HOUSTON – A day after it was reported that Deshaun Watson had requested a transaction, new Houston Texans head coach David Culley said at his introductory press conference that he took over knowing that Watson was the Texans’ defender.
“He’s the Houston Texans defender, and that’s all I was worried about,” Culley said when asked about his knowledge of Watson’s status when he was interviewed for the job. “That’s all I knew and everything was said about what he wanted or didn’t want to do. All I know is this …
“He’s a Houston Texan. And I wanted to be a Houston Texan. And the reason I’m in this position today is because I knew he was going to be a Houston Texan. The outside things that were being said aren’t relevant to me. “
Watson, who signed a four-year, $ 156 million contract extension in September, is under contract until the 2025 season. He has a trading clause, but given the length of his contract and the possibility of labeling it in franchise for three years, Texans could choose not to trade it and have control over its rights until the 2028 season.
Watson’s commercial request came after he appeared dissatisfied with the process used by the team to hire Nick Caserio in early January.
“From an organizational point of view, we just want to reiterate our commitment to Deshaun Watson,” Caserio said. “He has had a great impact on this organization, a great impact on many people, a great impact on this team and we look forward to the opportunity to spend more time with him here this spring, once we start.
“And we have zero interest in trading the player. We have a great plan, a great vision for him and this team and his role in this team and we look forward to the opportunity to spend more time with him here this spring.”
If Texans choose not to market Watson, he may choose not to relate to the team’s mandatory activities or training camp, but at a cost. Houston can fine Watson $ 95,877 for missing the minicamp and fine him $ 50,000 a day for each missed training camp day plus one week’s salary – $ 620,000 – for each missed pre-season game. In the unlikely scenario that Watson chooses to retire, Texans can raise $ 21.6 million.