We’re doing another special Monday Mailbag since so many of you fired off questions and comments about my Sunday column on why Nick Caserio should start listening to trade offers and accept the best one for Deshaun Watson.
The Watson controversy is such a hot topic that just about everyone has a strong opinion. I’ve been writing and saying for weeks Watson should meet with the Texans, and if they can’t convince him to return, then they should trade him.
Well, he did a Zoom conference call with coach David Culley, and Watson repeated that he wants to be traded and won’t play for them. I think Caserio should trade him by April 29, the first day of the draft. I explained why in my column.
Anyway, thanks very much for your comments and questions. You can send them to john.mcclain@chron.com.
As always, keep them coning, and please don’t forget to check out the Chronicle’s two weekly television shows — “Texas Sports Nation” at 11 p.m. Sundays on KPRC (Channel 2) after “Sports Sunday” and “Texas Sports Nation: In Depth,” which airs two new episodes per month on AT&T SportsNet Southwest, which also reruns it at different times.
Q: You never asked but I defended you when Deshaun and his people came after you. And now you’re flipping. You say one thing this week, another the next. I’ve followed you for most of my life. This player empowerment crap will ruin the NFL like the NBA. Teams have to make a stand. What the hell is the CBA good for? There have to be consequences. The team paid him two years before they had to. And he pulls this. I know the real story. I got it from another writer who is pro Deshaun. But it still is not enough to screw the team out of its investment. He is a grown-up. He shouldn’t be allowed to act like a child. Let me take my ball and go home. He has to assume responsibility. Make him sit at least one year. And then trade him to where Houston wants, not where he holds the team hostage. Why are you pushing this agenda! Houston has issues. NFL, investigate please. Come on General, stop flip-flopping! — Marco M.
A: First of all, Marco, I left out your comments about race because I don’t believe them. Second, thanks for reading. As for flip-flopping, I’ve been writing and broadcasting for weeks that Watson and the Texans should meet, and if he still wants to be traded afterward, they should do it and get the best deal for him. What good would it do to handle Watson like you suggest? Force him to sit a season and then trade him? You’re not going to get near the value you’d get this year. The Jets and Dolphins have the second and third overall picks. They have two first-round picks this year. They’re trying to catch the Bills. You write that they signed him and he should live up to his contract. Tell that to Nick Martin and Duke Johnson. They signed contracts in good faith and got cut over the weekend. Teams do that to players all the time. Is that fair? Watson doesn’t want to play for the Texans. He’s willing to sit and lose millions. That would serve no purpose other than the Texans wanting to tank the season and compete for the first overall pick in 2022. That’s not the plan, but it could be inevitable if they hang on to Watson. No, it’s time for Caserio to see the light and make the best deal possible and make sure to get another franchise quarterback in return.
Q: I wholeheartedly agree with you. It’s time for the GM and owner to realize and acknowledge that Watson has no interest in playing in Houston. The worst of all worlds would be for Watson to sit out the season and then the Texans get NOTHING for him. I just hope and pray the Nick and Cal read your article. If this doesn’t get thru to them, nothing will. Time to start listening. – Scott M.
A: I agree wholeheartedly with you, too, Scott.
Q: For Caserio to do what you suggest he must obviously consult with Easterby first. There’s got to be a player someone doesn’t want that we can trade for ... perhaps in Arizona? — Mike D.
A: Hummmm! I wonder who that would be, Mike?
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Q: Just finished your column and come down on the side of trading DW4 to the Dolphins. Why? Because Tua is more mobile than Sam Darnold and the Texans are going to need a mobile QB given the shape their O-line is in. Whomever lines up behind center, they will be running for their life and on that score. Tua is a better fit. How about a column comparing Darnold and Tua and which one makes better sense for the Texans? — Marty A.
A: The way I see it, Marty, if Watson is traded, it comes down to what Caserio, Easterby and Culley think about Darnold and Tua. Caserio watched them closely at New England. If he doesn’t believe one is the answer, then he’s got to make a deal in which he gets a franchise QB in the draft. The best way to try to do that is to make a deal with the Jets, who have the second overall pick and they’ll have their pick of anyone but Trevor Lawrence.
Q: I think you're exactly right. Trade Watson now because his value will never be higher. I don't think he'll blink because he can afford to stay on vacation for an entire season if he wants to and the Texans organization is not showing any signs of improvement. My expectations are very low, though, about the ability of Texans' management to maximize Watson's value and the Hopkins deal may look great in comparison by the time it's over. — Greg G.
