No one ever wants to willingly t꧋rade a star quarterback.
So it’s no shock that Texans GM Nick Caserio opened his press conference introducing new head coach David Culley with this:
GM Nick Caserio: “I just want to reiteraten our commitment to Deshaun Watson. … We have zero interest in trading the player. We have a great plan and vision for him. We look forward to spending more time with him."
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet)
In other words: “Your offers better be nuts, people.”
And this is quite bold:
coach David Culley, offering more on the Deshaun Watson situation: "The reason I'm in this position today is because I know he's going to be a Houston Texan.”
The strongest words yet.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet)
I’m not sure if this is rooted in intimate knowledge of the situation or pure hubris … but it’s out there!
The Texans are a mess of an organization. But even they weren’t coming out to open the door for all suitors and interested parties want in on the Watson sweepstakes. Not publicly, at least. So know that it’s unsurprising that Caserio publicly proclaimed he has no interest in trading Deshaun Watson. Because that’s the message he is supposed to send on a day like today. Moreover, Caserio insisting he has a plan in place and that he looks forward to relaying that plan with his team’s quarterback is adorable. I imagine that plan will include listening to Watson’s preferred destinations and trying to figure out how much future draft capital he can get in return for sending out a franchise quarterback.
Ultimately, Watson’s future hinges on what he wants. Maybe cooler heads prevail and Watson hears out Caserio’s hypothetical last-ditch plea to stick around. Perhaps all parties sit by a campfire — socially distanced, of course — and sing Kumbaya en route to reaching a common understanding. But as the franchise’s best, most popular, and most important player, who also happens to play the game’s most important position, Watson wields the advantage in any power play. So strap yourselves in. This is gonna be a ride.
