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It's amazing how many misconceptions there are about sports contracts. If Watson retired and then unretired in a year, the Texans would still control his NFL rights. Same way that if Andrew Luck ever unretires, his rights are controlled by the Colts.
These rules were drawn up during collective bargaining and exist for good reasons. If it was that easy to jump ship, then bad teams would never have a realistic chance to improve. Most good players would just leave.
I said this a lot during the Harden standoff, but it's incredibly naive to think that most players on a given roster are where they truly "want" to be. Odds are they were either drafted there or traded for, and they had minimal control over those processes.
Even for players who "chose" to sign somewhere as a free agent, it's probably because that team offered them the most money.
If they are later deemed good enough by another team to get that same money somewhere else, a lot of players would prefer to leave and do that.
If they are later deemed good enough by another team to get that same money somewhere else, a lot of players would prefer to leave and do that.
It's a business, you have to get over the fantasy of most players being Gerald Green-types who 100% play for the name on the front of the jersey. That's just not how it works. The only thing different about Harden/Watson situations is that they're good enough to drive headlines.
That said, I'm not naive, there are locker-room consequences to keeping a player (especially a star/leader) against his will. But those pale in comparison to the precedent you set if you just act like the contract is irrelevant and trade him for below fair value just to do a deal
It is basically unprecedented for a 25-year-old superstar QB to be traded, especially with this level of contractual control.
The repercussions from trading him for anything but a historic haul would affect the team's ability to retain players for a generation.
The repercussions from trading him for anything but a historic haul would affect the team's ability to retain players for a generation.
Even if Watson was truly willing to retire, there are absolutely some scenarios where it's better for the team to have him retire than to give in and accept a sub-standard offer.
That said, I am very skeptical that he would do that.
One thing to keep in mind this offseason: It is extremely easy for Watson and his agent to leak what they're supposedly willing to do. Any financial consequences are 6+ months away! There is zero pressure on them right now.
One thing to keep in mind this offseason: It is extremely easy for Watson and his agent to leak what they're supposedly willing to do. Any financial consequences are 6+ months away! There is zero pressure on them right now.
One final note: I said this during the Harden standoff, but one of the most fun days on Twitter was the Marquese Chriss trade demand.
That's why lesser guys don't do it: They'd literally get laughed at! It doesn't mean they don't have the desire, though.
That's why lesser guys don't do it: They'd literally get laughed at! It doesn't mean they don't have the desire, though.
