Legend-Wary: Deshaun Watson leaves the Houston Texans in disgrace

Deshaun Watson said winning a Super Bowl was a “top priority” as he attempted to pull off football’s triple crown: state championship, national championship, and a Super Bowl.

“I’m trying to, of course, be legendary,” Watson told reporters on Aug. 21, 2020. “That’s my word since college and for me to be that I have to win a Super Bowl and definitely win it with the Houston Texans. We’ve never won one here before and we haven’t even come on the brink of winning one. We’ve got to get to that game before that, and then of course we can think about that. But, yeah, I’m trying to create history and continue that and make it a dynasty.”

It’s just been a year and a half since Watson said these words to the Houston media in regard to his expectations for the Texans, his own performance, and his legacy as a quarterback.

Life comes at you fast, people change, and apparently legendary can also mean winning a Super Bowl with the Cleveland Browns.

Much will be written in the coming weeks about how the Watson trade will shape the future of the Texans, the Browns and the NFL landscape at large. Such is the nature of a trade involving a polarizing, top-10 quarterback and so many future draft picks. Winners will be declared, and many will speculate on the future success of both Watson and the Texans’ return package.

There will certainly be much scrutiny regarding the merits of Cleveland acquiring a controversial player like Watson. Ditto that for criticism of a star player with numerous off-the-field accusation forcing himself out of Houston in a high-profile trade. The situation is the definition of a mess and for onlookers it appears as the pinnacle of Houston’s dysfunction.

However, in the meantime, there’s only hurt left in Houston. For a player that truly represented the first “franchise quarterback” in Texans history, there’s no feeling other than absolute shock at losing the 26-year-old rising star. Watson has felt long gone for many fans after the absolute saga of the 2021 campaign.

Not passing on Michael Jordan

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For many Texans fans it feels like just yesterday that then-general manager Rick Smith and coach Bill O’Brien traded up from pick 25 to pick 12 in the 2017 NFL draft to select the phenom out of Clemson. Despite concerns regarding his decision making and how his frame (that included a previous ACL tear) would hold up in the league, optimism abounded. Watson had just completed a senior campaign that included a national championship victory over Alabama that stunned pundits around the country.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney likened Watsons’ aura and performance to Michael Jordan when describing the kind of the player Houston had just acquired. After the first three O’Brien years had highlighted Brian Hoyer, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Brock Osweiler respectively, Houston had their man.

It took only seven weeks for Watson to provide a feeling that Houston fans had rarely, if ever, experience in franchise history. Maybe Matt Schaub had provided the feeling at the peak of his powers but even then it wasn’t this clear.

“Our quarterback can win us any game.”

O’Brien had preached all offseason that Tom Savage was the starter for Houston. It took one half against a nasty “Sackson-ville” defense for that to change. The Texans lost the game, but fans saw the first of presumed numerous touchdown passes from Watson to Hopkins and there was undeniable excitement about the future. Just four days later on Thursday Night Football, in a game where Watson threw zero touchdown passes, he flashed again the promise Houston may have had this time with his legs.

After a gutsy win over the Cincinnati Bengals, something seemed to click. Watson threw for over 300 yards against the New England Patriots, a defense known for terrifying rookie quarterbacks, in a game that came down to a Tom Brady game-winner. He lit up the Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, and Cleveland Browns for four, five, and three touchdowns respectively, highlighting an explosive vertical offense that had never existed in the O’Brien era.

If there were any doubters in Houston after this stretch, then the game against the Seattle Seahawks silenced all of them. Watson went toe-to-toe with Russell Wilson, matching his four touchdown passes and frequently finding Will Fuller streaking down the field. The Texans may have lost against Seattle, New England, and Kansas City but it was okay: they had found their quarterback.

In seven games and six starts, he accumulated a league-leading 19 touchdown passes. It was his blazing pace that had the Texans’ viable in shootouts against the likes of Wilson, Brady, and Andy Reid’s Chiefs.

It was sadly a short seven short weeks, with Watson tearing his ACL after the shootout against Seattle and prematurely ending his rookie season, but the fanbase had seen enough. Watson would have easily cruised for the NFL record in touchdown passes by a rookie that Baker Mayfield broke a year later. There was an heir apparent to the franchise.

The ride

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Behind many bitter fans though is the stunning disappointment of just how poorly this played out. Watson erased any injury concerns in the following seasons, as the 2018 and 2019 campaigns saw 16-starts each and Houston gather win totals of 11 and 10 games respectively. His personal statistics cooled off but his win-every-play playing style remained and Houston always felt like the more dynamic team at quarterback. Even with playoff struggles, nobody denied they were a force to be reckoned with in the AFC and the team was widely considered one of the most talented in the league.

