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Given the barrage of reports about the current unhappiness of Texan quarterback Deshaun Watson, it makes sense to take a look at the player’s option.
It also makes sense to examine your options because, frankly, there is fire under the increasingly dense smoke. Although Texans are trying to minimize the gravity of the situation, things are currently not going well. And although Watson has not yet asked for an exchange, he shouldn’t be surprising anyone if he does.
So if Watson officially asks to be traded and the Texans, who will certainly hear from potentially interested teams who have heard enough to make a phone call, refuse to move him, what can Watson do?
He can launch a public relations campaign to change their mind. If Watson, who would certainly be more restrained and less inflamed than Antonio Brown two years ago, makes his wishes known calmly and rationally, he could find much public support. Even Texan fans can hear him and not be particularly upset, given the general dysfunction currently engulfing the organization – and in light of the team’s apparent willingness to let Watson have a say in the main signings this off-season.
Texans may continue to refuse, but if it becomes increasingly clear that Watson wants to leave, Texans will inevitably receive more and more offers for the balance of their contract. Texans can shout no and no and no and no and all they need is Houston to whisper yes once.
If nothing happens before the off-season program starts, Watson can hang up. Although some say that, in the end, Watson will do whatever it takes to be great when the season starts, Watson looks like a guy who doesn’t play or makes useless threats. If he broke up with the Texans and is determined to leave, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he stays away from the offseason program.
And good luck getting ready for the 2021 season with a new coach and without the presence of a full-back.
Watson could also boycott the training ground. Yes, it would cost $ 50,000 a day under the 2020 CBA. Yes, CBA 2020 also prevents staff from waiving fines if / when they attend. But if Watson is willing enough to pay money to leave Houston, that is his prerogative.
He also owes Texans a portion of his signing bonus, if he refuses to play the game. He has $ 21.6 million in unearned bonus money, which applies to each of the next four years at $ 5.4 million per year. In addition, his future guarantees may be voided if he refuses to show up for the camp.
Instead of resisting, Watson could contain himself. He could, for example, be hurt or “hurt”. He could also do the bare minimum, refusing to arrive early or staying late or studying a movie or leading his teammates or doing anything other than saying, “I just work here.”
When considering what Watson will do, it is relevant to consider what cornerback Jalen Ramsey did when he decided he wanted to leave Jacksonville, because the two players are represented by David Mulugheta. In the case of Ramsey, however, the desire to be traded arose during the season. The rules made it virtually impossible for Ramsey to leave the team and wait to be traded.
For Watson, service retention may be the best option, as long as it never appears. With Watson already ignoring calls from the team owner (and the team owner trying to shrug his shoulders if it doesn’t), there is a chance that Watson will want to leave, that he will dig, and that he will make it clear to the Texans that, if they change it or not, it won’t play for them this year – or maybe never again.
Alternatively, Texans can do everything they can to undo the damage they have done to the relationship. This is their fault, and this is one of the natural by-products of giving the keys to an interim executive vice president of football / GM operations who has no business in any of the jobs.
When evaluating what Texans can or will do to placate Watson, it is important to always remember that Texans are the team whose founder coined the phrase: “We cannot allow prisoners to run the prison.”