HOUSTON – Texans Chairman and CEO Cal McNair acknowledged that he has not heard from Deshaun Watson since hiring Nick Caserio as general manager, but said he hopes to speak to the franchise quarterback about the move soon.
“I’ve come to understand that Deshaun has been reported to feel left out of the process, but he and I have had several visits and understood his position before meeting candidates,” McNair said Friday. “I’ve reached out to Deshaun about Nick’s appointment, and I look forward to him getting back to me when he comes back from his vacation.”
On Thursday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Watson provided input on potential candidates for general managers, but the Texans did not consider or deliberate those endorsed by their franchise quarterback.
“Some things never change …” Watson tweeted Tuesday, with sources telling ESPN that the quarterback’s feelings were focused on the way the Texans did business.
Watson met with McNair about Zoom during the season to discuss candidates and the future of the franchise, and during his press conference at the end of the season, Watson said he told McNair he hoped the team would employ offensive coordinator Tim Kelly. keeps.
McNair, who held a press conference for the first time since taking over from his father in 2018, spoke as he introduced Caserio. When Caserio was asked about rumors that Watson wanted to be traded after hearing about his appointment on social media, the general manager said Watson is “our quarterback.”
“As soon as we have the opportunity to spend some time together, we will continue our discussion,” said Caserio. “I can’t tell you how much respect and admiration I have for him for who he is as a player and what he means to this franchise.”
If the Texans were to trade Watson, they would have to pay a salary cap of $ 22 million.
The Texans hired Caserio just over four months after they fired Bill O’Brien, the team’s former head coach and general manager. Despite hiring a coach who spent the past 20 years in New England, McNair said the Texans are not trying to duplicate the culture of the patriots.
“In terms of their organization, we don’t consider ourselves Patriots South,” said McNair. “We are here to lead this team the Texan way.”