Mr. Scot

It becomes a lot easier to imagine what the Texans might do when you factor in that they're kind of stupid.

Never doubted that we'd want him. So does half the league. But unless the Texans agree to trade him, the entire front office staff can kneel and drop rose petals in McNair's path and it won't matter.

Well, ya know...

I don't think there's going to be a trade, but if there is one the easiest kind to sell to the fans would be swapping Watson for another established quarterback. Naturally, that takes us out of the equation.

That's not actually what happened, but it gets remembered that way a lot. Watson didn't ask to be included on the GM and head coach decisions. McNair offered to include him. Then when the time came, he didn't do it. I think making the offer in the first place was dumb, but if you're going to make the offer and then not follow through on it, that's a whole other level of stupid.

My significant other is a huge Cowboy fan and a big Dak Prescott fan, though. I fear the Panthers acquiring Prescott would have a bad effect on my love life

I suspect that's affected by whether or not Houston has any willingness to trade him (and most have accepted that they don't). Even if that's true though, doesn't mean he wants to come here. And definitely doesn't mean that it's "Carolina or bust".

Regardless of what team I'm with, I'd want to see what Prescott looks like after that major injury before I'd offer anything for him.

I don't think he will be either. Also, I know some fans have this idea that the Panthers and Watson are like Romeo and Juliet trying desperately to be together despite interference from outside forces, but that doesn't really seem to be the case.

See, if he had a job throwing shoulder, that would make him a pro wrestler

Fowler clarified on his Twitter that he didn't mean the Jets are an absolute no, just that there are other teams Watson finds "more intriguing". The ones with a real preference for the Jets would likely be the Texans because of what the Jets can offer in return.

Otherwise known as his non-throwing shoulder

I think we're further away than that but even accepting the premise, it's not like we can just decide we're gonna get those things. We're not really in good position draft wise or free agency wise on the quarterback front.

My understanding is he wanted to do this early because he's having some kind of minor surgery on his shoulder.

Doesn't sound likely...

I don't blame anyone for making the best of their situation, but some of the suggestions people have are just ridiculous. You want to let a player pick a coach? Okay. Obviously they're more likely to pick someone from their side of the ball, which probably irks the guys on the other side of the ball especially if that side gets neglected. Plus what happens if the player starts declining? Is the coach going to be loyal to him when he shouldn't? Letting a player pick a GM is even crazier for the same reasons. Throw in the question of what happens when that quarterback or player retires? Now do you get a new coach and a new GM picked by your next quarterback? I get that people want good players to play here but good grief!

See above. It's also kinda lazy, too. I respect a guy who's willing to go somewhere and say that he's going to help make the team better way more than a guy who just wants to go where they're already good.

If that happened on an annual basis though, you'd never have good players going to bad teams and bad teams would stay bad forever. Mind you, poorly run teams tend to stay bad anyway but you have to give them some kind of opportunity for change. Look at the Browns.

The vast majority of star players who become coaches are absolute sh-t at it. Of course, from what we know of Wilson's personality, he probably thinks he deserves an ownership stake

Actually, a lot of people felt that was kind of douchey (because it was). Same thing with Elway.

So have the defensive guys, and even the special teamers, but we're only going to let the quarterbacks have input? Wilson now says he wants a say in the roster. No way in hell I'd let him have that. He's not a coach. He's not a talent evaluator. There are people who are qualified to do that. He's not one of them. As far as a "power shift", that's still largely theoretical at this point. And no, I'm not in favor of it because what inevitably winds up happening in a situation like that is that teams and places like New York and Los Angeles benefit while small market teams like the Panthers get shafted. Pete Rozelle was a very smart man. He built a system designed to create parity for a reason.

Well metaphorically speaking, if you're trading for Watson you're getting a fully prepared apple pie.

Gave you two, got one back so only lost one. That's the nature of a trade. You can't look at only one side.

I remember analysts used to describe Dave Kreig as a guy who could keep both teams in the game. That's probably a pretty accurate description of Winston too

I mean in simplest terms, think of it as something else. We've all got a bunch of apples. I give you two of mine. You keep those but give me one of yours. I'm only out one apple. It not being the same apple I gave up doesn't change that it's an apple.