SAD SACKS AGAIN
Receiving nothing for Watt is idiotic, but to see him join forces with Hopkins in Arizona brings fans more anguish
The blockbuster no one predicted now makes perfect sense.
Because of the Texans. Of course J.J. Watt coolly announced his new team via Twitter on Monday, two weeks before NFL free agency was supposed to ignite.
Of course Watt’s new team is the same team Deandre Hopkins now plays for.
And of course the most popular player and best defender in Texans history is now an ex-texan while wearing the same uniform as Deshaun Watson’s favorite former target and the secondgreatest wide receiver in Texans history.
What’s old is new again. The Texans are becoming experts at Texansing.
Watt proudly plays for the Arizona Cardinals — two weeks after the Texans allowed ol’ No. 99 to walk away for free, despite one year remaining on his official contract with Houston’s NFL team.
Hopkins hauled in 115 receptions for 1,407 yards and six touchdowns — including a miraculous Hail Mary — with Arizona in 2020 after the Texans went out of their way to trade away ol’ No. 10 for peanuts.
Every football fan in the United States of America instantly knew the Texans should have received more in return for Hopkins.
I recently devoted an entire column to the fact the 4-12 Texans should have received something — anything — in return for the departure of a five-time All-pro and locker room leader still valued across the league.
At least half the NFL seemed to want Watt in 2021. Monday, Arizona reportedly handed out a two-year, $31 million deal — including $23
guaranteed — so Watt would instantly become a Cardinal.
CEO Cal Mcnair went out of his way when Watt was released to say the Texans did him a favor.
Mcnair also publicly took up for the battered Texans when Bill O’brien and Jack Easterby made it personal with Hopkins last March, trading away Watson’s most trusted offensive weapon.
Did Mcnair do Texans fans a favor when he allowed Watt to pair up with Hopkins during a time when the Texans are supposed to be doing everything possible to make Watson happy?
If there’s a perfect, ideal way to get your completely disgruntled 25-year-old franchise quarterback to believe in you again, this is the exact opposite way.
“Life is good in Arizona!” Hopkins tweeted Monday, tagging Watt and the Cardinals. Watson’s recent tweets: “Loyalty is everything. Don’t you EVER forget it.”
“some things never change….”
I wonder what he’s trying to say.
Watt obviously isn’t guaranteed his first divisional round playoff victory — or Super Bowl appearance — simply by relocating his football talents to Glendale, Ariz.
The Cardinals turned an impressive 6-3 start last season into an undermillion
whelming 8-8 finish. The NFC West lacks Jacksonville (and the Texans) for easy Sundays. Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury still have a ton to prove, and the Arizona spotlight will only shine brighter now that Watt intentionally chose the Cardinals over
contenders such as Green Bay, Buffalo and Cleveland.
But Watt bought into Arizona for a reason and willingly walked away from the Texans in 2021 for a reason.
Everyone else can see what’s going on and what the future increasingly
looks like inside NRG Stadium. Except for the two guys who keep grinning and patting each other on the back while Watson keeps saying no.
Inexplicable mismanagement continues to be the real story.
“Hey, J.J., listen: We’re going to release you and let you get out of here a year early. But just promise us you won’t team up with D-hop again and make us look really, really bad to the entire league. OK?”
No one on Kirby Drive was smart enough to have that conversation before allowing Watt to hit the open market for free?
Hopkins should have netted at least a first-round pick. Watt’s $23 million guarantee tells you a thirdrounder was sitting out there if the Texans had tried hard enough and played the game right.
Arizona is now trying to reach the next level with two of the best ex-texans in franchise history.
The Texans ended up with David Johnson (and his bloated contract), a 2020 second-round pick and a 2021 fourth-rounder. For Watt and Hopkins. No wonder the team Easterby helped build went 4-12 last year and is an early contender to be the worst team in the NFL next season.
Somewhere, Watson is laughing.
Or more frustrated than ever at the team he technically still plays for.