Source is probably the TexansSource: Dolphins owner Stephen Ross “really wants” Deshaun Watson. He's 81 and wants to win now.
Mike Florio.
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/08/31/source-dolphins-owner-stephen-ross-really-wants-deshaun-watson/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
sounds like the Rich Kotite press conferenceSource: Dolphins owner Stephen Ross “really wants” Deshaun Watson. He's 81 and wants to win now.
Mike Florio.
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/08/31/source-dolphins-owner-stephen-ross-really-wants-deshaun-watson/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
Source: Dolphins owner Stephen Ross “really wants” Deshaun Watson. He's 81 and wants to win now.
Mike Florio.
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/08/31/source-dolphins-owner-stephen-ross-really-wants-deshaun-watson/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
I’d think they’d look at Davis Mills at some point.Can't find a T Taylor thread so I will ask here:
How comfortable are we that Tyrod will start the whole season?
https://twitter.com/adamschefter/status/1435600671689134086?s=21Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter
Texans’ GM Nick Caserio this morning to Payne & Pendergast on @SportsRadio610 regarding Deshaun Watson’s status for Sunday’s opener vs. Jacksonville: “I wouldn’t expect him to play. … I wouldn’t anticipate him playing this Sunday and we’ll recalibrate as we go.”
I have my doubts he plays at all this year. I hope I'm wrong, because I have him in a couple of leagues.
I have Cooks and will be following this closely. Will he even be available to play on any given Sunday. Mills was bad in the preseason.I have my doubts he plays at all this year. I hope I'm wrong, because I have him in a couple of leagues.
Can't find a T Taylor thread so I will ask here:
How comfortable are we that Tyrod will start the whole season?
For sure bizarre.Definitely bizarre situation - I think the media was so all over it in the offseason that they finally have moved on....this is crazy because hes not even suspended and he's sitting out....so we are looking at a very possible situation where he sits out this year then gets suspended for a significant portion of next year. Houston has zero incentive to trade him (as well as teams giving up assets for him) until the allegations clear up - likely close to next years draft....
https://twitter.com/adamschefter/status/1436422783010066435?s=21Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter
Texans officially ruled out QB Deshaun Watson for Sunday’s opener vs Jacksonville. He was listed on injury report as “not injury related.”
ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio reports the NFL hasn’t made a decision on Deshaun Watson's status because the Texans are "content to pay him to not play."
The league will "look at whether he should be placed on paid leave if Watson is traded," according to Florio, adding risk to any team that acquires him. The Dolphins are the team most connected to Watson, but Houston is going to have to come off their asking price of three first-rounders if they want to trade Watson in an ongoing legal situation. Watson will make his guaranteed $10 million salary to not play for the Texans if he isn't traded.
RELATED:
Miami Dolphins
SOURCE: ProFootballTalk on NBCSports.com
Sep 11, 2021, 10:11 AM ET
I mean, I think this is at the heart of what’s going on, the NFL and Texans have an agreement to just do nothing about it and see where they stand after the season. They don’t want to play this player, move this player, or have him in the news beyond sitting on the bench each week at all. And idk how the NFL got the Texans to be cool with it, but it’s pretty clear they’re on the same page. And Watson doesn’t care bc he didn’t want to play on that ####show roster again anyways, so he stays healthy and gets paid to be quiet for a while and see if this all blows over.Also, the more I think about it, the way they’re handing Watson completely let’s the NFL off the hook. They could just say, “well we’re paying him, so we’re gonna play him!” and I believe that that point the NFL would be forced to make a decision. Instead they’re going to pay him millions to not play, while the NFL says, “hey thanks! Now we don’t actually have to decide anything. Mighty kind of ya!”
I can’t for the life of me imagine what the Texans are doing here.
For one, asking for “6 players or picks” is perhaps the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of a team doing. It says nothing about the caliber of player or pic? Just…6? What the AF is that?
Also, the more I think about it, the way they’re handing Watson completely let’s the NFL off the hook. They could just say, “well we’re paying him, so we’re gonna play him!” and I believe that that point the NFL would be forced to make a decision. Instead they’re going to pay him millions to not play, while the NFL says, “hey thanks! Now we don’t actually have to decide anything. Mighty kind of ya!”
Either something fishy is going on, or the Texans ownership/management are truly the dumbest bunch of yokels ever assembled.
is it though?Houston doesn't want to play him because of two things.
1. They have a better chance to win which hurts their draft spot
2. They don't want to risk an injury which would totally remove any chance of a trade at some point.
The NFL doesn't care because they have already said they aren't doing anything until the legal side is finished. It's actually pretty simple.
is it though?
it seems to cost them millions of dollars, which complicates it a bit.
if they activated him, they could keep him on the bench where he isn’t helping them win (your 1st point) and thus forcing the NFL to make him ineligible (to your 1st & 2nd points) eliminating any possibility of injury.
And if the NFL opts to not do that, HOU is free to deal him.
Seems like the best thing for the Texans is to force the NFL’s hand.
