The Texans’ coaching decision should not change Deshaun Watson’s thinking, as the quarterback may still want to leave Houston, no matter who the head coach is, ESPN sources said Chris Mortensen.
Texans should request a second interview with Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier and Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy after Sunday’s AFC Championship Game, sources told ESPN.
In particular, Frazier told some people that he thinks he has a legitimate chance of getting the Texans’ job, and in that case he tried to set up a coaching staff. Bieniemy had a strong team, but some of his candidates are starting to take on other jobs.
But Watson was upset with the Texans about, among other issues, the process they used to hire general manager Nick Caserio, sources told ESPN, leading to widespread speculation that Houston could negotiate the star defender in this off season or face the real possibility he could decide to suspend his services and not report.
A source told Sarah Barshop of ESPN last week that Texans had internal conversations about potential business partners and what their quarterback position would look like in the future without Watson.
Watson has hinted at his dissatisfaction with several tweets since Caserio was hired, although sources have told ESPN that those feelings are not directed specifically at the former New England Patriots executive. Watson found on social media, not the team, that the Texans hired Caserio, sources told ESPN.
The quarterback has a no-trade clause in his five-year, $ 156 million deal with the Texans, which would give Watson some control over where he is traded, because if it weren’t for the destination he wanted, he might have refuse to report.
Frazier is said to have had a great interview with the Texans and has had previous experience as a head coach on the Minnesota Vikings team. Bieniemy is seen in many circles as a standby coach, although he has recently been passed over by several teams.
As the search for the Houston chief coach increases, the winning coordinator for Sunday’s game may be the loser in looking for the Texans, as they would have to wait to hire him. The Texans were able to act faster with the coordinator of the losing team.
This scenario played a key role in the hiring of Brandon Staley by the Los Angeles Chargers last weekend over Bill’s offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll. After Staley’s Rams were eliminated from the playoffs, the Chargers didn’t want to wait for Daboll and hired Staley.
Other candidates the Texans interviewed include quarterback Josh McCown, former Lions and Colts coach Jim Caldwell, Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and Ravens assistant coach David Culley. Some league members believe that Caldwell is also in first place as a Texan coach.