This is getting embarrassing. The New Orleans Saints have been in around-the-clock communication with Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson for a week now, flying their leadership team of executives, coaches, and ownership out of town to meet with him in multiple cities and try to sell Watson on waiving his no-trade clause to come to New Orleans.
And he’s responded by putting the Saints, the Atlanta Falcons, every other team in pursuit of him, and all the major free agents each of those teams are negotiating with on hold so he can spend a few more days thinking about it, per Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Falcons have reached an agreement with franchise quarterback Matt Ryan to push his $7.5 million roster bonus back four days to buy more time for Watson to mull it over, with Ryan to be traded to another team if Watson picks them instead of New Orleans.
There’s a lot to be said for being decisive, even for a major life decision about which city you want to go earn $150 million playing football in for the next four years. But it’s not like Watson woke up from an afternoon nap and had to make this call. He’s been out of football for a year after first demanded the Texans trade him. He’s had a week of the Saints, the Falcons, and every other team involved debasing themselves to try and win him over.
