Florio discusses why a settlement may not be in the cards for Watson cases
WATSON WATCH
13 May 2021
WATSON WATCH
ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio talks with Chris Simms about the latest information regarding Deshaun Watson and the cases against him. Lawyer Tony Buzbee told Fox 26's Mark Berman that a settlement is not close to happening, and the women that spoke with the NFL did not feel respected.
So what do we make of this? Florio's opinion is that Buzbee is making these comments to put pressure on Deshaun Watson and the NFL, because stirring up this "hornet's nest" will blow back on Watson and the NFL, not Buzbee and his clients. Buzbee must believe that stirring the pot could help nudge the cases toward resolution in a more timely manner.
Finally, Florio spells out how the game is played with lawyers. Meaning, Rusty Hardin and his team are going to make this process as uncomfortable as possible for all the accusers. According to Florio, that's right out of the legal playbook if such a thing existed.
Check out the video to hear Florio's full take on the latest information.
Brian McCarthy, spokesman for the NFL, in a statement, responds to Houston attorney Tony Buzbee who told FOX 26 Wednesday night he was concerned with the way the NFL handled some of his clients when they spoke to the League about their civil lawsuits against Texans QB.. pic.twitter.com/c2YSg2R61j
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) May 13, 2021
The Houston Texans head to Foxborough this weekend to take on the 1-4 New England Patriots. The Pats will have a different look this week, with rookie QB Drake Maye making his first NFL regular season start.
The Texans also come into this matchup with some changes in place, as superstar receiver Nico Collins is on the injured list with a hamstring injury.
Receivers Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell will need to pick up the slack with Collins sidelined. Diggs will have his work cut out for him though against New England's standout corner Christian Gonzalez.
Diggs may be able to escape Gonzalez when moved into the slot, but it's hard to know how both teams will choose to match up this week. Will Diggs play more on the outside with Collins out of the equation? Will Gonzalez shadow Diggs all over the field? Gonzalez had success pressing Dolphins all-world receiver Tyreek Hill last week, and recorded 1 interception and 2 forced incompletions.
Per PFF, Pats corner Marcus Jones was actually the highest-graded Patriots player last week against Miami, so this team has some talent in the secondary.
The big question for the Texans passing game comes down to Dell's usage. Even with Collins out for most of last week's game, Dell only received four targets and played on 68% of the snaps.
Houston receiver Xavier Hutchinson actually out-snapped Dell, playing on 71% of the snaps, but with one less target.
Texans OC Bobby Slowik likes having bigger receivers on the field to help block in the running game. So we should learn a lot this week about how Slowik will deploy his weapons with Collins injured.
Speaking of the running game, both Dameon Pierce (full) and Joe Mixon (limited) returned to practice this week. It would be huge for the offense to get those guys back, to say the least.
Slowik should also be prepared to get the tight ends more involved, to take advantages of mismatches. The Texans brought back tight end Teagan Quitoriano this week. If he's active, perhaps we see him used for pass and run blocking, with Dalton Schultz lining up in the slot from time to time.
Bulls on Parade!
On defense, the Texans should have success against a rookie quarterback in his first start, especially after seeing what they did to Josh Allen last week.
Both Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter played well against the Bills receivers. But Lassiter is dealing with a shoulder injury that may prevent him from getting on the field. He didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday.
Houston #Texans Thursday Injury Report for Week 6 at the New England Patriots: pic.twitter.com/pv9F3yZXnO
— Houston Texans PR (@TexansPR) October 10, 2024
Fortunately for Houston, the Patriots don't have a ton of talent at receiver. But with a new quarterback in the fold, anything can happen.
The Texans' ability to pressure Maye with Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter should give the team a big advantage. Houston leads the league with a 42% pressure rate.
The Patriots' biggest weapons this season have been running backs Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson. Stevenson is dealing with a foot injury and didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday. If he's at all limited or doesn't play, that will work in Houston's favor.
What does Vegas think?
The Texans are favored by 7 points, and the total is set at 38. So don't expect too many points in this contest!
There are so many angles to cover in this matchup. Be sure to watch the video above as the crew from Texans on Tap gets you ready for the big game!