OT: Browns give Deshaun Watson highest paid guaranteed contract in history

[BallerTalk]

I mean I know that the NFL has always turned a blind eye to bad behavior, but rewarding a guy that has 22 sexual allegations against him and immediately giving him the most guaranteed money in history is probably not a good look for Goodell and the image of the league. This shows that they absolutely do not care about off the field behavior, as long as there's no jail time. Multiple teams were desperate for him too, so it wasn't like it was just one team like the Browns.

Can you name 5 people who had 10+ people make claims against them? Watson has 22. Possible but unlikely these were all made up.

The Harris County district attorney's office directly investigated 9 of those cases including accounts from 10 other accusations meaning 19 of the 22 allegations were put under a criminal microscope.
The result were presented to a grand jury of citizens who unanimously chose to no-bill him on all nine potential charges.

Think as you will about Watson, but this gives us the clearest insight yet to the quality of these allegations. Particularly given that county grand juries historically shade towards indictments, leaving the trial courts as recourse.

Furthermore I would implore you to read the released summaries of some of the accusations for further perspective.
Removed from the public spin and sensationalism I think you'll find it quite illuminating.

[JayMKE]

I don't understand how you can go from sitting an entire season out with legal trouble to the largest guaranteed deal in history, the precedent being Goodell usually comes down on players based on perception of wrongdoing but not sure they'll want to do anything here.

[jbk1234]

It's kind of impressive the Browns managed to loose this trade on every conceivable level.

[Colbinii]

I don't understand how you can go from sitting an entire season out with legal trouble to the largest guaranteed deal in history, the precedent being Goodell usually comes down on players based on perception of wrongdoing but not sure they'll want to do anything here.

Is that the perception of Goodell?

I thought it was "Hide everything and downplay any off-field off-doing until the evidence goes public, especially with domestic violence. Anyone caught smoking weed will receive a year-to-lifetime ban."

[LivingLegend]

As a Texans fan, the best memory will be the 24-0 chokejob we had under him as QB in Kansas City a few years ago.

Thanks Defense.

FIFY

[California Gold]

As a Texans fan, the best memory will be the 24-0 chokejob we had under him as QB in Kansas City a few years ago.

Thanks Defense.

FIFY

Nope. Thanks Deshaun as well as the rest of the team. Difference is the QB usually gets most to all of the credit for wins. I'm just keeping it consistent. He didn't help the cause at all after helping get that 24 pt lead. So yeah it's equally on him for that loss as much as the defense, special teams and coaching.

[jpengland]

All criminal charges were dropped and in a lot of these cases, once one or two get involved, it's a snowball effect for a money grab

Can you name 5 people who had 10+ people make claims against them? Watson has 22. Possible but unlikely these were all made up.

Yea but the difference is this is the most vague and easiest claim to make. That's why it was dropped. It's not like he was r@ping women. Anyone who gave him a massage can say that he dropped his towel and looked at me funny or some garbage. It's easy to be apart of that. There were others who gave him a massage that said he was professionalq

Yeah. I mean it's much more likely that 22 women have zero morals and made up complete bull than him being a creepy, entitled pervert.....

[TheLand13]

An aspect of this trade that a lot of people are ignoring is that the Browns didn't give up any players in the deal. Three first round picks is a lot and that can't be ignored, but to be able to walk away from this deal with securing a top 5 QB in the league without giving up any players in the process is pretty significant for a team that is trying to contend right now. It's clear what Cleveland's goals are, and not giving up any players to acquire an elite QB is a step in the right direction.

Also, people who aren't familiar with the Browns current roster won't know that they still have some players that can yield decent returns. We all know Baker Mayfield is going to be traded now, but another player I think Cleveland should strongly consider trading is Kareem Hunt. He's still arguably a top ten RB in the league and will almost certainly give the Browns a nice return if they choose to trade him. Keeping him isn't necessarily a bad idea, but neither is trading him. They will still be one of the best running teams in the league.