A: If you’re a Texans fan, Greg, you better hope Caserio learned something about quarterbacks in his 20 years with the Patriots. He arrived the year after Brady, so he knows what it takes to have a great quarterback on and off the field.
Q: You hit the nail on the head and I wouldn’t be surprised if you received a counseling fee from the Texans! BTW, the Jets have the same uphill battle displacing the Giants as the Mets do displacing the Yanks! It’s certainly about history and generational infusion of team preference! I’m attempting to be comical, but it seems I always enjoy your opinion! — Bob B.
A: Thanks very much, Bob. If the Jets had Watson, he’d be the second-best quarterback in franchise history to Joe Namath. He’d help steal some of the Giants’ thunder. No matter what they’d have to give up, they’d know they would have Watson for 10 to 15 years.
Q: I totally agree. The Texans need to trade Watson but it’s still tough to stomach. But that’s why the GM gets paid the big bucks. We will see what moxie he has. — Randy L.
A: I’d hate to see Watson traded, too, Randy. But sometime common sense has to take over. If the Texans wait until after he sits out most of the season and reports to get credit to make sure his contract doesn’t toll to 2022, it would set them back even more years.
Q: This does appear to be getting ugly between super-talented quarterback Deshaun Watson and the Texans. At stake is an NFL principle that teams draft players and not the other way around. And that players who sign five-year contracts shouldn't be allowed to jaw their way out of their commitments in the first year of that contract. Watson watched James Harden work his way to Brooklyn from the Rockets and is emboldened to do the same to the people of Houston and to the Texans. But so far, the NFL is not the NBA. If the Texans decide to play hardball and sit Watson for five years, he would miss the prime of his career. The Texans would survive and keep drafting new players. The team could fine him if he refuses to play and insist on a public apology to the team, the league, and most especially the fans of the Texans before playing him another down and reassert control of the situation. Far from punishing the Texans for such tactics, the owners might stand with the Texans in solidarity, even awarding the Texans compensatory draft picks (don't be surprised) to prevent their own star players from demanding a trade to the team of their choice during the primes of their careers. McNair could credibly make that case: if a player won't honor his contract, punish the player, not the team. The owners have been quiet so far, but they do NOT want to cede their prerogatives, leadership and control to the players, no matter how talented the player may be. I also fear that the Texans may pursue a more subtle approach and begin the 2021 campaign by giving Watson the David Carr treatment. Ask him to take nothing but seven-step drops and throw the ball 60-70 times per game behind an offensive line as full of holes as Swiss cheese. Sack. Sack. Sack. Punt. Less likely, but that, too, would send a message. Competitive franchises don't do such things, but a rebuilding franchise, eager for higher draft picks for a year or two, just might. At least for a game or two. The people of Houston deserve better than this. — Dan B.
A: Dan, you make some good points, but what do you tell players who signed contracts in good faith and then get cut with years left on those contracts? NFL owners don’t want to become the NBA where a few rule the many. I imagine Cal McNair will get calls, if he hasn’t already, about standing his ground, and I’d tell him this: Worry about your team, not the NFL.
Q: Can you please give me some insight into how the Texans proceed to make over the team into a contender again? And even though they won't admit to trading him yet, what should the price for trading Deshaun? — Ronald J.
A: Ronald, they should rebuild through the draft and on cheap and mid-level free agents, not the high-priced players until they get competitive again. If they trade Watson, they have to find another quarterback to help them rebuild. The best way is to acquire multiple high picks for Watson and perhaps a quarterback like Darnold or Tua if Caserio thinks one of them can be part of what the Texans are trying to do to recover. If he doesn’t, he has to draft a quarterback he believes in.
Q: I think that I’ll end up being more interested in Deshaun’s next team than the Texans. The brand of the Texans is interesting in all the bad ways, which sits on Cal. I think the evaluated price of the Texans is reflected on being the home team to the largest city in Texas (a football state), and that owners who are more connected with their fans would do more than the brand. I just have no interest in watching the Texans outside of hate-watching them. The next step is to realize that that is an unhealthy habit, then stop watching all together. I hope one day you get to ask Cal a follow-up to “We ask that the fans trust that we know what we’re doing.” Also, I find it kind of crazy that Caserio and Cal haven’t just moved on from Easterby. But more so, it seems that Caserio is leaning on Easterby. This point is unoriginal and annoying to you, I’m sure. But Caserio didn’t win any of his rings without Brady, an all-world QB. Maybe they know more than we do, but I think a move in the right direction to appease D4, an all-world QB, would be to let Easterby walk. Sure you don’t want players running the team, but how many teams have won a Super Bowl without a top tier QB? Be easy, John. I hope you get vaccinated soon so you can resume normal life. — Cody C.
