QB Deshaun Watson, CLE (5 Viewers)

[SoBeDad]

By the way, assuming this didn't change in the last CBA, some details on the signing bonus vs salary when it comes to a suspension.

As I understand it, PEDs and substance abuse suspensions, the player automatically loses both salary and signing bonus, prorated for each game he misses. 

For other types of suspension, the salary is automatically lost. But the signing bonus it is an option for the team to choose to recoup signing bonus money prorated in the same fashion. But it's their choice. 

It's a sure thing that Cleveland and Watson's team discussed this in advance and you'd assume Cleveland said they won't do that in doing the restructure. So, signing bonuses aren't always safe from suspension (again unless that changed in the newest CBA). But in Watson's case the money will be safe, effectively.

If Watson plays better than Mayfield, the contract should be a net gain financially for the team.

 

[GregR]

We don't know what the trade is going to be yet.  Note the wording:

So that's expected to be included in the trade, but it might not be all of it. 

There's another Schefter tweet saying that's believed to be the final package.  



Edit to add: And Texans have that on their website, so looks final.

 

[Jayded]

As a Texans fan, the only way this’ll feel fair compensation-wise is if he gets hurt in the next few years or is suspended all next year.

What many don’t get is we Texans fans have had one franchise QB in team history. Carr was never going to be special even if the OL contributed to the fast decline, and yes Schaub had one pro bowl season, but Watson is it. 

Caserio clearly doesn’t get the hope the fan base finally got to enjoy for the 3.5 years we had him. The fans will have a VERY hard time forgiving all of management for this little in return and how long it’ll take them to again find a franchise QB. 

 

[Terpman22]

Watson’s a slime-ball but this part is an odd take to me. Did you post something similar in Russell Wilson’s thread?

Lost in all Watson’s allegations, it’s apparent some have forgotten how terrible the Texans organization is and they caused the rift with Watson prior to the massage stuff coming out. There were legitimate reasons for him to want out of the Houston train-wreck before it came out he was a creeper slimeball. Number 1 of which was the owner telling him they would take his input and desires for a new head coach and GM into account and then pulling a 180 and completely ignoring that in favor of a completely unqualified, snake-oil clergyman and his cronies (maybe Caserio turns out to be a good GM, but not holding my breathe.) They also hired the GM they had to back off of 2 years prior because they got caught illegally tampering trying to lure him away while he was working for the Patriots. They then hired an unqualified head coach who had never been a coordinator in 27 years, much less considered as a head coach candidate and who they fired after one year. A guy who’s resume included being the passing game coordinator on the worst passing offense in the league the year prior to hiring him and being the WR coach the year KC’s WR’s didn’t catch a single TD pass.

Their owner is an inept man child, who inherited the team a few years ago and who was known for playing video games all day in his “office” at the stadium in the year’s prior to taking over the team. I am glad Watson’s gone given his allegations, but the Texans organization is every bit a massive dumpster fire starting from the top, they are far from blameless in running off their franchise QB. To some extent they are lucky his allegations surfaced, as the focus shifted to Watson being a slime-ball vs their own ineptitude.

This cannot be ignored as well, great point. Chased Deandre Hopkins outta town b/c they didn't like certain optics. I feel the entire power structure of Houston is rotten, starting with the owner himself and on down. 

 

[Terpman22]

Watson’s a slime-ball but this part is an odd take to me. Did you post something similar in Russell Wilson’s thread?

Lost in all Watson’s allegations, it’s apparent some have forgotten how terrible the Texans organization is and they caused the rift with Watson prior to the massage stuff coming out. There were legitimate reasons for him to want out of the Houston train-wreck before it came out he was a creeper slimeball. Number 1 of which was the owner telling him they would take his input and desires for a new head coach and GM into account and then pulling a 180 and completely ignoring that in favor of a completely unqualified, snake-oil clergyman and his cronies (maybe Caserio turns out to be a good GM, but not holding my breathe.) They also hired the GM they had to back off of 2 years prior because they got caught illegally tampering trying to lure him away while he was working for the Patriots. They then hired an unqualified head coach who had never been a coordinator in 27 years, much less considered as a head coach candidate and who they fired after one year. A guy who’s resume included being the passing game coordinator on the worst passing offense in the league the year prior to hiring him and being the WR coach the year KC’s WR’s didn’t catch a single TD pass.

