Deshaun Watson led the NFL with 4,823 passing yards in 2020, but was surrounded by such a disastrous situation that the Houston Texans still managed to win only four games this past season.
As Watson walked off the field after a Week 17 loss to the Tennessee Titans, five-time All-Pro J.J. Watt, the most dominant player in franchise history, caught up to his quarterback. His message was simple: "We wasted one of your years, I'm sorry."
Given that Watt, who is six years older than Watson, felt the need to apologize for wasting a dominant individual campaign, it's not surprising to hear this from Peter King of NBC Sports:
"It’s gotten to the point where, I’m told, even some respected veterans on the teams have, in effect, told Watson, Go ahead. Go. We love you. We don’t want you to get trapped here. You don’t owe us anything."
Though both new head coach David Culley and general manager Nick Caserio said Friday that the Texans don't intend to trade Watson, the three-time Pro Bowler has reportedly requested to be traded to another team.
King's story, among other excellent reporting, paints an organization that has become so toxic under owner Cal McNair and executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby that players have "no faith in management or the direction of the team." Watson is one of the few star players left in the organization that has enough sway to either demand changes be made, or ask to be traded. And so that's what he's done.
You get the feeling that as Watson and Watt walked off the field after the conclusion of their 2020 campaign, it may be the final team that either suit up with the Texans. Easterby - a team chaplain turned executive - could outlast both.
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