Rootes helped make the Texans one of the most financially successful franchises in the NFLGETTY IMAGES
There is speculation that Texans President Jamey Rootes "won’t return for his 21st season," according to John McClain of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Rootes has "run the business side of the organization for the last 20 years." He has been "loyal to the McNairs," and has helped make the Texans "one of the most financially successful franchises in the NFL." If Rootes leaves, expect Texans Exec VP/Football Operations Jack Easterby to be "blamed for winning a power play" with Chair & CEO Cal McNair. No matter how much "criticism McNair receives for keeping Easterby," he is going to be "part of the team for a third consecutive season." McNair has "confidence in Easterby’s ability to do his job the way the owner wants, no matter how many around McNair tell him Easterby’s got to go" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/17). ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported there are a “number of people within the Texans organization who are unhappy with the events of the offseason. Players, (execs) on the business side of events -- all sorts of people unhappy” (“Postseason NFL Countdown,” ESPN, 1/17).
MCNAIR RESPONDS: The CHRONICLE's McClain in a separate piece noted after a "tumultuous week in which the Texans were subjected to a barrage of criticism," McNair "addressed the Easterby controversy, disclosed he’s communicated with unhappy quarterback Deshaun Watson ... and accepts the blame for the Texans’ current predicament." McNair said, “The scrutiny on Jack is really unjustified. Jack was put into that role (interim GM) the organization needed by me. If missteps were made during that process, we’ll own those within our building." He added, “Jack will (return) to the role he was brought here for and what he grew into after he got here.” McClain noted the Easterby news "didn’t set well with Watson," who put out a "cryptic tweet Friday afternoon that said, 'I was on 2 then I took it to 10.'" McNair said that he "sent a text message this week to Watson, who’s also unhappy because he thought he was going to be kept up to date on the search for a new general manager that ended when Nick Caserio was hired" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/16).
