Jadeveon Clowney could have gotten paid to play elsewhere.
He could have been paid top dollar to be a part of a rebuilding team as the anchor off the edge.
But Clowney, who now returns to the Houston Texans after a seven-year hiatus, made it clear that returning to the place his career began made the most sense as a full-circle moment in his career.
“For sure, I was so excited,” Clowney told KRPC 2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson. “I had more opportunities. When I found out the Texans were interested, it was a no-brainer for me. It was comfortable for me to do that. I was excited to help the situation.”
Signed to a one-year deal with a maximum value of $8 million, the 2014 No. 1 overall pick returns to Reliant Stadium with the intent of becoming a part of an already elite pass rush behind Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.
And it’s not like Clowney didn’t have offers on the table. Last week, he visited the Cleveland Browns, who made an offer to bring back the three-time Pro Bowl defensive end for the new season. Cleveland wasn’t the only previous team interested in Clowney, as the Seattle Seahawks also pursued his services.
But for Clowney, who lives in Houston with his family and trains here during the offseason, coming back and playing for DeMeco Ryans seemed like a no-brainer. It was also a family decision, so staying close to those in his camp made the call easier.
“It wasn’t about the money,” Clowney said. “It was about legacy and chasing a Super Bowl. I’ve got a lot of game left and I want to contribute.”
As he enters his 13th season, the 33-year-old hasn’t slowed down. Last season with the Dallas Cowboys, the former South Carolina product posted a team-leading 8.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in 13 games. Two years ago with the Baltimore Ravens, he recorded 9.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
“I was looking forward to playing for DeMeco,” Clowney said. “Pretty exciting coach to play for. I reached out to him and told him I wanted to play for him.”
Clonwey also told Wilson he’s excited to pair alongside Anderson and Hunter as the No. 3 option.
“I was excited about playing with those guys,” Clowney said. “Good defense, and I can help contribute and a good chance to chase a Super Bowl. I know what it looks like. I can help this squad.”
The Texans open the season against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 13.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: ‘It was a no-brainer!’: Jadeveon Clowney excited for return to Texans
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cole Thompson, Texans Wire | USA TODAY Network