It is not costing them millions because they have to pay him regardless (unless the courts get in gear and he gets found guilty to the point the NFL then does something because the courts are done).
Why would making him active "force the NFL to make him ineligible"? They could but they don't have to have (NFL). They seem to be set on waiting until it plays out through the legal system before they do anything.
Houston is "free to deal him" right now. They just don't have a willing partner at the moment.
Texans head coach David Culley said Deshaun Watson won't play this week against the Panthers.
Culley was quick to shoot down speculation that Tyrod Taylor's hamstring injury and Davis Mills' uneven Week 2 performance would force Houston into activating Watson, who faces allegations of sexual assault from more than 20 women. Taylor has already been declared out for the Texans' Thursday nighter against Carolina, leaving Mills to start against an upstart Panthers defense that shut down the Saints in Week 2. Mills is nothing but a desperation option in superflex formats.
RELATED:
Davis Mills
, Tyrod Taylor
SOURCE: Andrew Siciliano on Twitter
Sep 20, 2021, 11:23 AM ET
I would guess that the Texans and any potential suitors have all been briefed on the situation. I would expect that the league has approached the Texans and said everything is fine with the status quo, but any changes to that and Watson will go on the exempt list. There is likely a contingency that if at some point he is on an active game day roster then the league will intervene. I don't think there is a lot of intrigue and mystery to the situation . . . but it may seem that way to fans / outsiders.Developments this weekend could make this an interesting week for Deshaun Watson. With Taylor's injury, do the Texans consider activating Watson at QB? If so, does the league then put him on the exempt list so he doesn't actually play? With Tua's injury, does that motivate the Dolphins to go after Deshaun more aggressively sooner? Should be interesting to watch.
Why would the Texans agree to this? Wouldn't they want him on the exempt list so they would gain a roster spot back?I would guess that the Texans and any potential suitors have all been briefed on the situation. I would expect that the league has approached the Texans and said everything is fine with the status quo, but any changes to that and Watson will go on the exempt list. There is likely a contingency that if at some point he is on an active game day roster then the league will intervene. I don't think there is a lot of intrigue and mystery to the situation . . . but it may seem that way to fans / outsiders.
Why would they agree to pay him not to play and take up a roster spot in the first place? Maybe they hope Watson will settle. Or the investigation turns up nothing major. Or the DA decides to drop the case. Or that they hope a team will make them some great offer to trade for him and then Watson can become their problem (not sure if guys on the exempt list could get traded). Or that they think that the organization can kiss and make up and they are trying to keep Watson happy by not going on the exempt list. I really don't have a good answer for you, and the entire situation is pretty unusual to try to figure out all the permutations. What I don't understand is why the Texans haven't tried to suspend him for conduct unbecoming to the team. They may only be able to do that in the short term, but it might save them a few million dollars.Why would the Texans agree to this? Wouldn't they want him on the exempt list so they would gain a roster spot back?
Houston is "free to deal him" right now. They just don't have a willing partner at the moment.
I can see a scenario where the team is trying to not further alienate the players and fans. They have already done a fair bit of damage with the Hopkins/Watt fiascos. However, forcing the NFL's hand to make a decision(that they clearly should already have been forced to make) should do nothing to harm the relations between the Texans and Watson or the Texans and the fans.Why would they agree to pay him not to play and take up a roster spot in the first place? Maybe they hope Watson will settle. Or the investigation turns up nothing major. Or the DA decides to drop the case. Or that they hope a team will make them some great offer to trade for him and then Watson can become their problem (not sure if guys on the exempt list could get traded). Or that they think that the organization can kiss and make up and they are trying to keep Watson happy by not going on the exempt list. I really don't have a good answer for you, and the entire situation is pretty unusual to try to figure out all the permutations. What I don't understand is why the Texans haven't tried to suspend him for conduct unbecoming to the team. They may only be able to do that in the short term, but it might save them a few million dollars.
I guess it depends on how you look at it. Is being told "this is what will happen if he gets activated" actually considered "a wink wink deal?" This is essentially a similar situation the Patriots found themselves in 2 seasons ago with Antonio Brown. Rather than worry about the league intervening, the Pats just cut Brown instead of dealing with the perpetual distraction. They ultimately worked out a deal to pay AB less than he was due, but IIRC he got $5 million to play in just a single game with NE.I can see a scenario where the team is trying to not further alienate the players and fans. They have already done a fair bit of damage with the Hopkins/Watt fiascos. However, forcing the NFL's hand to make a decision(that they clearly should already have been forced to make) should do nothing to harm the relations between the Texans and Watson or the Texans and the fans.
I guess the part of your original post I objected to was that the NFL and Texans have some sort of wink wink deal. I just don't see how any sort of deal could benefit the Texans.
