This is clear I would think. The job of an NFL GM is not to find the best citizens, nor is it to build a team the fans like as people. It's solely about building a team that is on the field and producing. Watson is one of the top echelon of QB's in this league by productivity. He has all the traits you want, decent size, good athleticism, strong arm, good leadership in the locker room, and phenomenal productivity on the football field. He's rarely injured, never in drug rehab and prior to this massage issue, never a guy who had legal troubles.
It's a big "if," but if Watson looks like he's going to get past these legal troubles, he instantly becomes a unicorn as an elite QB available. The only similar situation we've seen before was when Peyton Manning became available ... and he came at an exceptionally advanced age with declining skills and a huge spinal medical risk. Watson faces a PR nightmare and potential game suspensions, which in the grand scheme of things is minimal impact on him playing. Now, if the criminal investigation puts him behind bars for 3+ years ... that's a different story. But, at this point it seems unlikely. So of course Grier is monitoring this situation. It would be the biggest feather in his cap ever. Acquiring Watson would be his Herschel Walker trade that lands him on the Mt. Rushmore of GM's, whether we fans like the idea of a creep QB or not.
Consider this, the attorney bringing all these claims forward is not cooperating with the police ... why? Because he wants MONEY ... he wants a settlement for his clients, and avoiding jail time is the best way for Watson to have the resources and incentives to pay that money. The goal is not to convict Watson of a criminal offense. That attorney's goal is to secure settlements and NOT have Watson convicted of a criminal offense. He'll give Watson's camp the gag-clause they want so Tony Buzbee's (the attorney) clients never mention the offensive activity again ... and Watson is clear to say he did nothing wrong and continue excelling as an NFL QB.
So, Grier knows there's a pretty good chance Watson comes through the other side of this and still plays football ... meaning he's still a unicorn. Even if his public reputation takes a massive hit ... it only helps lower the price, so Grier is seeing a very shiny silver lining and a very real possibility he could land this big fish. THAT'S why we're still linked ... because Grier is still interested. Our biggest impediment is probably Grier convincing Ross to take the PR hit.
