Is Lovie Smith Pushing Deshaun Watson Out The Door?
February 17th, 2022
Tennessee-ready without Deshaun Watson.
Buried in his Super Bowl coverage in his solid weekly column, “Monday Morning Quarterback,” Albert Breer of SI.com caught up with Houston coach Lovie Smith.
It seemed eerily similar to the stories Joe heard of Lovie saying Darrelle Revis couldn’t play for him, or how he never seemed to want Donald Penn. Lovie was telling Breer that he’s about had it with Watson pouting that he won’t play for the Texans again.
So Lovie wants Watson gone, it appears. And he wants him gone soon.
“As soon as possible. I’m not running away from the question, but as soon as possible. There are things that need to be taken care of before the football part comes into play. We’re patient, we’ve waited an entire year and I just feel like this offseason, it’ll come to an end and we’ll get it solved and it’ll be good for both parties, whatever that might be. There’s no other answer to give right now except for that one, and we’re going to try to get it resolved as soon as we possibly can. But we don’t play tomorrow. We have a little bit of time, and we’ll get it done.”
Well, the first thing Joe thought of, would Lovie be OK dealing Watson to the Bucs. Lovie really was PO’ed when he got canned by Tampa Bay and from what Joe has heard in NFL circles, that grudge lasted well into his days running Illinois into the ground (as if it was any good before he arrived in the cornfields).
In 2016, Lovie’s son agent was the guy who was contacting damn near every national NFL writer to spin a tale that Lovie was part of a One Buc Palace coup orchestrated by his subordinates with the Bucs.
Then again, Joe doesn’t think Lovie has that kind of power with the Texans, or at least he shouldn’t. So if Houston gets a fair offer from Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht, Joe doesn’t believe Lovie has to power to veto it, especially if he is pushing for Watson to be moved.
Or is Lovie still bitter that former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik swindled him by fleecing Lovie of a second-round pick for a stiff like Gaines Adams?
February 17th, 2022 at 5:48 am
I don’t care, we haven’t had success finding a way to manage some our personnel signings with previous legal or behavioral issues.
February 17th, 2022 at 5:55 am
I knew when Lovie got this job cutting bait with Watson would be top on his list. Lovie wants this distraction gone so his team can move forward. So do we want to sell the farm to buy this distraction? Say goodbye to the next three drafts. Say goodbye to a lot of Bucs we won’t be able to resign. Is Watson worth all that? After we won our first SB the Glazers were more than happy to rebuild. They didn’t give Gruden all the toys he wanted, and even S canned him. I see the Glazers doing the same with these Bucs. They’ll be patient, unlike Joe who wants every QB out there not named Blaine Gabbert who by the way will be the opening day starter.
February 17th, 2022 at 6:53 am
C’mon, Hodad. Stop with the Gabbert guarantee. You may have a hunch, but that’s it. If they start Gabbert, it’s because they have to.
February 17th, 2022 at 7:41 am
How about this, let’s not trade for a guy who still hasn’t received his suspension and could still be going to prison
February 17th, 2022 at 7:42 am
Ah good ol “Tennessee ready” what a fun beginning to the 2015 season.
Those were the days NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
February 17th, 2022 at 7:46 am
Lovie’s job will be the same as when he was with the Bucs…..position for a total rebuild. If the Texans wanted to win, Flores by far was the obvious best candidate but the Texans don’t want to win, they want to acquire draft picks similar to what Cleveland did. I won’t be shocked if Winston is brought in to QB them right into top 5 selections year after year.
February 17th, 2022 at 7:56 am
BA has the perfect demeanor to handle players with personal issues. Bring him on.
February 17th, 2022 at 8:00 am
Thank you.
I feel like I’m in crazy town reading these posts on Watson. There’s a massive difference between signing guys who are *not* choir boys vs. guys who are genuinely bad people.
February 17th, 2022 at 8:03 am
I am still having trouble believing that Houston hired Lovie Smith!
February 17th, 2022 at 8:12 am
Watson has poor morals, no character, no loyalty, and no conscience. Other than that, he’s a great guy. How many of you would let him get a massage from your adult daughter ?