A: Caserio gets advice from Easterby, Culley and others who work closely with him, but he has final say on all personnel decisions, Cody. It’s in his contract. If McNair were going to fire Easterby, it would have been weeks ago. Easterby is here to stay no matter how much fans and media want him fired or to resign. By the way, Cody, I’ve been vaccinated two times. Thank you.
Q: Wasn’t sure to laugh or choke when I read about Watson’s social media quote of “Loyalty is everything. Don’t you EVER forget it.” Guess his loyalty to the contract he signed doesn’t mean anything to him. It’s called hypocrisy! I’m losing respect for him by the day. Wonder if he’s ever considered how he is letting his teammates down. For him it’s a ME thing and not a TEAM thing. I doubt he’s ever thought about or had any loyalty to the team or his teammates. — Will W.
A: I don’t believe his teammates begrudge him trying to force a trade, Will. I’m sure others would like to have that kind of power if he’s able to pull it off. Watson’s always been a great teammate who’s liked and respected by the players. They know they won’t be as good with him as without him, but I’m pretty sure most of them understand.
Q: This may be a stretch but David Mulugheta, Deshaun Watson's agent, also represents about 42 other NFL players, so there's no way he's refusing to talk to the Texans overall. From what I understand, Deshaun's massive contract payments start in the 2022 season, and he's already been paid the signing bonus. Suppose Mulugheta is asking the Texans to void that contract upon return of the signing bonus, which would make Deshaun a free agent at the end of this season. In return, Deshaun agrees to return to the Texans for 2021 and could re-sign if he chooses at the end of the season. I assume the Texans' response to this request would be not just no, but hell no. That contract gives them the leeway to trade Deshaun for a massive haul. However, Deshaun could insist on it and say that he will invoke his no-trade clause on most of the trades Texans attempt as long as that contract is valid and would not report for anything until the last six games of the season. Crazy? Maybe, but as long as we're all speculating wildly, I thought I would throw it in there. — Dave H.
A: Dave, I always appreciate your suggestions. Watson won’t be buying out his contract and playing this season to become a free agent in 2022. I’m sure he’d like to be a free agent, but he gave away that right when he signed that $156 million extension.
Q: Truth hurts! Thank you for saying that. I have been telling people that it is time for Cal to find someone to buy the team and make way for new ownership rather than just new GM and HC. I am a lifelong Texan and Texans fan and will always be. This article spoke for me and again, I thank you. Hoping we get Tua rather than Darnold. Also, please start a petition to get Easterby fired. I blame him for the BOB disaster by allowing one man to have that much control over our franchise with very little risk/ownership (long-term affects invested) involved. — Brian G.
A: The McNairs won’t be selling, Brian, and Easterby isn’t going to be fired. I’m hoping the Texans trade Watson to the Jets and use the second overall pick on a quarterback like Zach Wilson. Then use the other high picks this year and next year on players to help the rebuild.
Q: I think that Cal is a spoiled rich kid who has managed nothing his whole life and knows nothing about managing a football team. Easterby is a preacher who has no knowledge and respect with the team the coaches and the league. The Texans are a miserable laughingstock just like Detroit run by another do-nothing rich kid. — Frank Y.
A: Tell us what you really think, Frank.
Q: Liked your article. I used to think the world of DW. Now I think he’s greedy, spoiled and disloyal. Let’s get as much as we can for him and get him out of here ASAP! Amazing, months ago he signs a four-year contract extension for $39 million a year and he’s as happy as can be. Now he wants out. Give me a break! It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what he’s all about. It’s about him and only him. Not his teammates, not his fans and not his employer. Remember, he’s not management, he’s labor. He doesn’t own the team. Why should he get to decide who becomes GM or coach? Get rid of him and create a bidding war to get the most we can and rebuild the Texans. I’m very confident that quite a few Texans fans feel as I do. — Patrick O.
A: You may be right about others feeling the way you do, Patrick, but the response I get on a weekly basis is that most fans still blame the Texans for the Watson situation rather than Watson.
Q: The NFL owners cancel contracts all the time like they did to a good guy Nick Martin. Between the Rockets' 11-game losing streak, the joke of Cal’s leadership and the unwillingness of the Astros to really compete for our stars by not willing to seriously engage in long-term deals with either Springer or Correa indicates Houston professional sports is going into long term hibernation. So sad. — Mike W.
A: Just think, Mike, where the teams were the last few seasons before the Texans bottomed out last year, and the Rockets are bottoming out this season, but I’m not giving up on the Astros after the way they rallied last season.
