(SportsRadio 610) - The Texans are losing a fifth-round pick this year and being fined $175,000 for a salary-cap violation related to paying for Deshaun Watson's training during COVID-19.
"Following a review, the NFL determined that the club provided then Texans' quarterback Deshaun Watson with undisclosed compensation in the form of a membership at an alternative facility in 2020," a press release from the NFL states.
The league called it a salary cap reporting violation under the collective bargaining agreement, which says clubs must report any player compensation or benefit.
In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19, Watson held a membership at the Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa provided by the Texans, which was revealed when the quarterback faced civil lawsuits accusing him of sexually assaulting and harassing women at massage therapy sessions.
Since some of these sessions happened at the hotel provided by the Texans, they were also sued in a separate filing accusing them of enabling Watson's alleged behavior. The Texans soon reached a settlement and Watson also settled most of the two dozen-plus lawsuits against him. Houston traded Watson to the Cleveland Browns about a year ago.
The Texans released a statement to insider Brooks Kubena explaining they absorbed $26,777 in costs player benefits, which should have instead been charged to the player salaries.
"The Club has fully cooperated with the League in its investigation of these matters and maintains that it had no intention to circumvent any salary cap rules or gain any sort of competitive advantage. While we disagree with the League's ruling, we will accept the imposed discipline and move forward."