NEWSLETTER
The latest in the Deshaun Watson-Texans drama is eye-opening.
It begins with a shot:
Bills’ DC Leslie Frazier and Chiefs’ OC Eric Bieniemy – whose units will square off in today’s AFC Championship Game – have begun assembling coaching staffs with the idea that they are prime candidates for the Houston Texans’ HC job, per sources.https://t.co/0FqHAneuRh
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 24, 2021
And follows with this chaser:
As @mortreport reported on ESPN’s Postseason NFL Countdown, the Texans' head coaching hire is not expected to change Deshaun Watson's thinking. He still is expected to want out of Houston, no matter who the head coach is, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 24, 2021
If you’ll recall, Watson requested the Texans interview Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy at the outset of their search. It didn’t happen. And in an attempt to make amends, Houston is angling to interview Bieniemy ASAP. Better late than never? Maybe, not quite. Because if Watson still wants out even after the front office caves to interview (and possibly hire) Watson’s preferred candidate, that’s a pretty telling sign.
Clearly, this is about ownership. More specifically, Watson’s relationship with ownership. Remember, this all began when Watson wasn’t as involved in the GM-coach searches as he was once led to believe. Some believe quarterbacks have an out-sized influence on how upper management builds teams. And while I understand and respect the perspective, once a team offers to let the quarterback in on the process, it ca’t go back. So, from Watson’s perspective, once he feels he was misled by ownership, that’s ballgame for that relationship.
To that end, teams are already circling the Texans franchise like hawks on the prowl. Moreover, the Bears are rumored to be a sleeper among those teams. They have the obvious need, a sense of desperation, and a front office that appears to have been given a green light to go hog-wild and take a big swing. And there aren’t any bigger swings than Watson.
