is understandably clinging to hopes this situation can be salvaged. The Bengals traded disgruntled QB Carson Palmer in October 2011, after the incumbent had staged a retirement in an effort to leave Cincinnati, and Palmer made nine starts for the Raiders that year. The Broncos likely would be open to a Rodgers in-season arrival, but ideally for them, the Packers begin trade discussions before the season.
Denver passing on Fields also leaves the door open, albeit narrowly, for Deshaun Watson. Twelve years younger than Rodgers, at 25, Watson is believed to be interested in being traded to the Broncos. The team had Watson on its radar as well. Kareem Jackson, conflict of interest notwithstanding, said his former Texans teammate has Denver atop his destination list. The Broncos are believed to prefer Rodgers to Watson, with the latter’s off-field issues undoubtedly factoring into this equation. Watson faces an uncertain future, with the Commissioner’s Exempt List and/or a suspension potentially looming. But if clarity emerges here before the trade deadline, the Broncos — assuming they do not acquire Rodgers — may be back in play for the three-time Pro Bowler.
Will the Broncos end up swinging a trade this year, or will 2022 be the window for such a transaction? Can Bridgewater or Lock seize the job and halt Rodgers and Watson rumors for good? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts on this situation in the comments section.
Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing the 22 women who have filed lawsuits against Texans QB Deshaun Watson, said back in May that his clients would not agree to a settlement with Watson. Shortly thereafter, Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, said that Buzbee had indeed approached him about a settlement, but that settlement is not an option unless “the terms are made public and all participants are allowed to speak in their own defense at all times.”
Several days ago, Buzbee once again took to Instagram to discuss the matter. He said, “there will not be a settlement, at least anytime soon. I have my best people on the case. That should tell you a lot about our intentions. … our team is doing what it takes in discovery and prep to try these cases to a jury. The press folks say we’ve gone ‘quiet,’ but the truth is we made clear early on that we wouldn’t try these cases in the press and now are doing the important work required for our clients to try these cases to a jury.”
As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, Hardin and Buzbee have privately discussed a settlement, but those talks broke down due to Buzbee’s unwillingness to waive confidentiality and make the terms of a settlement public. Florio believes that Buzbee is prepared to settle and that the general parameters of an agreement — including the amount of money Watson is willing to pay out — are in place, but that Buzbee still wants to keep the settlement confidential and is insisting he is prepared to try the case in an effort to get Hardin to change his stance. For his part, Hardin says there are no active settlement talks at the moment (via Courtney Zubowski of KPRC-TV).
For most observers, the football side of this matter is still on the backburner, but for the Texans, Watson, and any teams that might want to trade for the three-time Pro Bowler, it is very much a pressing issue. The NFL’s investigation is ongoing, but Florio believes the league must make a decision as to whether it will place Watson on the Commissioner’s Exempt list as soon as possible to be fair to all parties involved. Despite everything else that has happened since his trade demand earlier this year, Watson still wants to be traded and remains interested in the Broncos, though Denver reportedly would prefer to swing a deal for Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.
However, it’s unclear when the NFL might make a decision with respect to Watson’s playing eligibility. According to Hardin, the league has not even spoken to his client yet.
The criminal investigation into Watson is also ongoing.
