We now have a little more clarity about why the Carolina Panthers have put their interest in Deshaun Watson to the side. And according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, is was the lack of clarity from the Houston Texans quarterback that was the deciding factor.
On Sunday morning, Fowler reported that the Panthers ended their most recent pursuit of Watson due to the cloudiness of his ongoing legal issues as well as how he planned to utilize his no-trade clause. In addition to his 22 active lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior, Watson had not yet provided a written commitment that he would approve a potential deal to Carolina.
“‘[The Panthers] felt he would have come to Carolina, but [that] he wanted Miami first,’ a source told ESPN,” the report notes.
“Sources told ESPN that Carolina didn’t want to wait any longer to conduct their own research into Watson’s legal issues, whether or not Watson was gong to waive the clause eventually,” Fowler adds. “That research would have taken several days, most likely. Now, as a source added, it’s probably too late.”
The Texans will have until Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET trade deadline to find Watson a new home. But we know now that the move, at least for the time being, won’t be to Charlotte, N.C.