Texans holding Deshaun Watson hostage after JJ Watt release
The Texans succumbed to JJ Watt’s request for a release. Where does that leave their other disgruntled star?
With Watt officially set to move on to greener pastures, that leaves Deshaun Watson as the lone difference-maker left on an increasingly barren roster. Watson has made it glaringly clear that he wants out – but the Texans organization has made it just as clear that they have no interest in trading him.
Reports last week stated that while teams have been calling about the star quarterback, Houston hasn’t budged on their stance that they will not move him. If they stay true to that position and he plays for the Texans in 2021, he will have next-to-no support.
Other than Watson, the only Pro Bowl players left under contract in 2021 are Laremy Tunsil, Benardrick McKinney and David Johnson. They don’t have a first-round pick in 2021 after they traded for Tunsil, and are without a second as well. Will Fuller, Watson’s top receiver in 2020, is a free agent, and was suspended for the second half of the season after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
Their new coach, David Culley, has never held a coordinator position in the NFL, though he has spent nearly three decades in the league. Their new general manager, Nick Caserio, is also entering his first full season in that position.
Team owner Cal McNair is facing increased criticism as the Texans’ body count piles up. Still, he remains committed to Watson as the situation deteriorates around him.
“There is a lot of misinformation out there, I’ll leave it at that. Today we want on focus on J.J. Deshaun is our quarterback, he is a Texan, and we expect him to remain a Texan, and we’ll leave that,” McNair said, via ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Watson, to his credit, has remained calm in the face of the chaos, wishing Watt well on Twitter after his release.
“Salute to one of the Greatest of All Time @JJWatt I appreciate you for all the work you put in and more importantly the person you are,” Watson wrote. “Any team in the league will be better the day you out on their jersey! 1OVE my brother! MORE Glory.”