Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is willing to resist and pay fines in an effort to force a transaction, according to several reports.
“I’m told Watson is so dug that he’s willing to wait for that,” said Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.Arise“I was told that there is a very real possibility that he will not show up prematurely and not show up at the beginning of the regular season if he is not traded. He could face fines during this process, but he doesn’t care. I was told that the relationship is simply too far away now. “
Fowler went on to say that Watson is monitoring a list of teams he believes could be suitable for a potential trade. Fowler mentioned several teams and specifically said that “beware of the Denver Broncos,” a team that intrigued Watson.
The Texans could fine Watson $ 95,877 for omitting the minicamp and $ 50,000 for each day of training camp, if he resists, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano. If he omits the pre-season games, Watson would be fined a week room ($ 620,000) for each missed game.
If Watson is really willing to resist and pay such large fines, he could force Houston’s hand. The Texans have said they do not intend to change Watson, but he would create a lot of leverage if he does not show up for camp or pre-season. Because they have Drew Lock as a backup option, the Broncos are in a good position to wait for the Texans. The Watson drama may not have a resolution until late in the off-season, perhaps as late as the pre-season.