Houston Texans

Pats exec Caserio addresses Texans' overtures for first time

Published Jul. 27, 2019 12:10 p.m. ET

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Nick Caserio, the New England Patriots' director of player personnel, took the high road Saturday, saying he is happy to be with the team and remains fully committed to its goals.

Whether the veteran team executive harbors any resentment over being denied a chance to interview for the Houston Texans' general manager position may not be known until his current contract expires after the 2020 NFL draft.

Caserio, who joined the Patriots as a personnel assistant in 2001 and assumed his current position in 2008, has been courted twice by the Texans, only for them to be rebuffed by a clause in his contract that does not allow him to interview with other teams. The Patriots filed tampering charges against the Texans after the most recent attempt, and the Texans backed off.

Caserio shed little light upon the situation other than to reaffirm his devotion to his current team.

"I'd say I'm pretty honored and privileged to be in the position I'm in, to work for this organization," Caserio said. "I'm thankful for the opportunity that I have each day to come to work and come into this building. We've got a lot of great people. I'm fortunate and honored to work with Bill (Belichick) on a day-to-day basis and a lot of other people in this organization.

"My job is really just to serve the people that are in this building," he said, echoing a familiar refrain in Foxborough. "My focus is in trying to do the best that I can every day and be the best version of myself for this team and this organization."

Caserio would not speculate on what might happen after his contract expires.

"My focus is on this football team and that's where it's always going to be," he said.