Its not going to be his choice ..... to "play."
The only choice he will get to make is showing up .... but he aint playing.
What I see happening is Watson shows up when its mandatory and that's when he's put on the CEL.
If Watson doesn't show up when its mandatory , its just more bad advice from his agents / handlers because as soon as he does show up he's going on the CEL , Goodell is NOT going to have Deshaun Watson on an NFL field until his legal issues come to a conclusion. Not showing up , getting fined and not accruing a season is just ignorant on his part under the circumstances.
Being on the CEL is a win for Watson , it gets him everything he wants - paid , accrue a season and not playing for the Texans ... and its terrible for the Texans , that's why Goodell won't use that option until he is forced to do so ....
This from
@CloakNNNdagger 's source , I believe he mentioned it above : Apparently Goodell is not at all happy about Watson & Mulugheta trying to break the leagues player movement standards and not honor the contract he signed .... He's going to do Watson no favors & Mulugheta is on thin ice with the league.