Before Deshaun Watson‘s legal battles came to the forefront, it should be pointed out that he requested a trade from the Houston Texans.
He was the one who wanted out because the roster had been a mess.
In two seasons, the Texans turned from division champions to cellar-dwellers due to the exodus of top talent.
Watson thought that he would be better off playing elsewhere.
However, the allegations of sexual misconduct against him came out, delaying his potential transfer.
The Pro Bowl quarterback and 2020 passing yards leader was an active player but head coach David Culley decided to have him sidelined.
Fast forward to 2022 and Watson has been traded to the Cleveland Browns.
The former Clemson standout also signed a five-year, $230 million contract with the AFC North squad.
But even if the Texans and Watson have parted ways, they can still be implicated for the quarterback’s civil cases.
The Texans thought they got their first-round picks and passed the problem to the Browns. Not so fast.. https://t.co/49plpnWVmo
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) June 27, 2022
NFL analyst Andrew Brandt tweeted, “The Texans thought they got their first-round picks and passed the problem to the Browns. Not so fast..”
He quoted a post from Jake Trotter which contained a quote from lawyer Tony Buzbee.
Buzbee represents the individuals who filed charges against Watson and he claims that the Texans are also liable if they had knowledge of Watson’s actions.
If they do, they are accomplices to the crime which could translate to possible penalties.
The NFL Could Penalize The Texans As Well
Aside from the victims getting more compensation for damages from the Texans, the league can also bestow penalties upon the franchise.
While Watson has settled most of his civil lawsuits, the potential litigation against the Texans will take time.
Therefore, they could feel the brunt of the punishment come next season if the NFL pursues the matter against the Texans.
NEXT: NFL Insider Reveals A Lawsuit Against The Texans