The Deshaun Watson saga has intrigued the football world in recent weeks. There has been enough internal drama to reject Watson and prompt him to request an exchange, which would put a franchise defender at his best on the market.
Not much is known about what happened within the Texans organization that led to Watson’s disapproval, other than the fact that he was not consulted about hiring the new Texans general manager, Nick Caserio.
But how bad are things in Houston?
Someone who knows a little about this culture within the Texan organization is the security guard at Bears Tashaun Gipson, who was released by Houston in the off-season and picked up by Chicago.
“Listen, man, I can honestly tell you, not only from the outside, but speaking from the inside, it’s just different. It’s different, ”said Gipson on The Hoge & Jahns Podcast.
“This is no shadow for anyone involved, but when you see an organization that loses a guy like DeAndre Hopkins and some of the moves and things they’ve done, it’s difficult (understand how you can’t) to keep your franchise player who, in mine opinion, is one of the three best defenders of the National Football League. So when you lose a guy like that, it says a lot about what’s going on at the top. “
At the heart of the Texas controversy is Executive Vice President Jack Easterby, who is not exactly a proven football executive, as evidenced by everything that has happened in recent seasons.
Houston’s toxic football culture has been a hot topic in the talks, specifically what happened to Watson wanting to leave just a year after signing a $ 156 million four-year extension.
It all started with the undoubtedly switching of the best football receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, to the Arizona Cardinals and culminated in the hiring of the new Texan general manager without consulting Watson – after they said they would.
“My situation was completely different from Hops and completely different from (Watson), but it just shows how things happen there, it’s crazy when you think about it,” said Gipson. “In my wildest dreams, I would never think that a quarterback at his peak – I mean, he hasn’t even reached his peak – wanting to leave after signing a life-changing contract is on par with everything everyone has heard. Let’s just say that. “
Although the Texans have received calls about Watson, it is still unclear whether they will actually trade him or see how things will turn out for the season. Houston insists that Watson is the defender of the future, but that defender does not want to have anything to do with them.
But if Watson reached the open market, there is no doubt that he would accumulate a lot in compensation for many interested teams. Obviously, the Bears are one of those teams.
“He is a good friend of mine and I have nothing but respect for him as a player and as a leader and where he ends, he will make this team a super candidate,” said Gipson. “I can tell you that.”
Assuming Gipson signs an extension this off-season, perhaps he can help recruit Watson for the Bears.