Skip to main content

New on SI: Report: J.J. Watt Might Have Played His Last Game With Texans

A few players and coaches have reportedly said Watt will not be returning to Houston next season.

Houston Texans defensive J.J. Watt might have played his last game in a Texans' uniform.

James Palmer of the NFL Network reported that a few players and coaches said Watt will not be returning to Houston next season.

After the Texans 37–31 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 27, Watt expressed his frustration with Houston.

"We're professional athletes getting paid a whole lot of money, Watt said. "If you can't come in and put work in in the building and go out to the practice field and work hard, do your lifts and do what you're supposed to do, you should not be here."

Watt, 31, is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He is due a $17.5 million non-guaranteed base salary in 2021.

Watt has played with the Texans since the franchise selected him with the 11th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

In November, Watt told ESPN his thoughts about his career with the Texans, saying his goal is not just to make the playoffs.

"Your goal can't be to win one or two playoff games," Watt said. "If your goal is not to win the Super Bowl, and your goal is not to do everything in your power to make that happen, and make your organization in the best possible situation for that, then that's not going to happen. So that is my goal. That's why the work goes in. That's why I fought back from all these injuries. Because that's the goal, and that's what I'm still working towards."

Houston's dysfunction stretches beyond the woes with Watt. After starting the 2020 season 0-4, the Texans fired Bill O’Brien in October, who was serving as the team's general manager and head coach. 

Houston finished the season 4-12 and Houston hired former Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio to be the team's next general manager. Caserio's hire angered quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was told by owner Cal McNair that the signal-caller would be involved in the hiring process for the general manager and coach.

This week, the Texans named David Culley their next head coach, prompting Watson to request a trade.

Labels

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

New on SI: Everson Griffen Is Sorry for Calling Kirk Cousins ‘Ass’

His return to the Vikings is just a little awkward. He was right, though  Everson Griffen is back with the Vikings. Whether all his teammates are happy to have him back remains to be seen. Griffen was a key member of the Minnesota defense from 2010–19, averaging 7.5 sacks per season and making the Pro Bowl four times. After his most recent Pro Bowl season, in 2019, he signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys. He didn’t make much of an impact in Dallas and got traded to the Lions, where he faced the Vikings in the final game of the season. A few days after that game, Griffen shared his thoughts on his former teammate Kirk Cousins, saying he was “ass” and asking if anybody thought Vikings coach Mike Zimmer was the one who wanted Cousins in Minnesota. Now, that’s an opinion shared by a majority of NFL fans, but what makes Griffen’s tweets really weird is that they came while he was trying to get the Vikings to bring him back. Seriously! The day after the Vikings–Lions game, ...
Read more

New on SI: Dolphins Select Jaylen Waddle With No. 6 Pick in 2021 NFL Draft

After winning the national championship at Alabama, Jaylen Waddle is now heading to the NFL. View the original article to see embedded media. Jaylen Waddle went from suffering a presumed season-ending ankle injury to winning  the national championship last season.  He's now headed to the NFL after the Dolphins selected the wide receiver at No. 6 in the 2021 NFL draft.  Waddle started the 2020 college season with a bang at Alabama last fall, topping 120 receiving yards in four consecutive games to start the season. He tallied 557 yards on 25 catches, adding with four touchdowns during the stretch. Waddle missed six games after suffering a high-ankle sprain against Tennessee. He returned to the field in before suiting up for the national title game. While visibly limping at times, the wideout hauled in three catches for 34 yards. "My hat's off to him," head coach Nick Saban said when Waddled declared for the draft . "I had the same injury, so I know...
Read more

New on SI: Report: Packers GM Stands Firm, Still Against Trading Aaron Rodgers

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is contractually obligated to report to the team's mandatory three-day minicamp starting June 8. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst is reportedly "still holding firm" to not trade quarterback Aaron Rodgers this offseason, according to The Athletic .  The report cites the upcoming week as a critical point in the ongoing saga. If the team waits until after June 1 to trade Rodgers, it will save $16.05 million in cap space. Meanwhile, Rodgers is not contractually obligated to report to the team until June 8 when a mandatory three-day minicamp begins.  If the reigning MVP does not show up, he would be fined $15,515 for the first day, $31,030 for the second day and $46,540 for the third day, under the current collective bargaining agreement. Rodgers, who is under contract until 2023, has not reported to the voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) that began last week and will miss out on a $500,000 workout b...
Read more