February 17th, 2022 at 8:46 am
Provided the Bucs re-sign Blaine Gabbert, am guessing smart money would give him better odds to start over Kyle Trask (no, Joe is not slamming Kyle Trask, Gators fans). Been typing the following for days now: A 69-year old Arians isn’t returning for a rebuild. And if you hand the job to a guy that has never been active on gameday, you are in a rebuild.
February 17th, 2022 at 8:55 am
Bruce will he 70 next season he in it to win right now 3 1st round picks is steep
February 17th, 2022 at 8:57 am
Anything Lovie does is suspect. He already said he will be calling the D next year. Sound familiar? The Texans owners ship should lose their team for malpractice. Really, really bad organization. Lovie has zero credibility in Tampa, so for us to listen to anything he has to say, and take it seriously, is nonsense.
February 17th, 2022 at 9:18 am
Texans will move Watson this year. One way or another
February 17th, 2022 at 9:23 am
Watson has a no trade clause, one of few players who do. He can decide where he’s going to some degree.
This theoretically also lowers the trade compensation for him since it’s not really a fully open market for his services which lowers the demand for him.
He’s going to get traded, and I would imagine it’s going to be some type of trade structured like The Colts and Eagles trade with Wentz where it was structured off of playing time.
February 17th, 2022 at 9:39 am
Not defending Watson at all but we all know Lovie doesn’t want cussing in his locker-room. Possible illegal massage parlor activity doesn’t pass the Lovie test at all.
February 17th, 2022 at 9:44 am
Watson is 1/5 of the Texan’s cap.
Many teams are in cap hell, and nothing will happen league-wide until cap cuts are made before 3/16.
I suspect, at the end of the day, the Texans won’t get the ransom for Watson they want.
Watson’s biggest baggage in the NFL are not the angry rubbers, but his cap hit.
Houston’s problem is they have $35mil dead cap with $19mil of cap space.
February 17th, 2022 at 10:02 am
Awesome! Tennessee ready. Nothing more ready than that.
February 17th, 2022 at 10:12 am
Lovie.
No more needs to be said. Sad for Houston.
Maybe Lovie will just insist that Watson be cut because he wants him gone. That would be so Lovie.
February 17th, 2022 at 10:13 am
Suffering, how do I know the Bucs will go with Gabbert? They really have no choice. Cap wise, draft pick wise, their hands are tied. That leaves you with this years FA class, and Gabbert being in the building the last 3 years, 4 total with BA who loves him, gives him a big edge over those other QBs. Arains has said it takes 2 years to get comforable in his offense, Blaines been in it 4. As Mr. Spock would say, starting Gabbert is the only logical thing to do.
February 17th, 2022 at 10:59 am
Even Mr Spock was half human. BA must know he can’t have the Goobert sh!tting up the field in his last season.
February 17th, 2022 at 11:00 am
And just to add insult, The Goob will want at least $20 million for his ‘rrhea.
February 17th, 2022 at 11:34 am
Lovie is the Sam Bradford of head coaches.
February 17th, 2022 at 11:35 am
If they can get him add an affordable rate, and assuming the legal troubles go away, I’d give up a couple first rounders. But, it’s a big but, right now he’s owed 40 million a year and we don’t know what’s happening with the legal issues
February 17th, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Lovie built the bears and made them a superbowl contender with Ress Grossman at quarterback !! Facts stop haten on Lovie Smith!!
February 17th, 2022 at 12:05 pm
Lovie came to a Tampa team that Shaino destroyed and improved each year before they let trash Kotter become the coach. Maybe they paid him to tank the first year like Cleveland and Miami told paid their coaches to tank 🤔.
February 17th, 2022 at 12:13 pm
one fact. blind squirrels, acorns.
February 17th, 2022 at 12:37 pm
Oneilsuck, you’re hilarious with your Lovie love. Pay any attention at all to his time at Illinois, or the fact that he finished his Bucs tenure by basically getting his doors blown off four games in a row? No. Of course not. That would get in the way of your Lovie Love narrative.
He is now quite easily the worst coach in the NFL, with the record to prove it. Still stuck in the Cover 2 defense of last century and hates dynamic offense. Yeah the BEars and Rex Grossman!
Bwaaaahaaaahahahaaaa.
