Former NFL head coach Dick Vermeil had some harsh words for former Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Vermeil is a Super Bowl champion and well known among the NFL community. There are some that still respect his thoughts, but Vermeil, who is in his 80’s, looks at things in an entirely different way. As do many people amongst that age group.
Vermeil recently appeared on ESPN’s First Take and when the subject of Watson’s situation with the Texans was brought up, the former NFL head coach had an interesting, but unsurprising take.
“I’m a little disappointed to be honest with you,” Vermeil said. “Because the image that he has presented coming out of college, and through the draft, and through his career so far in Houston, has been so positive. So positive. I don’t think that this approach really reflects what he has presented over the past few years. So I’m disappointed.”
Vermeil is from a different era and it appears as if he thinks the players should have no say in how the teams that employ them are ran. However, Vermeil fails to mention the fact that Watson was told by the Texans that they wanted his input regarding the hiring of the next general manager and head coach.
“I just don’t think that anybody, whether it be that football team or the other 31 football teams, should start allowing players to step in and make decisions who runs them, who coaches them and all these kinds of things,” Vermeil said. “If you want to make all the decisions as an owner, then buy your own team.”
Those that have followed Watson’s career know that it has to be pretty bad for him to have taken the stance he has. He’s never shown himself to be anything but classy. Others like Vermeil, though, have taken offense to Watson requesting to be traded after the Texans.
The fact that the Texans did not keep their word with Watson seems to be lost on Vermeil. In another interview he did with TMZ, the Super Bowl winning coach took it a step further and put Watson on full-blast.
“I think they change his diapers, OK,” Vermeil said. “Nowhere in his contract does it say that he’s involved in making the decisions of who coaches, or who leads the organization. He’s a great NFL football player and always has been a great kid. But I think he just shuts his mouth and becomes a better football player and lead the football team and let the leaders of the organization lead him.”
Vermeil’s two interviews come on the heals of NFL hall of famer Brett Favre’s interview earlier this week where he too voiced his displeasure with Watson’s stance with the Texans.
