The Houston Texans shocked the NFL world when they traded star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals last month, recouping only declining running back David Johnson and a second-round draft pick in return.
It was later revealed that Hopkins' shaky relationship with Texans head coach/general manager Bill O'Brien was one of the primary reasons for the deal, along with Hopkins being unhappy with his contract.
Well, this week, Hopkins was asked about his relationship with O'Brien, and it turns out the didn't have much of one with his now-former coach at all:
“There was no relationship,” Hopkins said, according to Greg Bishop of Sports Illustrated. “Make sure you put that in there. There’s not a lot to speak about.”
Hopkins added that he won't let “let the judgment of other people dictate the reality of my life” and that he asked the Texans for a raise because he knew it would be his ticket out of town.
So it seems like this was a long time coming, and even if Houston didn't move Hopkins last month, a parting of ways would have occurred at some point in the near future.
The 27-year-old is coming off of 2019-20 campaign in which he played 15 games and hauled in 104 receptions for 1,165 yards and seven touchdowns en route to a Pro Bowl appearance and a First-Team All-Pro selection.
Hopkins, who played his collegiate football at Clemson, was originally selected by the Texans in the first round (27th pick overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Since then, he has made four Pro Bowls while earning First-Team All-Pro honors three times.
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