More Texans Drama, Math Says Re-Sign A-Rob, and Other Bears Bullets

January 30, 2021, by Luis Medina Chicago Bears

I’m having a hard time finding a reasonable NFL comparison for sending $50 million to another team just to take your best player. But by all means, tell me MLB isn’t broken.

• Deshaun Watson wants out of Houston. But the Texans have taken the public stance that they don’t want to trade him. And in the end, we’ve got a good, old-fashioned Texas showdown:

Deshaun Watson updated his social media profiles from Texans photo to simply 'athlete' Watson has requested trade and is dug into stance of not wanting to play for team again. Texans steadfast they don't want to trade him. Staredown continues pic.twitter.com/n38BaZIYHN

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 30, 2021

• This all feels so familiar.

• And in more Texans drama, the long-time star on the other side of the ball appears to be moving toward a parting of ways:

The belief with teammates and coaches I’ve spoken to is that Watt has played his last game as a Texan. A few told me that was the mood in the locker room after their final game. https://t.co/vBsrflwyf4

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) January 30, 2021

From @GMFB Weekend: A look at the looming decision on #Texans star JJ Watt and why the sense is that a split could be coming… pic.twitter.com/M6kojgIbEq

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 30, 2021

• The Texans are essentially on the verge of moving on from two franchise icons in the same offseason. Deshaun Watson is a star quarterback who is a generational talent. JJ Watt is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year who was the long-time face of the franchise before Watson’s arrival. Those are players you should be building around. More than that, players who management should be involving when it comes to making key organizational decisions. Being that good on the field and off of it should come with some perks … right? Ultimately, it’s mind-blowing that it’s even gotten to this point. But it’s probably for the best that all parties move on and give a new coach and front office the clean start that is clearly desired by the folks in charge.

• Remember this?

“I’m sorry. We wasted one of your years…We should have 11 wins.”

JJ Watt apologizes to Deshaun Watson for their season

(via @NFLFilms)pic.twitter.com/eZHqWu3HeJ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 5, 2021

• Or this?

❗ MUST-WATCH ❗@JJWatt with an incredibly honest post-game interview. pic.twitter.com/bmm5RaCC1N

— NFL UK (@NFLUK) December 28, 2020

• Yeah … those guys deserve better.

• To the extent that you’re thinking, yes, I am curious about the idea of adding Watt to this Bears defense. I wouldn’t go as far to push for a trade. But if the Texans release Watt, it would save them $17.5 million without incurring the cost of any dead money. In other words, if Watt became available on the free market, I’d have minimal issue with the Bears pursuing him.

• Perhaps the Pewaukee, Wis., native wants to play closer to home. Maybe Watt would consider playing in Chicago, where his wife Kealia Ohai plays for the Chicago Red Stars of the NWSL. This might come off as pie-in-the-sky thinking, but the last time the Bears were pressed with fixing the quarterback position in the offseason, they bulked up the defense by signing pass-rusher Robert Quinn and re-singing linebacker Danny Trevathan. So it’s not like pushing for Watt would be an unprecedented move.

• And if all else fails, make him the quarterback? Hey, don’t give me that look! The Bears have tried it with worse players.

• A quality read from Johnathan Wood of Da Bears Blog, whose numbers drive home how important Allen Robinson is to this offense:

The offseason focus for the Bears is on QB, and rightly so, but Chicago also has to make sure the new QB is put in position to succeed, which means they must find a way to keep Allen Robinson around. https://t.co/cNqOOMYWYU

— Johnathan Wood (@Johnathan_Wood1) January 29, 2021

• No matter which quarterback the Bears land on this offseason, they’ll need someone to throw to when the games begin. And Robinson should be the guy.

• Some more quality reading, this time from Dan Wiederer of the Tribune, who underscores how the Bears offense needs more than Deshaun Watson to be what we want it to be. However, I cannot overstate how much better everyone looks with a real quarterback taking snaps. Watson led the league in passing last year with his best receiver suspended for the final five games of the year,

• Wonderful news:

Thank you everyone for your prayers, letters, texts & notes of encouragement & support. It truly made a difference in my treatment & recovery!#RiveraStrong @WashingtonNFL pic.twitter.com/0s5byndWyF

— Ron Rivera (@RiverboatRonHC) January 29, 2021

• Dom Capers is making his way around the NFC North. Bears next?