Johnson’s tweet about Easterby drives home level of dissatisfaction Caserio must address
Imagine Bill Belichick’s cellphone ringing. The call is from Nick C.
Bill: “What’s up, Nick?”
Nick: “Bill, is it too late to get my old job back?”
Belichick chuckles. Welcome to Houston, Nick Caserio.
Monday was Caserio’s first day on the job as the Texans’ new general manager, and I doubt he had any idea about the mess he would inherit and the chaos that would surround him. He’s going to earn every penny of that six-year, $30-million contract.
Caserio was hired last week by owner Cal McNair, and he came to Houston armed with a list of candidates he wants to interview, including Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who wasn’t pursued last week by the search committee, generating a nation
al controversy.
But this is Caserio’s baby, and he’s no stranger to controversy after spending 20 years with the Patriots. I’m guessing he had no idea how much criticism his close friend, Jack Easterby, has been getting. He surely does now after the broadside Andre Johnson fired Tuesday on Twitter supporting disenchanted quarterback Deshaun Watson and criticizing Easterby, the executive vice president of football operations.
Johnson, a member of McNair’s advisory group and the only player inducted into the Texans’ Ring of Honor, made it clear in his tweet where he believes the problem lies.
Johnson encouraged Watson to “stand his ground” and continued with this: “Since Jack Easterby has (walked) into the building, nothing good has happened in/for the organization and for some reason someone can’t seem to see what’s going on. Pathetic!!!”
Obviously, Johnson was talking about McNair being unable “to see what’s going on” when it concerns Easterby and his growing influence within the organization.
Not only does Caserio have
his hands full trying to find the right head coach, but he’s got an executive VP of football opps who’s getting fire from every direction. As Caserio said Friday in his Zoom conference call with the media, he has a “special relationship” with Easterby because they worked together for six years in New England.
Caserio must be bewildered by the vitriol aimed at Easterby by fans, media and now by Johnson. What made Johnson’s Twitter outburst so stunning is he has always taken great pains to avoid controversy since he came to the Texans from Miami as their first-round pick in 2003.
Who would have thought, Andre Johnson, fire-starter?
Johnson is a man of few words, and when he has something to say, people listen, especially fans who cheered for him since the day he stepped on the NRG Stadium field for the first time.
The Texans should beware: Johnson may not be the last former player to make his feelings known on Twitter.
Caserio can’t worry about Johnson and the fallout of his tweet. He’s got enough to do with current players, beginning with Watson. Caserio has to find a way to appease Watson before he demands a trade publicly to ignite another firestorm.
And there’s also the issue with
unhappy defensive end J. J. Watt, who’s entering the last year of his contract and may ask for a trade. Can you imagine if Watt elects not to lay low and weigh in on Easterby and what’s happening in the organization?
Contributing to the Texans’ dysfunction could be the departure of respected team president Jamey Rootes, which would enflame corporate Houston as well as the Texans’ sponsors, suite holders and season ticket holders who have supported the franchise since its inception.
There was a report on Pro Football Talk that Rootes’ 20year career with the Texans
could be coming to an end. If it does, there’ll be a gaping hole in the business side of the operation because Rootes has helped make the Texans one of the most prosperous and valuable franchises in professional sports.
McNair is the last word on what happens with the Texans, and he made a shrewd move hiring Caserio because of his expertise on personnel. Caserio’s six Super Bowl rings won’t help him clean up the mess, starting with hiring a coach who must be a strong leader who becomes the face of the franchise.
Caserio and the new coach have to communicate well with the players and present their unified vision of their plan for a team that finished 4-12 this season — one year removed from a 10-6 finish, a fourth AFC South title in five years and a wild-card victory over Buffalo.
That seems light eons ago, right?
Just think, Tuesday was the one-year anniversary of the Texans’ unraveling as a playoff team — the 51-31 disaster at Kansas City, where they blew a 24point, second-quarter lead before losing by 20.
By the way, Bieniemy, the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, played a significant role in the comeback victory — a Texans’ defeat that precipitated the monumental and embarrassing collapse of the organization that helped put them in their current predicament of getting widespread criticism locally and across the NFL.
Criticism that’s not likely to end anytime soon.
Criticism that could even intensify.
The next move belongs to McNair and Caserio, who have to formulate a plan to crush and not create any more controversy.