Tag: Nick Caserio

Feb 2, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio speaks to the media during his introductory press conference at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

Texans GM denies he’s leaving post-draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio is facing huge decisions 10 days before the 2023 NFL Draft, but he insists leaving the franchise is not among them.

Joking that colleagues are reaching out “laughing about it,” Caserio asked reporters if they could help find the source of the information, which is known to be former Patriots, Raiders and Browns executive Michael Lombardi.

“I’m not leaving,” Caserio said Monday in a pre-draft press conference at NRG Stadium. “There’s never been any substantive discussions of the sort. I’m almost embarrassed I have to say anything. I feel an obligation to make that statement.”

The former right-hand man in the front office to Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, Caserio was hired as general manager to fill the role previously held in Houston by fired head coach Bill O’Brien.

Caserio’s tumultuous tenure with the Texans including firing first-year coach David Culley, replacing him with Lovie Smith and then firing Smith after one season in February, and replacing him with DeMeco Ryans.

Ryans takes over as coach of a team with just seven wins in Caserio’s two seasons since he was hired in January 2021. He was able to find a trade partner for the Texans after deactivating quarterback Deshaun Watson for every game in 2021 due to legal woes and locker room drama.

Last season, Houston won the regular-season finale on a Hail Mary at Indianapolis to lose the No. 1 pick. The Chicago Bears claimed the spot, then dealt the pick to the Carolina Panthers. The Texans have the second and 12th picks in the first round; No. 12 overall belonged to the Browns, who owed the selection to Houston as part of the deal to acquire Watson.

Ryans said the Texans aren’t looking for a “franchise savior” with the No. 2 pick and wants to build the most complete team possible. Caserio on Monday sounded as if he’s in complete lockstep with his new coach, who played linebacker for the Texans and most recently ran the San Francisco 49ers’ defense.

“We have a lot in common with how we view players, how we see a football team, the things we deem important,” Caserio said. “We talk daily on all those matters. I’ve really enjoyed my time with him in a limited time. I can’t speak highly enough about him as a person and a football coach, his viewpoint, his perspective.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 12, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans defensive coordinator Lovie Smith walks off the field after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Texans GM: Brian Flores’ lawsuit had no impact on hire

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio said Tuesday that the lawsuit filed by Brian Flores last week had no impact on the team’s decision to hire Lovie Smith over the former Miami Dolphins coach.

Caserio made the comment during the press conference to introduce Lovie Smith as the Texans’ new head coach. Caserio directly refuted an assertion made by Flores’ attorneys that Smith was hired over Flores because of the class-action lawsuit.

“I would say it didn’t affect us at all,” Caserio said. “Speaking specific to Brian, I’ve known Brian a long time personally and professionally. I have a lot of respect for Brian as a coach and a person. He was a part of this process. He’s been a good coach in this league for a number of years. Part of my responsibility was to spend time with as many quality candidates as possible and Brian was one of those.”

Caserio, forced to speak over a fire alarm that went off in the middle of his comments, said he had conversations with Flores after the lawsuit was filed.

“A lot of it was me taking a lot of information, processing a lot information … and ultimately arriving to an endpoint that I felt made the most sense for our organization and that’s what we did,” Caserio said.

Hours after news broke Monday that Smith was the Texans’ choice, Flores’ attorneys Douglas H. Wigdor and John Elefterakis put out a statement on Twitter, saying Houston avoided hiring Flores because of the lawsuit.

“Mr. Flores is happy to hear that the Texans have hired a Black head coach, Lovie Smith, as Mr. Flores’ goal in bringing his case is to provide real opportunities for Black and minority candidates to be considered for coaching and executive positions within the NFL,” the statement read. “However, we would be remiss not to mention that Mr. Flores was one of three finalists for the Texans’ head coach position and, after a great interview and mutual interest, it is obvious that the only reason Mr. Flores was not selected was his decision to stand up against racial inequality across the NFL.”

Caserio also refuted assertions that the team planned to hire Josh McCown until Flores’ lawsuit, then reversing course in the interest of optics.

“There were never plans to hire anybody until we arrived at kind of an endpoint,” Caserio said in response to a direct question about McCown.

It’s unclear what role, if any, McCown will have within the organization. He was considered a finalist for the job along with Flores and Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. Smith was considered a late finalist.

“Fair or not, you guys can blame me for taking as long as we did, because everybody was kind of sitting on the end of their chair on pins and needles, but again, my responsibility is to the McNair family, to be as thoughtful and resourceful as possible, and ultimately it’s to just make the right decision for the organization, and that’s where we ended up with Lovie,” Caserio said.

Smith’s hire gives the NFL just two Black head coaches (Mike Tomlin) and five minority head coaches overall, joining Ron Rivera, Robert Saleh and new Miami coach Mike McDaniel, who is multi-racial.

“Well, I don’t know nothing about the lawsuit,” Smith said. “I realize the amount of Black head coaches that are in the National Football League. There’s Mike Tomlin, and I think there’s me. I don’t know of many more. So there’s a problem. … But after there’s a problem, what are you going to do about it? … I always think it comes down to action a little bit. I know one person that wanted to do something about it — it’s just not about the color of your skin or who you wanted leading your program. I know Cal and Hannah (McNair), of course, they said … there’s a problem, this is what we’re gonna do for it. I’m here.”

Smith confirmed that Pep Hamilton will be the Texans’ offensive coordinator and calling the plays while Smith continues to call the defensive plays.

