O’Brien explains rationale for Texans’ large trades

HOUSTON — Two days after the Houston Texans traded Jadeveon Clowney to the Seahawks, coach Invoice O’Brien mentioned, “ultimately, we simply couldn’t come to an settlement on a long-term deal” with the pass-rusher.

Clowney, the No. 1 general decide in 2014 and a three-time Professional Bowler, was franchise-tagged in March and was holding out. He had not signed his franchise tender earlier than the commerce. After the July 15 deadline handed, the Texans couldn’t proceed contract negotiations till after the season.

“We had discussions about [tagging him again] amongst one another throughout the group and with [Clowney] and [agent] Bus [Cook],” O’Brien mentioned. “And we simply could not come to an settlement.

“We predict very extremely of Jadeveon Clowney. Let’s be clear about that. He is a superb soccer participant. He made quite a lot of good performs for us. He had quite a lot of good Sundays for us. Little doubt about it. However we predict we made one of the best choice for him and we really feel like we made one of the best choice for our staff shifting ahead.”

In return for Clowney, the Texans acquired a 2020 third-round decide and linebackers Barkevious Mingo and Jacob Martin. ESPN’s Adam Schefter additionally reported that Houston paid Clowney a $7 million signing bonus, whereas Seattle is paying the remaining $eight million of his wage.

“I perceive all people’s going to dissect how we did it and what we acquired again and what we gave Seattle,” O’Brien mentioned. “In the long run, we did what we felt was in one of the best curiosity of our group and of our staff shifting ahead.”

O’Brien was requested whether or not the Texans ought to have traded Clowney earlier than the draft or the franchise tag deadline to get the next return.

“There have been quite a lot of talks that passed off,” O’Brien mentioned. “There have been contract proposals between the participant and us that we simply could not come to an settlement on, relative to the franchise tag. The spirit of the franchise tag was to attempt to give your self extra time to return to an settlement on a long-term contract. We could not come to that settlement. We had a number of discussions with many groups over many months and we really feel like we made one of the best choice for the staff.”

Later within the day, the Texans accomplished a commerce with the Miami Dolphins for left sort out Laremy Tunsil and vast receiver Kenny Stills. Miami acquired first-round draft picks in 2020 and ’21, a second-round decide in ’21, offensive sort out Julie’n Davenport and cornerback Johnson Bademosi. Houston additionally will obtain a fourth-round decide in 2020 and a sixth-round decide in ’21 from the Dolphins.

O’Brien mentioned whereas the Texans gave up three excessive draft picks, the staff felt it added “confirmed gamers to the roster.”

“We really feel actually good about with the ability to get a confirmed left sort out to guard Deshaun Watson,” O’Brien mentioned. “Laremy Tunsil is a wonderful participant.”

O’Brien declined to speak about any contract negotiations the staff did or didn’t have with Tunsil earlier than finishing the commerce.

“These strikes have been a part of a plan, one thing that was properly thought out,” O’Brien mentioned. “We spent quite a lot of time on it and tried to execute the plan. It isn’t only a plan to enhance the staff for 2019, it is a plan to enhance the roster for years to return. It is given us the power and adaptability to increase our core gamers whereas persevering with so as to add and develop expertise.”

With Stills, the Texans add a participant who has been one of many leaders of the NFL participant protest motion since 2016. Stills has taken a knee through the nationwide anthem earlier than video games, and has been outspoken about social justice points.

The Texans haven’t had many cases of gamers taking a knee through the nationwide anthem, however have been concerned in a single noteworthy sport in 2017, when the vast majority of gamers kneeled and linked arms earlier than the staff performed the Seahawks. That was the Sunday after then-team proprietor Bob McNair’s controversial “inmates operating the jail” remark, which was mentioned throughout an Oct. 18 assembly during which house owners talked about enterprise considerations associated to participant protests through the nationwide anthem. McNair died final yr, and his son Cal now runs the staff.

Earlier than the Texans’ Week three sport in New England in 2016, an injured Duane Brown — who was traded to the Seahawks after that 2017 sport — raised his fist through the nationwide anthem, and expressed displeasure over the dearth of help he acquired from the group.

O’Brien mentioned he wouldn’t get into any discussions he has had with Stills, however he mentioned he helps his gamers.

“I like the gamers,” O’Brien mentioned. “I’ve the gamers’ again and we talk about these issues. I am not going to actually get into any discussions that I’d have with any participant about these issues. However I help the gamers in social justice initiatives.”