Q: Has anyone taken the time to look at Watson’s performance based on the score of the game? Seems like he performed his best when the Texans were behind by 14 or more points. What is his passing rating and total yards when the Texans were leading by 3 or more points, the games were tied 0-0 or 3-3 or 14-14, the games when they were behind by 1-6 points, the games when they were behind by 7-13 points and the games when they were behind by 14 or more points? He led the team to many, many, many scores when the game had been decided. I understand they should be running the ball and using clock when they were ahead but I still would like to see the numbers. — Charly W.
A: Charly, the Texans’ defense was so bad they were almost always behind. I saw every play, and I thought Watson played great for most of the season.
Q: I'm not surprised Nick Martin and Duke Johnson were cut. I am surprised (Kahale) Warring hasn't been cut, but I think that is coming. The Texans in the last few years have failed miserably in the draft, except for first-round picks. Of course, they traded Clowney and Hopkins. Watson, another No. 1, wants out. I believe at some point he will be traded. I also believe that is the main reason the Texans are where they are. Bad drafting, bad trading, not keeping the good players. Bad contracts. I think Caserio might be a good GM. He deserves a chance. I also believe if Easterby were gone, Watson would stay. Do you think Randall Cobb will be traded or released? I also think Will Fuller will be gone. — Glen K.
A: They cut Martin and Johnson because they cleared cap space and have players to take their place or plan to acquire their replacements in free agency or the draft, Glen. I think the only way Fuller will be back is if they put the transition tag on him. They could match any offer. If they don’t tag him, I imagine he’ll leave in free agency. They can sign two free agent receivers for what it would cost to keep Fuller.
Q: Longtime reader and listener on 610 of your insight into the Texans. My question/thought is why not trade DW4 to Jets for two first-round picks in 2021, a first-round pick in 2022 and a player like Sam Darnold? Draft Zach Wilson with the second overall pick and start Darnold until Wilson is ready to play. Trade Darnold midseason for more draft capitol. Why wouldn’t Texans want Darnold as a stop-gap for 2021 season? — Boyd P.
A: I like your thinking, Boyd, but I think it would take another first-round pick in 2022 to get that deal done. The Jets have two first-round picks in 2021 and 2022. As for Darnold, it depends on what Caserio thinks. He saw Darnold two times a year during his first three seasons.
Q: As I understand it, the Texans have eight 2021 draft picks and none in the first two rounds. They are seemingly resolute about not trading Deshaun. If Deshaun sits, could the Texans' strategy be 2021 draft for need, McCarron/McCown 2021 QBs, tank the 2021 season, deal Deshaun for 2022 season, embarrassment of riches in 2022 draft picks, 2022 draft for QB/Studs? — Mike T.
A: Mike if they wait to trade Watson in 2022, he won’t bring nearly as much as he will this year. He’s coming off a great season. He’s under contract through 2025. They have two AFC East rivals, the Jets and Dolphins, with the second and third overall picks. Both have two first-round picks this year.
Q: I just read your article of the Texans should entertain trade offers. I think the Texans really prefer to keep Deshaun, but are currently driving the price up in case they do decide to trade him, after the new NFL season begins, but before the draft. Here is my question, couldn't the Texans keep Deshaun, he could sit out this season, and if we're in true rebuild mode we could assume that the Texans go 1-15 or 2-14 using AJ McCarron or some other QB and we would have the 1st overall pick next year for the best available QB and because Watson's contract would just essentially reset to 2021 for the 2022 season, meaning we still only owe him the $15m, we could still keep him and only trade him if we get the correct asking price? I know we may get a better trade deal this year but may get a better QB, although unproven, next year and still have Deshaun under a cheap price, so still don't have to trade him and very unlikely he sits out 2 seasons in a row. — William W.
A: I don’t see that happening, William. He’s due $10.5 this year and $35 million next year. I think he’d sit out until it was time to report to make sure his contract didn’t toll until 2022. It would be an ugly situation all around. They need to trade him this year to avoid making it even uglier.
Q: Do you see McNair selling or moving the Texans? He strikes me as a bad gambler. — Joe L.
A: I don’t know how Cal McNair is as a gambler, Joe, but do know his mother won’t be selling the team or moving it to another city.
Q: Why hasn’t any one questioned Watson’s veracity? He didn’t have to sign the contract. He wasn’t recruited for his management skills: Management, why this indecision? Hurting entire team for his selfish, immature attitude. Watson, be an adult, give all the money back, then walk. — Stephen G.
A: Despite how you feel, Stephen, he earned the money he’s pocketed so far and won’t be giving back anything he’s got in the bank.
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