Life long dolphins fan here and I think you nailed it. Ross is going to demand Grier make this trade for Watson happen is my belief. Too bad, Tua is such a good character too and I feel terrible for the kid.Grier's seat is hot and I don't know if Miami can take on all that baggage he has at the moment but Watson is an infinitely better QB than Tua and in the present NFL, Watson is almost a Top 5, they would become an instant playoff contender, at least Wildcard talk almost every year. That's something Miami hasn't had in over 20 years.
When you have a QB like Watson and a team that was on the cusp of being a yearly Playoff contender even if they didn't advance far, to where they are now with really no explanation and how they let this all happen...they got the rug pulled out from under them, not sure a fan base will buy into their next franchise QB right away if they can even get another one...franchises go decades and longer without ever seeing one.I The way things stand now, the Texans don't look like they have a Plan A, Plan B, or any idea what is going on . . . which given their other moves the last couple of years isn't exactly helping the optics they need to retain their fan base.
I get it. The whole situation is unlike anything we've seen before. If it were just Watson's off field issues, things would be different. Watson hasn't been a fan of some questionable moves including trading away a Top 3 WR . . . or hiring a coach he wasn't a fan of (if we want to suggest players should get a voice in picking their head coach). Watson apparently had issues with the owner, the staff, and direction of the team. That part is an equally big part of the problem. Even if Watson were angelic off the field, his relationship with the Texans had grown toxic. I don't know enough of what all was happening in HOU, so hard for me to provide an informed opinion on how they should have handled that aspect of it. They may have been hood winked with all the lawsuits and that wasn't the team's fault . . . but they still need to conceive an exit strategy and navigate through the turbulent waters they are in now.When you have a QB like Watson and a team that was on the cusp of being a yearly Playoff contender even if they didn't advance far, to where they are now with really no explanation and how they let this all happen...they got the rug pulled out from under them, not sure a fan base will buy into their next franchise QB right away if they can even get another one...franchises go decades and longer without ever seeing one.
Published yesterday, prior to the new breaking that Tua Tagovailoa has fractured ribs.Q: After Tua’s injury, does that mean we go after Watson? — Aramis Montenegro III on Twitter
A: It’s a subject that has been brought up on a number of national programs since Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was carted off the field in the first quarter of Sunday’s 35-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Here are a few reasons why the answer is still no — for now.
For one, there still haven’t been any developments in clearing Deshaun Watson’s name from the 22 civil suits filed against him for coercive and lewd sexual behavior with female massage therapists, with two alleging sexual assault. With that dangling, it’s still too risky to take on Watson when he faces possible suspension or even criminal charges.
The risk is especially high with the Texans not budging on their asking price for Watson, wanting some combination of six players and draft picks for the star quarterback that led the NFL in passing in 2020, throwing for 4,823 yards.
Then, there’s the factor that Tagovailoa’s bruised ribs injury may not keep him out for too long. Monday reports indicate it will come down to pain tolerance after he took a blow to the rib cage when Bills defensive end A.J. Epenesa drove him to the ground on a hit that knocked him out in the first quarter on Sunday. Wearing a flak jacket is a possibility for Tagovailoa to protect his ribs and get him out there with a Week 3 game at the Las Vegas Raiders on the horizon, although it could create discomfort in his throwing motion.
It’s no secret the Dolphins have been involved in trade talks with Houston, but there is still a desire to see what the franchise has with Tagovailoa, the No. 5 pick in the 2020 draft. If he shows signs that he’s developing into a top-half starting quarterback in the NFL, the Dolphins may not be willing to meet the Texans’ asking price, even if Watson is completely cleared.
Here’s where the injury could lead to a potential move for Watson down the road: If Tagovailoa does not come back throwing the ball effectively from this injury. If he struggles, that will only ramp up the pressure on general manager Chris Grier to steer things in the right direction by the Nov. 2 trade deadline or in the offseason. This could be the case whether Tagovailoa comes back and has a hard time or if he’s held out for several weeks. In the latter case, there are further durability issues presenting themselves that could lead the Dolphins to make a move.
There is also the question of what the true value of these draft picks is for Miami. The Dolphins haven’t been selecting franchise-lifting players with their first-round picks. Left tackle Austin Jackson had a rough go on Sunday, and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene was a healthy inactive for the first two weeks. If the Dolphins aren’t drafting any good players, why not trade draft picks for a sure, proven, elite quarterback?
There still would be a roster to fill out around that player — even Watson went 4-12 with the 2020 Texans — but the Dolphins would surely be able to attract free agents into such a situation. It helps that it’s already known the Dolphins are Watson’s preferred trade destination.
The Dolphins would have to get this line fixed to block in front of Watson if they were to bring him in. As much as an improvement as he would be over Tagovailoa or Jacoby Brissett, he wasn’t winning that game against Buffalo either on Sunday with the pressure given up — or the drops from receivers, including one from DeVante Parker in the end zone and two from Albert Wilson.
Public perception, whether Watson is cleared or not, would have to come into consideration, as well, for any trade for Watson. The Dolphins would not want to alienate a large portion of the fan base that may not want to see the team pursue a player with this troubling cloud over him.