Will Deshaun Watson return to the Texas trade bloc?

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For several months, the Houston Texans and Deshaun Watson waited for the NFL to intervene. Wait, wait and wait, watching the off-season calendar fluctuate from month to month.

It all led to Sunday, when a measure of clarity finally settled on the quarterback and the Texans. After operating in largely silence for nearly the entire time, the NFL made a statement this week by simply continuing not to make a statement.

Although Watson has been investigated since March — after civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct against 23 women (one has since withdrawn the lawsuit) — the association’s office chose not to put Watson on the commissioner’s exemption list before the training camp began.

That’s a major PR win for the quarterback, given that the attorney for the women suing Watson, Tony Busby, confirmed that a handful of his clients spoke to NFL investigator Lisa Friel during the league investigation. Buzbee criticized the way those interviews went, going so far as to claim that the NFL did not “disrespect” the alleged victims during the interview process. These complaints eventually prompted the league to defend Friel and state that the investigation was ongoing while the league also kept tabs on any law enforcement involvement.

Deshaun Watson is not holding back on his business claims outside of Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

What does it mean that Watson wasn’t put on the NFL’s exemption list before Sunday?

This means that the league has had its operation up to this point and has yet to force Watson to take paid leave. That doesn’t necessarily mean Watson will never be sidelined by the NFL, but it’s worth noting that the league’s office hasn’t reached that juncture after more than four months of investigation. At the very least, this gives Watson additional PR impetus, given that the Houston Police Department’s investigation (which also lasted for more than four months) did not result in criminal charges linked to civil lawsuits.

Combined with Watson’s attorney, Rusty Harden, he has repeatedly stated that the quarterback intends to go through the litigation process rather than settle, all of which suggests that Watson’s ability to play football may not be affected until lawsuits – if any – begin. The timetable for the civil lawsuit has already been set in a way that will allow Watson to play the 2021 season before entering the courtroom, with his first filing date not set until February 2022.

The story continues

This means that the future of football Watson will once again take center stage. A source from the Texas team confirmed Sunday morning that Watson intended to report to camp on time, thus avoiding the $50,000 in daily fines that Houston would have levied against him. It also means potential trade could pick up speed in the next few weeks, as the Texans now have to think about what Watson’s presence in the building and around the team will mean when they’re still determined to look for a deal.

Does this renew Deshaun Watson’s business talks?

That will intensify some elements of pressure on the Texans, who will now have to weigh the risks of putting Watson in a practice field – where he could suffer an injury – against protecting a commercial good. And it may be this predicament that opens the phone lines for other teams to follow Watson. If Texas keeps Watson off the field, it will be clear that the team is protecting him for the trade. If Houston sends him to train, it could indicate that the franchise is making one last effort to mend the rift between itself and its star.

At the moment, the likelihood of that seems slim. Watson’s camp has made it clear that he’s attending training camp to keep his $10.54 million salary in 2021, not undo the unofficial business order. Watson’s advisors also know that the move serves a purpose beyond avoiding fines, putting the Texans in a position where they have to pick with their quarterback. It’s a decision that could finally end Watson in the trading block and that Houston is willing to take offers for him, ending the team’s stumbling block for months of trade inquiries.

Although Houston was chosen to handle the situation, it is clear that Watson scored a PR win that his legal team had hoped for. Watson and Texas spent months fully aware that the NFL could step in at any moment and take him off the field until his legal issues are resolved. The league eventually refused to do so, putting Watson in a position where he could put more pressure on his footballing future.

Ultimately, no news from the NFL is good news for Watson. And that’s exactly what he got this week.

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