USA TODAY Sports
With seven lawsuits open, five more pledged and at least 10 more likely to arrive, common sense suggests that it has become difficult, if not impossible, for Texans to negotiate quarterback Deshaun Watson. A Saturday report by Aaron Wilson from Houston Chronicle suggests otherwise.
Wilson cites unidentified sources to support the claim that several teams remain interested in Watson: Eagles, Panthers, Jets, Dolphins, 49ers and Broncos.
Being interested and actually making an exchange are two different things. With the current legal cloud (s) over Watson, anyone who trades for Watson would take the risk that Watson would be suspended without pay, eventually. The new team would also have to pay Watson if he were placed on the list of exempted commissioners while the various lawsuits continue – or while an indictment takes place.
For now, it is difficult to imagine anyone negotiating for Watson. This can change over time. His lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said a response to the charges will come this week. With so many people complaining about Watson, it won’t be easy for Hardin to get it all over.
All parties involved in this matter have rights, and those rights cannot be resolved quickly. Separately, the NFL’s internal justice system moves as fast or as slow as the league desires.