HOUSTON – Former Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson tweeted his thoughts on the current situation surrounding quarterback Deshaun Watson’s discontent with the team, saying, “If I go [Watson], I will maintain my position. “
“The Texans organization is known for wasting players’ careers”, the old All-Pro receiver added. “Since Jack Easterby entered the building, nothing good has happened to / for the organization and, for some reason, someone can’t seem to see what’s going on. Pathetic !!!”
Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who was traded by former Texas coach and general manager Bill O’Brien in March, also tweeted, “When Dre speaks, listen.”
Johnson, the Texans franchise leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns, played for Houston from 2003 to ’14. His last season was O’Brien’s first with the team. After Johnson retired, he moved to a position on the Texans’ technical team under O’Brien. In August, Johnson left the Texans’ technical staff, but remained a Texan ambassador. Johnson and Easterby worked with the organization for more than a year.
Easterby, the Texans’ executive vice president of football operations, was hired by O’Brien and team president and CEO Cal McNair in 2019. After McNair fired O’Brien in October, he appointed Romeo Crennel as acting coach team and gave Easterby the responsibility for the personnel department.
McNair initially said Easterby would not be involved in the hiring process for the next Texans general manager, Nick Caserio, but said he asked for Easterby’s feedback “about Nick as a leader” during the decision process.
“Jack and I have a really special relationship,” said Caserio at his introductory press conference. “This goes back several years. … I have a huge respect and admiration for. Any personal decisions that are made we will make as a group, but in the end this is a responsibility that Cal has instilled in me, is taking care of the personal side of football operations. That is the expectation going forward.
“Jack will have a role and we will work together on a number of things, for sure. But when it comes to football decisions, these will ultimately be my decision together with the head coach once we get to that point, too.”
On the day the Texans announced they had hired Caserio, there were several reports in the media that Watson was not satisfied with the hiring process. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Watson found on social media that the Texans intended to hire Caserio. Although there have been several reports of his unhappiness, Watson’s only reaction to the hiring of the general manager came in the form of an excluded tweet that said, “Some things never change …”
On Friday, McNair said he had contacted Watson, but had no response from the quarterback while on vacation.