February 17th, 2022 at 1:51 pm
Lovie has one trait that Oh-kneel really admires and identifies with……
🤔
February 17th, 2022 at 2:14 pm
The Texans will soon learn that Lovie wants choir boys on his team and CUSSING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!!
February 17th, 2022 at 2:54 pm
Well at least this time around maybe the Bucs will be the beneficiary of Lovie’s terrible talent analysis instead of the victim.
February 17th, 2022 at 4:48 pm
Bucfan that’s why you think BA is a quarterback guru and a good coach because he curse 🤬 wish make him a foolish man !!
February 17th, 2022 at 4:52 pm
If I’m Lovie, yes. I’d push. Hard. Out. Clean house. Who wants to start a coaching gig with trouble?
February 17th, 2022 at 5:10 pm
Swamppunk. You just made my point stupid now let’s see if BA the so call quarterback guru and the most overrated coach in football can develop Trask? Terry Bradshaw espoused BA for not coaching and trying to take the easy way out now he has to be a coach!!
February 17th, 2022 at 5:24 pm
Doosh. I know the truth hurts but the bears ain’t been the same since he left they’re joke right now !! The funny thing about bucs fans like yall that hate and hope that every former bucs player or coach fail is the same ones who on their knees begging Brady to come back to the team and he don’t even want to be on this team anymore . Yall are the cowards of the bucs fan base the weak links !!
February 17th, 2022 at 5:44 pm
“Watson has poor morals, no character, no loyalty, and no conscience. Other than that, he’s a great guy. How many of you would let him get a massage from your adult daughter ?”
Sounds a lot like AB, and how did that work out for the team?
February 17th, 2022 at 5:52 pm
Chibuc. What about your morals and your character? Bill O’BRIAN is a trash coach and look what he done to the Texans he destroyed that team . He got rid of all his weapons and he still balled out . And what about Brady character he was caught cheating but that’s ok with you because he’s Brady right or maybe because he’s white ??
February 17th, 2022 at 5:52 pm
I agree with Oneilbuc’s take on bruce. He’s been more of a potted plant than a whisper in Tampa. Got that cushy corp structure with an a$$load of staff so he never has to be fully accountable, throws players under the bus, relies on cheeky quips instead of preparation, has one of the highest penalized teams, has yet to develop a draft pick but is great at identifying the goat (just like the rest of the world)… he is basically your foul mouthed grand dad yelling at that damned kid speeding by (RoJo)
February 17th, 2022 at 5:57 pm
What about them? You got 22 reasons (assaults), a possible long term suspension, a budget busting contract, the future in draft picks to give up,, and unlikely jail time to look at. All seem like valid reasons to say no to Watson. Love his game, but not worth selling out for.
February 17th, 2022 at 6:01 pm
Btw, Oneilbuc… get off your high horse and know who you attack fool. I’m on record stating “I am back to hating Brady as soon as the jolly Roger came off his dome.”
I’m a lifelong buc fan, NOT a Brady fan (sycophant)
February 17th, 2022 at 6:35 pm
Chibuc. My bad bro it was a lot of Patriots fans pretending to be bucs fan. So some times it’s hard to spot them bro !! But I do think we don’t have the money for Watson. I was just really talking about if we could have him . But for me I rather Trask just to see what he has if he’s good than it’s cool if he’s bad than draft a quarterback next year . I’m tired of the quarterback position and the bucs. I think if they give him a consistent running game and keep the Brady offense he will be good and we can finally have our own quarterback. And all they have to do is keep building the defense and we can have a consistent wining franchise. Go Bucs !!
February 17th, 2022 at 10:58 pm
Lovie Smith is the definition of “Failing Up”
February 18th, 2022 at 2:57 am
Listen lads, I’ve turned a new leaf, and so should you. Stop with “cripple fighting cripple.” No one wins.
Obviously Lovie has been abused by the NFL system. He is going to lead the Texans to glory you just watch! I know this because of his fine track record over the last 15 years. Ignore his personnel moves, time at Illinois, and fixation with the Tampa 2 way – he knows best it’s obvious! Rex GrossMan for goodness sakes!
And Brady should never have been a Buc anyway. Winston would’ve won us that Lombardi if only Lovie hadn’t been fired. So clear.
Way to bring us all together guys! My bowels have never felt this cleansed.