With Antonio Brown wanting to join the Browns now (screw it, why not, he's a **** show but screw it give him a shot) and Cooper being traded there, Cleveland's offensive unit is looking incredibly stacked right now.

[Cactus Jack]

An aspect of this trade that a lot of people are ignoring is that the Browns didn't give up any players in the deal. Three first round picks is a lot and that can't be ignored, but to be able to walk away from this deal with securing a top 5 QB in the league without giving up any players in the process is pretty significant for a team that is trying to contend right now. It's clear what Cleveland's goals are, and not giving up any players to acquire an elite QB is a step in the right direction.

Also, people who aren't familiar with the Browns current roster won't know that they still have some players that can yield decent returns. We all know Baker Mayfield is going to be traded now, but another player I think Cleveland should strongly consider trading is Kareem Hunt. He's still arguably a top ten RB in the league and will almost certainly give the Browns a nice return if they choose to trade him. Keeping him isn't necessarily a bad idea, but neither is trading him. They will still be one of the best running teams in the league.

With Antonio Brown wanting to join the Browns now (screw it, why not, he's a **** show but screw it give him a shot) and Cooper being traded there, Cleveland's offensive unit is looking incredibly stacked right now.

The value given up for Watson is fine. Very fair. In fact you can make a case that Denver gave up more for Wilson.

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

According to the Jimmy Johnson trade chart:

Seattle gained 3303.5 through the Wilson trade. Houston gained 3368 by dealing Watson, but again - the Seahawks got three starting-caliber players

The issue is the contract. The AAV is $46m. All of which is guaranteed. It limits what the team can do going forward. It's no secret that it has become increasingly difficult to field a competitive team these days with QB's taking up such a large percentage of the cap (higher than 15%).

Cleveland is in a very unique window. They have a great opportunity to win now. The issue will be keeping the roster together long-term. From my understanding Watson has a very low base salary & cap number this year. Which will help. But as his cap number rises significantly in future years, it will no doubt become an issue for them.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cleveland-browns/deshaun-watson-21753/

[Ballerhogger]

230 mil guaranteed with all his off the field issues . Big yikes

[KuruptedCav]

that’s just gross. if i’m a Browns fan i’d be sick.

Pretty much. Thinking about getting myself a Terrible Towel. Definitely not taking my kids to games this year.

I’d rather lose with Baker than win with DeShaun. Reminded me of Brian Sipe in so many ways. I was good with that.

[dlts20]

All criminal charges were dropped and in a lot of these cases, once one or two get involved, it's a snowball effect for a money grab

Bet you wouldn't leave your wife or sister alone in a room with him for ten minutes.

My thing is this. I have been with hundreds of women and would sleep with 2-4 women daily. Do I think that he's probably guilty? Yes. Do I think that it is the worst thing in the world from most of what I heard? No. He wasn't a belligerent aggressor like Harvey. He was more of a, "are you really just a masseuse" type of guy....

[mademan]

An aspect of this trade that a lot of people are ignoring is that the Browns didn't give up any players in the deal. Three first round picks is a lot and that can't be ignored, but to be able to walk away from this deal with securing a top 5 QB in the league without giving up any players in the process is pretty significant for a team that is trying to contend right now. It's clear what Cleveland's goals are, and not giving up any players to acquire an elite QB is a step in the right direction.

Also, people who aren't familiar with the Browns current roster won't know that they still have some players that can yield decent returns. We all know Baker Mayfield is going to be traded now, but another player I think Cleveland should strongly consider trading is Kareem Hunt. He's still arguably a top ten RB in the league and will almost certainly give the Browns a nice return if they choose to trade him. Keeping him isn't necessarily a bad idea, but neither is trading him. They will still be one of the best running teams in the league.

With Antonio Brown wanting to join the Browns now (screw it, why not, he's a **** show but screw it give him a shot) and Cooper being traded there, Cleveland's offensive unit is looking incredibly stacked right now.

The value given up for Watson is fine. Very fair. In fact you can make a case that Denver gave up more for Wilson.

