Quarterback Watson wants out of Houston Irsay: Luck's return to Colts unlikely
Deshaun Watson wants a divorce from the Houston Texans.
In a move that should come as a surprise to no one, the Pro Bowl quarterback has asked for a trade, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, who reports Watson issued his request weeks ago.
The Miami Herald recently reported that Watson would like to be traded to the New York Jets given his admiration for newly hired coach Robert Saleh. His second choice would be the Miami Dolphins. Both teams have multiple first-round picks to offer in a trade and could also float young quarterbacks (New York's Sam Darnold and Miami's Tua Tagovailoa) who remain on their rookie contracts.
Watson was apparently upset with what he perceived as the franchise's failure to fully integrate him into the franchise's searches for a general manager and head coach. GM Nick Caserio was hired earlier this month, and word surfaced Wednesday night that Baltimore Ravens assistant David Culley will be named as Houston's next head coach.
Watson, who hasn't said anything publicly, is also unhappy with what he perceives as the organization's lack of commitment to social injustice issues, according to an ESPN report.
Strahan tests positive for COVID-19
“Good Morning America” co- host and
former New York Giants star Michael Strahan has tested positive for COVID19, the show announced Thursday.
Strahan had been absent from the show since Monday, and co- host Robin Roberts passed along the message that Strahan had tested positive and was quarantining.
Strahan is “feeling well” and looking forward to getting back to the show, according to co- host George Stephanopoulos. The former defensive end appeared remotely for “Fox NFL Sunday” for the NFC Championship game on Sunday rather than his usual place in-studio.
Strahan has not released a public statement.
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay cracked a joke on Wednesday that he'll be checking his fax
machine this offseason.
After all, Michael Jordan ended his first retirement from the Chicago Bulls with a two- word fax — “I'm back” — and it's been roughly two years since Andrew Luck shocked the NFL by retiring two weeks before the start of the 2019 season.
But Irsay is well aware that Luck is not Jordan, and he's not expecting the former Colts star to pull off another shock by returning to the NFL.
“I really think it kind of stands where it stands,” Irsay said. “I think, like I've said before, Andrew's retired.”
The Colts are still feeling the aftershocks of Luck's retirement.
Forced to stumble through a 7-9 season with backup Jacoby Brissett at the helm in 2019, Indianapolis bounced back by signing a 38-yearold Philip Rivers in 2020, and the Chargers legend
led the Colts back to an 11-5 record — their best since Luck's career in Indianapolis — and a playoff berth.
The problem is that Rivers was at the end of his career.
Rivers retired a week ago, and the Colts find themselves in the same position they've been since Luck's emotional news conference in the bowels of Lucas Oil Stadium after a preseason game against the Chicago Bears.
Looking for quarterback.
“He knows how much we'd love to have him be our quarterback, there's just no question about that,” Irsay said. “But at the same time, we know for it to work out, he has to be the one that says `You know what? I'm ready. I want to really create a little bit of history, in unprecedented aspects.” a