“I understand the problem. I know the Houston Texans are doing something about it to make it better,” Smith said.

–Field Level Media

Nov 21, 2021; East Rutherford, N.J., USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores during a game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Texans interview Brian Flores for coaching job

Posted on | by Field Level Media

One day after announcing the firing of head coach David Culley, the Houston Texans interviewed former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores for the same position Friday.

Field Level Media’s Aaron Wilson reported Thursday that Flores was Houston’s top target for the vacancy. Flores and Texans general manager Nick Caserio have a shared history from their time with the New England Patriots.

Flores, 40, was fired after three seasons in Miami in which the Dolphins managed two winning seasons but failed to make the playoffs. Flores amassed a 24-25 record in that span.

Flores also interviewed Friday for the Chicago Bears’ open head-coaching job.

Culley, 66, guided the Texans to a 4-13 record in his lone season on the job. He did so without having access to quarterback Deshaun Watson, who demanded a trade before sitting out the season in the wake of 22 civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault and misconduct.

Flores is the first known candidate to interview in Houston. The news came on the same day that Caserio told reporters that firing Culley was “one of the hardest decisions I’ve made in my life.”

Houston also fired offensive coordinator Tim Kelly on Thursday.

–Field Level Media

Oct 11, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) smiles before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Texans’ GM mum about contingency plans at QB

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Houston Texas undoubtedly have a contingency plan should legal issues keep quarterback Deshaun Watson out of action, but general manager Nick Caserio isn’t sharing it.

“We’re not going to get into a lot of hypotheticals, a lot of speculation,” Caserio told the media Friday. “I’m not really good at that. Maybe someone else is better at that than me. If you want to speculate, probably go buy bitcoin and focus on that.

“We’re going to focus on the things we can control, which is getting ready for the draft and trying to take advantage of the opportunities to continue to add to our team and build our roster. And we’ll just take it one day at a time and focus on the things we can control.”

Watson is the defendant in 22 civil lawsuits filed by women who said Watson either behaved inappropriately or sexually assaulted them in the course of massages. Police in Houston are investigating the accusations of some of the women.

Watson has denied all allegations while the NFL said it will “closely monitor” developments and launch its own investigation through league security. Potential interviews and investigations with some of the alleged victims could lead to Watson temporarily being placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List.

The civil suits landed as Watson, 25, was attempting to maneuver himself out of Houston by demanding a trade.

“We’re respectful of the legal process and where that is,” Caserio said. “So we’re focused on today. We’re focused on getting ready for the offseason program and getting ready for the draft. So that’s where our focus is.”

The Texans signed quarterback Tyrod Taylor in free agency, and he would provide a veteran presence with starting experience should Watson not be able to play this fall.

–Field Level Media

Dec 27, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) jogs off the field after a play against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Texans GM: Deshaun Watson accusations ‘troubling’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dec 27, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine (34) celebrates with offensive guard Quinton Spain (67) after scoring a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio said the civil lawsuits filed by 19 women against franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson are being taken “very seriously” by the team.

Caserio was the first team official to speak publicly about the situation when he spoke on the Texans All Access podcast.

The lawsuits make allegations against Watson ranging from inappropriate actions to sexual assault during massage treatments. The first suit was filed March 16.

“We’re certainly cognizant and aware,” Caserio said. “We made a statement at the beginning about where the organization stood. I would say it’s a legal situation, it’s a legal process, so we’re certainly respectful of that.

“We certainly take them very seriously. The allegations, what’s been discussed, are certainly troubling. And organizationally that’s not something that we can condone, that we condone, those types of actions.”

Watson, 25, posted a statement to social media following the filing of the first lawsuit, denying the allegation.

No criminal charges have been filed.

The NFL said on March 18 that cases of alleged wrongdoing by Watson are under investigation. The Texans issued a statement at the time that said team officials will stay in contact with the league.

Last September, the Texans signed Watson to a four-year, $156 million contract extension. His relationship with the team has soured since, however, and he has requested a trade.

–Field Level Media

Jan 3, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) attempts a pass as Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Harold Landry (58) defends during the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Deshaun Watson takes Texans out of social media accounts

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Star quarterback Deshaun Watson has made it clear that he wants out of a Houston Texans uniform, and he went to social media on Saturday to perhaps preview the breakup.

Watson, whose formal demand to be traded was reported this week as having been made two weeks ago, has removed references to the Texans from his accounts, such as his Twitter and Instagram profile picture, and his cover photo on Twitter.

Among sources of Watson’s unhappiness was the hiring of general manager Nick Caserio, when Watson later said he had been told he would have input in the decision but did not.

The 25-year-old Watson, who has played all four of his NFL seasons with the Texans since they made him their top draft pick, 12th overall in 2017, is fresh off signing a four-year, $156 million contract last September.

The contract gives Watson a no-trade clause and would impose salary-cap hits above $40 million in both 2021 and 2022 on the Texans.

In the team’s press conference on Friday to announce their new head coach, David Culley — another decision that reportedly made Watson unhappy – Caserio said the team has “zero interest” in trading Watson.

Watson has thrown for 14,539 yards and 104 touchdowns in four seasons. He has also rushed for 1,677 yards and 17 scores.

The Texans finished 4-12 this season and missed the postseason for the second time in Watson’s tenure with the team. Watson threw for a league-high and franchise-record 4,823 yards to go with 33 touchdowns. He also rushed for 444 yards and three scores.

–Field Level Media