Houston… The Houston Texans knew this season would be a pivotal moment for their franchise when they hired Nick Caserio as general manager this month and now David Calley as head coach. What they didn’t expect was that their first month of the offseason would be dominated by the setback – and possible trade demand – of quarterback Dashaun Watson.
It was Watson who demanded at his end-of-season press conference that his new head coach be an energetic, disciplined and structured person.
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We need a leader to follow him as a player, Watson said earlier this month. That’s what we need. We have to have not only love for football, because that’s what we do, but also love for the people and the members of this organization.
We need someone big to say: This is our goal, and this is how it’s going to happen and we’re going to do it in a way that will lead to victory.
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who hired Calley as an assistant head coach in 2019, said he is respected as a teacher, game planner and motivator. Calley is the first black head coach hired by the Texans and the first in the NFL recruiting cycle.
With the hiring of Culley, the Texans hope to have found the right person to lay the foundation Watson wants. But will Culley get a chance to coach Watson now that the star quarterback has officially applied for a contract?
To most Texas fans, the name Cully is unfamiliar. Who is he and why did Texas General Manager Cal McNair and General Manager Nick Caserio choose him to be the franchise’s next coach?
Who is David Culley?
| Year | Trainer | Age | Command |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Bud Wilkinson. | 62-133 | The Cardinals |
| 1990 | Gender Rust | 62-38 | Patriots |
| 2019 | Vic Fangio. | 61-18 | Broncos |
| 2013 | Bruce Arian. | 60-340 | The Cardinals |
| Source : Elias Sports Centre | |||
Culley, 65, has spent the last two seasons in Baltimore as the Ravens’ assistant head coach, passing coordinator and big receiver coach. He just finished his 27th year. season as an NFL coach after spending 16 seasons in various college coaching positions. He is believed to be the longest serving coach in NFL history when he started as a head coach.
Calley has never been an offensive NFL coordinator, but he was assistant head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs before his time in Baltimore. The Ravens were the first to attack in 2020, as they led the NFL in running yards and placed last in passing yards.
What does this mean for Deshaun Watson?
Now that Watson has officially applied for a contract, the next step is for his agent, David Mulugeta, to get permission from Caserio to formally seek a contract and then make offers.
Watson, who signed a four-year, $156 million contract extension in September, has a contract through the 2025 season. He has no commercial rights, but given the length of his contract and the three-year franchise option, the Texans could give up a business for him and control his rights for the 2028 season.
This is a unique situation because it is very rare for a player with four years of NFL experience to request a trade. Quarterback Carson Palmer, who retired in 2011 after the Bengals rejected a trade involving him, played seven seasons.
While the Texans agreed to a trade with another team for the start of the new championship year on the 17th. The month of March can accept, the agreement can only be executed then. The key moment is for the NFL selection in April, because if the Texans trade Watson, they want to make sure they have capital for the 2021 selection when the slots are decided.
Watson’s contract contains a non-reciprocity clause. This means that Watson has an important voice in the chapter, as it can choose not to waive the clause.
A deal with Watson would cost the Texans $5.6 million. Because of the way his contract is structured (he’s technically in the final year of his entry-level contract before his four-year extension begins), his contract cap for 2021 is only $15.94 million. By comparison, this figure will rise to $40.4 million by 2022.
If the Texans don’t trade him for the draft, Watson could opt out of mandatory spring team activities or training camp. But Houston can fine Watson $95,877 for missing mini-camp and can fine him $50,000 a day for each day of training camp missed, plus a week’s salary – $620,000 – for each preseason game missed.
In the unlikely scenario that Watson decides to retire, the Texans could pocket $21.6 million.
What brought Cully to Houston?
The Texans are serious about improving the culture of the organization and think Culley is the right man to do it.
After a second meeting with the Texans – this time in person – the team was impressed with Culley’s energy and believes he has the NFL experience to change that culture within the building, even though he wasn’t the coordinator.
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What I want to emphasize most about Coach Culley is what a great teacher and communicator he is, said John Harbaugh, the Ravens’ 2019 coach. He’s probably the best… I would say he’s the best live teacher, the best communicator I’ve ever seen in football training, not only because he coaches so well, but because he’s so tireless and he coaches the important things.
You can be ruthless, but if you’re stretching things that don’t matter, it’s just a bunch of hot air. He trains the things that are important, and you see the guys in his position group getting better every day.
McNair knew he wanted his Chief Executive to take the lead in finding a coach. It was Caserio, who said the quality he looks for most in a head coach is the ability to lead people.
Football is a sport, after all, but it’s about people, right? said Caserio. You have to invest in people. You have to be able to lead people. … These are the elements that will be important in determining whether or not they are good players on this side of the ball. But whoever it is will have some expertise in a particular field.
David Calley will be the first black head coach hired by the Texans and will be the oldest coach in his first year when he makes his debut in September. Nick Cammett/Diamond Pictures via Getty Images
What is the next stop in Houston?
In 2020, Watson had the best performance of his young career, winning just four games. Houston’s defense struggled and finished 30th in the Football Outsiders’ DVOA weight class. Of course, there are still a lot of defensive gaps that have not been filled by young people who are making a difference. So whoever hires Culley as defensive coordinator has a big job ahead of them.
Whether the Texans trade with Watson or not, those holes in the list will remain. The Texans’ first pick in this project is 67, so they won’t be able to add impact talent at a price that’s beneficial to the team, and they’re currently receiving $18 million more than the salary cap for 2021 (though this is less than the money they’ve already committed, which gives them some flexibility).
If Houston trades Watson, he can tie up the defense and significantly improve that side of the ball, but the quarterback will still have questions.
frequently asked questions
Does Deshaun Watson want to leave Houston?
The day feared by many Texas fans. In this video, ABC13’s David Nuno gives an overview of Deshaun Watson’s trade request from Houston, also with the arrival of a new coach. HOUSTON, Texas — Quarterback Deshaun Watson has applied for a contract with the Houston Texans, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday.
Will Deshaun Watson stay with the Texans?
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What is Deshaun Watson’s salary?
Watson gets a $27 million bonus and the total value of the four-year deal is about $160 million, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Including the 2021 salary for the five-year option, Watson will earn $177.54 million over the next five years, with nearly $111 million guaranteed.
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