If you ask Houston fans, many might say the last time they enjoyed their fandom was that 2019 playoff run. A victory over Josh Allen’s Buffalo Bills was followed just one week later by a 24-0 lead over the Kansas City Chiefs. Watson’s Michael-Jordan-esque hailing suddenly seemed very appropriate with only three quarters of football and the Tennessee Titans, whom Houston had thoroughly dominated in 2019, left in their way.

We all know what happened next.

Probably the most embarrassing moment in franchise history followed by a brutal offseason. In the following months O’Brien and executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby traded away DeAndre Hopkins and acquired a known failing-commodity in David Johnson, ending a Clemson-Houston duo many had hoped to watch break records.

Hopkins’ departure stung and divided the fanbase on the outlook of their Texans for 2020 and beyond. One of the most talented teams in football suddenly appeared to be one of the most talent-depleted. Regardless, everyone agreed on one thing: If Watson was in Houston, they should be Super Bowl contenders.

The departure

(AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

On Sept. 5, 2020, the Texans locked in what many assumed would guarantee at least a half decade of contention with Watson under center. He signed the second largest contract in NFL history, only behind Kansas City’s $50-million man, and was the unquestioned face of Houston sports following the departure of George Springer and (in spirit) James Harden.

The Texans’ had to pay one player $40 million per year and nobody batted an eye because that player was Watson. Electric on the football field, a standup character in the locker room, and someone who seemingly couldn’t be more excited to be part of the Texans. A press conference the next day featured profuse thanks to O’Brien, Easterby, chairman and CEO Cal McNair and countless others.

It was incredible to watch a humble young man fulfill his dreams and make promises that extended beyond himself — or so we thought.

2020 was a demoralizing year for the Texans. Bill O’Brien was fired. Johnson was, not surprisingly, an inadequate replacement for the most talented receiver in the league. The defense forced a measly nine turnovers. The team went 4-12. J.J. Watt ripped the locker room for their lack of effort and string of embarrassing performances.

And, somehow, someway during that journey, it appears Watson’s dream died. The definition of legendary, outlined by No. 4 himself, was no longer worth pursuing. In late January of 2021, after the team hired Baltimore Ravens receivers coach and passing game coordinator David Culley to be the fourth coach in franchise history, Watson demanded a trade from Houston.

After seemingly 12-months of body blows to the fanbase, from the Kansas City choke-game to Watt asking for, and being granted, his release, Watson’s trade demand was the cherry-on-top. Maybe the young quarterback was justified in his right to request a new employer, despite having signed a four-year extension only nine months ago. The national media and fans at large, who generally side with the players on these issues, certainly seem to think so. Additionally, if anyone deserves it, maybe Houston’s front office from that era and management would be at the top of the list.

The conclusion

(AP Photo/Justin Rex)

Next came the sexual assault allegations, a staggering 22 of them that seemingly came one after the other from lawyer Tony Buzbee. The legal situation and trade demand came to an awkward agreement with Houston asking Watson to sit out the 2021 season where they limped their way to a four-win campaign and the third overall pick.

The situation finally resolved somewhat last Friday afternoon, when a grand jury ruled that they would not pursue criminal charges against Watson and opened the floodgates for NFL teams to pursue a quality signal caller that has never been available on the open market.

Watson’s seemingly inevitable departure has finally arrived.

A player entering his prime. The most talented quarterback Houston has ever seen. A man that embodied hope for the future and a promise of contention.

Houston is left shell shocked, disappointed, and numb with the divorce of their latest star athlete.

Like many breakups, the writing has been on the wall for how Houston and Watson would end their relationship for months. Watson made it nearly impossible for the fanbase to support him as an individual with the allegations. Watson turned quick on Houston too, his silence and the social media blockade all came sooner rather than later. The man who once donated his first paycheck to the Texans’ cafeteria workers feels like an absolute stranger.

From this:

To then:

To now.

It was a year spent with Culley largely denying Watson’s existence on his roster. The organization at large was even less likely to admit their star player avoided a trade. Needless to say, it’s been over. It’s just been a matter of when someone would put the situation out of its misery.

And now it is.

After The only thing Houstonians will agree on now is, whether McNair, O’Brien, or Watson’s fault himself, the franchise is yet again looking for their answer at quarterback. After just six years the Texans are back to the quarterback carousel and cursed NFL mediocrity that is all but certain when you lack an elite player under center.

Davis Mills offers hope as the potential future of the franchise, but history suggests Houston shouldn’t get overly excited regarding their third-round selection. Meanwhile, Houston did receive a significant return for the services of Watson.

It still hurts.

This is a weird day in Houston. Today feels oddly personal. Watson leaves a legacy of not a legendary player, but rather a legendarily-ugly exit and personal life. A disgraced player who quit on his franchise and one who’s personal reputation has bottomed out entirely.

Fans may have to be more careful about the promises they listen to next time.

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