What did the Texans know and need to know about Deshon Watson’s massage habits?

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Tuesday’s comprehensive article by Jenny Vrentas of the New York Times on the situation with Deshon Watson also looks at what Texans knew and when they knew about Watson’s massage habits. This raises real questions about what the Texans actually knew and what they reasonably should have known.

Vrentas reports that the Texans arranged for Watson to have a “place” in the Houstonian, where he “uses the fitness club, has dinner there and also organizes massages in hotel rooms.” At least seven women met with Watson at the Houstonian for massage appointments.

Watson testified that, as far as he knew, the Texans did not know that he was receiving massages in Houston.

Vrentas also said that Nia Smith (who sued Watson last week) posted text messages and receipts from the Watson app with this warning: “I could really reveal you.” Watson testified that days after these Instagram posts by Nia Smith, Watson found a non-disclosure agreement in his locker. Watson admitted that Texas Security Director Brent Nakara put him there after Watson told Nakara about Nia Smith’s Instagram posts.

Watson also testified that he began using the NDA for massages he received afterwards.

Does this mean that Nakara knew that Watson was receiving or seeking sexual activity during massages, or that Watson was potentially crossing the line? No. Does this mean that Nakara, a former Secret Service agent who certainly knows how to assess and neutralize any threats, should have asked Watson some sharp questions and / or given him some candid advice on what to do and what not to do. is done during these massages? Absolutely.

The law calls it an “inquiry notice.” You know enough that you need to start asking questions. Nakara, due to the fact that he gave Watson an NDA to use during massages, knew enough to start asking some questions.

That said, it’s not easy. NFL franchises have blind spots when it comes to franchise defenders. They don’t want to upset the player. They want to accept the best, not the worst person in the franchise. And Watson, frankly, was widely considered the last person to be accused of such things before him.