Even though Deshaun Watson is no longer with their organization, the Houston Texans are still being punished for a salary cap violation involving their former quarterback.
The NFL fined the team $175,000 and will strip them of their 2023 fifth-round pick after they failed to report a payment to Watson.
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Deshaun Watson of the Texans reacts to a penalty during the New England Patriots game at NRG Stadium on November 22, 2020 in Houston. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Texans paid Watson $26,777 during the 2020 offseason to use a local facility while his was closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The team believes they were not given the salary cap advantage, but the league says that «in accordance with the salary cap requirements in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, clubs must disclose any player compensation or benefits.»
Houston said they «understand» that the money «should have been charged to player salaries,» but they still don’t agree with the discipline.
Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson walks out of the pocket against the Cincinnati Bengals at NRG Stadium in Houston on December 27, 2020. (Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)
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Watson made his third straight Pro Bowl in 2020, leading the NFL with 4,823 passing yards. However, Houston went 4-12 that season. He then missed the 2021 season after requesting a trade from the organization combined with sexual harassment allegations.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson warms up before a Texans game in Houston on December 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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He was then traded to the Cleveland Browns, but still served an 11-game suspension. In his six games played, he looked like a shell of himself, completing a career-low 58.2% of his passes.