The Texans have ended their pursuit of Nick Caserio to fill their GM position, the team announced Friday.
As a result, the Patriots have withdrawn tampering charges they filed earlier this week with the NFL.
Caserio, New England's director of player personnel, had been eyed by the Texans to replace former GM Brian Gaine, who was fired last week. But Texans chairman Cal McNair said in statement the team had been unaware of "certain terms" in Caserio's contract that prevented them from pursuing him. The Houston Chronicle reports those terms prevent Caserio from interviewing with other teams.
"When we started the process to interview Nick Caserio for our EVP/GM position, we consulted the League office on numerous occasions, followed the procedures outlined in the League's rules and believed we were in full compliance," McNair said. "We have now been made aware of certain terms in Nick's contract with the Patriots. Once we were made aware of these contract terms, I informed (Patriots owner Robert) Kraft that we would stop pursuing Nick."
Kraft issued a statement thanking McNair for the move.
"The Houston Texans and the New England Patriots have always had a great working relationship," the statement read. "We appreciate the way Cal McNair has handled this situation."
Bottom line: The Texans still need a replacement for Gaine, who had a five-year contract but was surprisingly cast off after an 11-5 record in his first season at the helm. Texans beat writer John McClain of the Chronicle noted Caserio's clause seems a bit restrictive.
"Seems Nick Caserio has a clause in his contract that says he can’t interview with other teams," McClain tweeted. "If so, I hope he got millions for that clause."