The Texans’ decision to give then-quarterback Deshaun Watson accommodations outside their team facility in 2020 has resulted in league discipline being handed down. The NFL announced on Thursday that Houston has been docked their fifth-round pick in this year’s draft and fined $175K for a salary cap violation.
The Texans gave Watson $26,777 for membership at the Houstonian Hotel, because COVID-19 protocols prevented him from being allowed to workout at the team’s facility. That move, in the league’s eyes, constitutes player compensation which went unreported, and has thus been deemed a CBA violation.
“During the 2020 league year and while its facilities were closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Club absorbed $26,777 in costs for player benefits for the use of alternate athletic facilities, which it understands should have been charged instead to player salaries,” the Texans said in a statement.
“The Club has fully cooperated with the League in its investigation of these matters and maintains that it had no intention to circumvent any salary cap rules or gain any sort of competitive advantage. While we disagree with the League’s ruling, we will accept the imposed discipline and move forward.”
Even with the forfeited fifth-rounder, Houston still boasts the most draft picks in 2023 (11 in total). That figure includes the Browns’ top selection this year, one of the three first-round picks they sent as part of the trade package to the Texans to acquire Watson last offseason. Houston is in an interesting situation as they currently hold the second overall pick – the highest slot amongst teams knowing they will be selecting a signal-caller, though movement in the top 10 is expected to take place. The Texans now have six Day 3 picks, but none in Round 5, as a result of this discipline.
Seems like Houston gave Watson a lot of “accommodations” over the years.
LOL
What?!?!??!?!?!?
The NFL (or NBA) is actually enforcing their salary cap?
And this is what they do it on?
I guess the question all astonished, shocked, and depressed Texans fans are asking themselves today is: How can they possibly field a competitive team in the next 2-4 years without their 2023 5th round draft choice?
Boy, this one hurts!
Or losing $175K, ouch!
Hey, it’s not like the Texans really NEED all of their draft picks that badly, right?
I can’t imagine what kind of special “training” that Watson was doing at the swankiest hotel in Houston. Maybe some massage therapy?
The local news reports that the Houstonian is where a lot of Watson’s accusers say they were assaulted. What a coincidink.
Would that make the Texans an Accessory?
my first thought reading this was if this was a location listed from accusers.
They also spent a fortune on their legal team to craft NDAs to give away like candy on Halloween for Mr. Rub and Tug.
This is the old New England shuffle. They paid Brady under the table for years with local real estate deals (worked through Bob Kraft) in order for him to agree to leave some salary cap money on the table so they could sign other players. Brady won three ways: He got a better team, he got praised as a team player and he still got his money.
I think that maybe just maybe. This is why the Texans settled with Watson’s accusers. I never really understood why they would do that. They clearly had no idea what he was doing. There’s no way that they would know of his actions and just turn a blind eye to it. It’s not uncommon for teams to give players NDA’s. A lot of players need these unfortunately.
So I’m speculating here but I think they did that to try to hide this violation. Because it’s pretty much BS that they didn’t know that this was against the rules. Paying for your players additional services of any kind would be a salary cap violation. That’s part of their salary. Just like if you have an employer who pays for your cell phone. That’s part of your salary/income.
As a Texans fan I’m just glad Watson is gone. What an absolute disgrace he turned out to be. Thank you Cleveland browns for giving us so much treasure for a piece of crap.
Thank goodness Goodell’s accountants saved the league $26,777. Now the NFL won’t have to file for bankruptcy.