Let the look begin.
Although star quarterback Deshaun Watson has officially requested a trade, according to several reports Thursday, the Texans also have some potential resources to pressure him to stay in Houston.
Watson certainly has quite a leverage to himself, with a non-trade clause in his contract that will allow him to say about where he could land, but the Texans could also play hardball and hit him in the wallet if he chooses to hold on. up to one the trade comes to fruition.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Texans can fine Watson $ 95,877 for missing a minicamp, $ 50,000 for each day of missed training and $ 620,000 for each missed preseason game. In a nuclear scenario, if Watson retired instead of playing again for the Texans, they could also raise $ 21.6 million for ESPN.
Still, Watson, 25, signed a four-year, $ 160 million extension in September with $ 73 million guaranteed on signing. There is no guarantee that the fines will work for Watson to continue his career with the jeans.
“Here’s the only thing that will impact this situation with Watson more than anything: his willingness to sit back and lose money,” NFL network analyst Daniel Jeremies tweeted. “I think he is a man with many principles and he would be willing to do it. This is how you gain leverage. The threat of economic loss does not bother him.
It’s a messy situation for the intervention of new general manager Nick Caserio and coach David Culley. The Texans reportedly hired Culley as the new coach Wednesday night, but that “doesn’t alter and won’t alter Watson’s thinking,” ESPN reported.