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After weeks of trying to connect, new Houston Texans head coach David Culley reportedly finally managed to speak with disgruntled star quarterback Deshaun Watson. In “a very brief conversation,” Watson reiterated that he wants to be traded.
Per sources, Texans QB Deshaun Watson met with new Texans head coach David Culley last Friday. In that meeting Watson reiterated that he wants to be traded and told Culley he has no intention of playing for the Texans again. No change from Watson's end. He remains dug in.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) February 25, 2021
Texans coach David Culley spoke with Deshaun Watson remotely on Friday and Watson communicated in a very brief conversation, 'I don't want to be here,' per league sources. Texans' stance on not wanting to trade him and Watson's stance about wanting a trade remain status quo
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) February 25, 2021
We can disappointed by this news, but we can’t really be surprised. Watson’s problems with the Texans go far beyond David Culley. It simply wasn’t realistic to believe that Culley would be able to smooth things over with Deshaun. The issues are far more structural and far deeper than who the head coach is. The fire was raging long before Culley arrived in Houston, and it’ll continue to engulf everything in its path for the foreseeable future.
The one thing I will note is that reports of this chat between Culley and Watson, which Dan Graziano says happened nearly a week ago, happened to materialize mere hours after word got out that Russell Wilson has a list of teams he wants to be traded to if his time with the Seahawks has come to an end. It would appear that the Texans could have company as unwilling purveyors of true franchise quarterbacks in the trade market.