Cal McNair, Houston Texans chairman and CEO, and his wife Hannah talk to Andre Johnson before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, in New Orleans.
Brett Coomer/Staff photographerFormer Texans star receiver Andre Johnson blasted Jack Easterby and the Texans organization Tuesday on Twitter, saying if he was Deshaun Watson he would play hardball with the team.
Although Watson hasn’t spoken publicly, there are multiple reports that the Texans quarterback is upset that he didn’t have input on the Texans' hiring of a general manager. There also have been reports that Watson could ask to be traded or even refuse to report to camp next season.
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"If I’m @deshaunwatson I will stand my ground," Johnson posted on Twitter. "The Texans organization is known for wasting players careers. Since Jack Easterby has walk into the building nothing good has happened in/for the organization and for some reason someone can’t seem to see what’s going on. Pathetic!!!"
About 30 minutes later, former Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins amplified Johnson’s sentiments, adding “When Dre speak listen.”
Johnson rarely tweets. That was his first tweet of the year and his first non-ad tweet since April 2019.
After spending 12 years with the Texans as a player and being inducted into the franchise’s Ring of Honor, he worked for the team as a special adviser before stepping away from that role last summer. The team also listed Johnson as a member of an advisory committee that would help Texans chairman Cal McNair pick a general manager and head coach.
The Texans hired Nick Caserio as general manager last week and are in the process of conducting interviews for head coach.
Johnson’s tweet seems to come at a curious time as it was only hours after reports the Texans have requested permission to interview Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who is thought to be a favorite of Watson.
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Johnson’s comments on Easterby reflects the fans’ viewpoints. The team’s executive vice president of football operations was profiled by Sports Illustrated in December, detailing how he rose from team chaplain of the Chiefs to character coach of the Patriots all the way to interim general manager with the Texans. There was some thought the Texans could be done with Easterby when they brought in a new general manager, but instead hired Caserio, who is close with Easterby, seemingly securing his spot in the organization.
Several former Texans players added their own comments on Twitter, all in support of Johnson.
Seth Payne tweeted: "Thank you, Andre. People need to understand that this is not some media creation. Jack Easterby is a divisive force. He is the opposite of what he fools people into believing he is."
Former Texans quarterback Sage Rosenfels simply tweeted: "I concur."
Former Texans running back Justin Forsett and defensive back Charles James both mentioned how unusual it is for Johnson to speak up.
"If Andre is speaking out on social media then you know something isn’t right over there," Forsett tweeted.
James added: "If Big Dawg (Dre) speaking on it you know something ain’t right. He literally never talks."