TEXANS IN TURMOIL
Texans latest example of getting in their own way has strained yet another relationship
Jan 11, 2021, 1:55 pm
The Texans can't get anything right. Composite image by Jack Brame.
Late last year the Houston Texans paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to a high-falutin', nationally respected search firm to help them find their next general manager.
The Korn Ferry company did deep background checks and proposed two names as the most qualified candidates: Pittsburgh Steelers executive Omar Khan and ESPN football analyst Louis Riddick.
Last Friday the Texans called a major press conference to announce their new hire as general manager: Nick Caserio.
Huh? What happened? Why would the Texans pay all that money to a headhunter … and then ignore its advice?
Here's what reportedly happened: Jack Easterby, the Texans butt-smooching, back-stabbing executive and personal Svengali to Texans CEO and Chairman Cal McNair got involved.
According to reports from ESPN, ProFootball Weekly and other national media, Easterby convinced McNair to hire Caserio. You remember Easterby, the focus of a long, vicious profile in Sports Illustrated that painted him as a sneaky, conniving, not always truthful office snoop.
McNair confirmed, "I sought out Jack's feedback on Nick." Caserio added, "Jack and I have a really special relationship." Easterby and Caserio formerly worked together with the New England Patriots.
McNair's announcement of the Caserio hire reportedly infuriated Deshaun Watson, the Texans' divinely talented quarterback. Watson claims that McNair promised that he'd be involved in the general manager decision. Watson wasn't. He learned about the Caserio hire on social media.
Watson also has urged the Texans to consider Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy as their new head coach. So far, the Texans have failed to invite Bieniemy for an interview. The Texans are the only team with a head coaching vacancy to snub Bieniemy for at least an interview.
Watson reportedly feels betrayed by the Texans' hiring practices and failure to be more active on social issues. ESPN said reports of Watson's unhappiness with Texans' management are true. According to ESPN sources, Watson would accept a trade to the Miami Dolphins. Hypothetically, the deal would have the Texans receiving Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and a bunch of draft selections. That's the Texans' style, exiling an All-Pro and getting far less in return.
Houston now has a football team with its best player wanting out, a basketball team with its best player wanting out, and a baseball team with one of its best players accepting offers from other teams.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.