Texans owner downplays issues with Watson, Watt: 'We're totally aligned'

Houston Texans owner Cal McNair insisted Friday that the organization is "totally aligned" with Deshaun Watson and J.J. Watt despite the two stars' apparent frustrations.

"In regards to 4 and 99, they're valued members on our team," McNair said while introducing new general manager Nick Caserio. "They're important to the team and the city, they're passionate, and they want to win. And those are all totally in alignment with where we're going and what we've done here in bringing Nick aboard, so it's perfect, we're totally aligned."

Watson was reportedly bothered by the hiring process for Houston's new GM. He was apparently supposed to participate in the process but was excluded. The Texans poached Caserio from the New England Patriots after the search firm they hired recommended five other candidates.

When reports broke Monday evening that the Texans were hiring Caserio, Watson tweeted, "Some things never change...." before eventually deleting the post.

"I've come to understand that it's been reported that Deshaun feels left out of the process, but he and I had several visits, and I understood his point of view before meeting with candidates," McNair said. "I've reached out to Deshaun about Nick's hire, and I look forward to him getting back to me when he returns from his vacation."

Watt, meanwhile, appeared frustrated at multiple points throughout the season. The 31-year-old reportedly confronted former head coach and GM Bill O'Brien early in the campaign before Houston fired O'Brien, and he criticized the efforts of some Texans players later in the year.

Watt apologized to Watson while walking off the field in Week 17, saying the team wasted one of the 25-year-old passer's prime seasons.

Neither Caserio nor McNair offered any hint that the Texans would consider trading Watson, who signed a four-year, $160-million extension in September and is coming off his best NFL campaign.

"The respect and admiration I have for him is significant," Caserio said. "He's our quarterback."

Typically upbeat, Watson said after the Texans' 4-12 finish to the season that Houston had "too many different minds, too many different ideas, and too many people thinking they have this power, and it's not like that."

One of those minds belongs to Jack Easterby, who served as interim GM after the Texans dismissed O'Brien. Easterby is poised to remain with the team despite reports he's been involved in decisions that have created dissent within the organization.

"Jack's very gifted in a lot of different areas," said McNair, adding that Easterby won't be involved in the team's future activities in free agency or the NFL draft.

The Texans' next major project is hiring a new head coach. Houston is the only team with a vacancy that hasn't requested permission to speak with Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, one of the hottest coaching candidates across the NFL.