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

According to the Jimmy Johnson trade chart:

Seattle gained 3303.5 through the Wilson trade. Houston gained 3368 by dealing Watson, but again - the Seahawks got three starting-caliber players

The issue is the contract. The AAV is $46m. All of which is guaranteed. It limits what the team can do going forward. It's no secret that it has become increasingly difficult to field a competitive team these days with QB's taking up such a large percentage of the cap (higher than 15%).

Cleveland is in a very unique window. They have a great opportunity to win now. The issue will be keeping the roster together long-term. From my understanding Watson has a very low base salary & cap number this year. Which will help. But as his cap number rises significantly in future years, it will no doubt become an issue for them.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cleveland-browns/deshaun-watson-21753/

Biggest issue is that he'll probably be suspended this year, probably for around 8 games tho i can see it being the entire season if the social media buzz puts pressure on the NFL. Im a huge fan of the player Watson and think he's in the discussion for top 5 QB, and when u have a chance at a top 5 QB, you gotta take it. I mean Cleveland went like 50 years without an elite QB. That said, winning is gonna be difficult for sure, but it's not like their gonna be the only ones having this problem. Herbert,Burrow,Lamar are all gonna get paid soon, Allen and Mahomes already got paid and that will have an effect on their teams too.

Browns might have it more difficult, but all these teams are gonna feel the crunch soon

[Rainwater]

As a Texans fan, the best memory will be the 24-0 chokejob we had under him as QB in Kansas City a few years ago.

Thanks Watson.

This needs some context. Unless he was throwing some INTs or coughing up the ball putting the defense in a terrible position the defense deserves a lot of blame here.

Watson put up a MVP type season last time he played to the point where guys on his own team were apologizing for wasting it. One poor game doesn't erase the good he has done.

[Rainwater]

As a Texans fan, the best memory will be the 24-0 chokejob we had under him as QB in Kansas City a few years ago.

Thanks Defense.

FIFY

Nope. Thanks Deshaun as well as the rest of the team. Difference is the QB usually gets most to all of the credit for wins. I'm just keeping it consistent. He didn't help the cause at all after helping get that 24 pt lead. So yeah it's equally on him for that loss as much as the defense, special teams and coaching.

A 24 point cushion, with I guess, a half to play is not a qb issue, lol. The defense must have been collapsed.

[Rainwater]

All criminal charges were dropped and in a lot of these cases, once one or two get involved, it's a snowball effect for a money grab

Bet you wouldn't leave your wife or sister alone in a room with him for ten minutes.

This a bad argument. To be fair regardless if the allegations were true or not, once things like this are said a lot of people will always view the subject differently. This is in part way false allegations suck.

[rtiff68]

Lots of hot takes in this thread.

Before posting again, Google "Tony Buzbee," (he represents all of the women in the civil suit-- you read that right) then remind yourself that Watson has never been charged with anything-- when any of these incidents happened, or after a thorough investigation over the past year. Watson also hasn't settled.

I don't know what the actual truth is any more than any of us do, but this "case" has always been questionable at best.

[Quattro]

Match made in heaven. Dysfunctional franchise with scumbag QB. Will be fun to watch.

[dolphinatik]

I mean if Big Ben could still have a career why not Watson

[pro24]

The Harris County district attorney's office directly investigated 9 of those cases including accounts from 10 other accusations meaning 19 of the 22 allegations were put under a criminal microscope.
The result were presented to a grand jury of citizens who unanimously chose to no-bill him on all nine potential charges.

Think as you will about Watson, but this gives us the clearest insight yet to the quality of these allegations. Particularly given that county grand juries historically shade towards indictments, leaving the trial courts as recourse.

Furthermore I would implore you to read the released summaries of some of the accusations for further perspective.
Removed from the public spin and sensationalism I think you'll find it quite illuminating.

It's sad that there is basically no penalty for a fake sexual assault or rape allegation for the woman.

Don't need witnesses, a date or even a location sometimes like in the case of Blasey Ford. Instead of going to jail she gets applauded by the media, awards and speaking engagements.

Millions to gain, nothing to lose.

Think about that, next time you put shame on a man's name without due process.