Their owner is an inept man child, who inherited the team a few years ago and who was known for playing video games all day in his “office” at the stadium in the year’s prior to taking over the team. I am glad Watson’s gone given his allegations, but the Texans organization is every bit a massive dumpster fire starting from the top, they are far from blameless in running off their franchise QB. To some extent they are lucky his allegations surfaced, as the focus shifted to Watson being a slime-ball vs their own ineptitude.

This cannot be ignored as well, great point. Chased Deandre Hopkins outta town b/c they didn't like certain optics. I feel the entire power structure of Houston is rotten, starting with the owner himself and on down. 

 

[Soulfly3]

@HoustonTexans

We have agreed to trade QB Deshaun Watson and a 2024 fifth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for a 2022 first-round pick, 2023 first-round pick, 2024 first-round pick, 2023 third-round pick and 2024 fourth-round pick.

Official. For those who thought there'd be more....

 

[Ilov80s]

One of my least favorite players ever. This drama was awful. 

 

[Jayded]

@HoustonTexans

We have agreed to trade QB Deshaun Watson and a 2024 fifth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for a 2022 first-round pick, 2023 first-round pick, 2024 first-round pick, 2023 third-round pick and 2024 fourth-round pick.

Official. For those who thought there'd be more....

Fans deservedly lighting their twitter on fire. NRG is going to be super empty next year.

I feel bad for Lovie. Seems like a good dude. 

 

[Desert_Power]

Fans deservedly lighting their twitter on fire. NRG is going to be super empty next year.

I feel bad for Lovie. Seems like a good dude. 

Seriously though, this seems like a fine haul for the Texans.

 

[Jayded]

Btw I hope the league throws the book at the Browns for what they did to his contract. Helping him avoid any kind of financial penalty of the league and especially for what he’s accused of cannot go unpunished.

It really looks bad on the Browns. They just got into the slimeball territory with Watson by pulling that. 

 

[Dr. Octopus]

One of my least favorite players ever. This drama was awful. 

Yes - I’ll be rooting for this to not work out. I do expect Watson to be great, because he is, but having sports “villains” is fun and Watson and the Browns are not likable any longer to me so I hope this crashes and burns. No offense to most of the Browns fans.

 

[Soulfly3]

Btw I hope the league throws the book at the Browns for what they did to his contract.

and what can they possibly do about that, aside from nothing? 

 

[Jayded]

Seriously though, this seems like a fine haul for the Texans.

Not when you see what the Seahawks got for Wilson. Yes Watson’s no trade hindered for sure, but only one pick this year and no players is inexcusable.

Next year’s picks are likely to be middle to late of the pack, so it’s likely only one of the 1st round picks ends up a top 15 pick. Not good enough. 

 

[Jayded]

and what can they possibly do about that, aside from nothing? 

They”re actively daring the NFL to suspend him and help him skirt punishment and you think they’ll just let them do that?

Feels like fines and picks stripping territory to me. There’s no way they can let that precedent stand. 

 

[Soulfly3]

They”re actively daring the NFL to suspend him and help him skirt punishment and you think they’ll just let them do that?

Feels like fines and picks stripping territory to me. There’s no way they can let that precedent stand. 

 what?

is the contract legal, yes or no?

 

[ghostguy123]

They”re actively daring the NFL to suspend him and help him skirt punishment and you think they’ll just let them do that?

Feels like fines and picks stripping territory to me. There’s no way they can let that precedent stand. 

You sound.......bad here

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

They”re actively daring the NFL to suspend him and help him skirt punishment and you think they’ll just let them do that?

Feels like fines and picks stripping territory to me. There’s no way they can let that precedent stand. 

The man. Has been accused.

That’s it so far.  The rest will be dependent on whether the NFL has evidence that the violated the PCP. 

If he did, there’s a pretty well established track record of the NFL’s possible actions. 

 

[simey]

I'm so glad the Panthers didn't get him. It is already hard to pull for them with the way Tepper fired Rivera, the way Olsen was cut, and the way Cam was cut (the first time). I'm missing one more where it was classless how the veteran was let go. Maybe Davis?  Tepper said when he took over for Richardson that he was going to change the culture around there, which he was referring to the sexual misconduct Richardson was accused of around the office, and why the Big Cat sold the team earlier than he wanted. How the hell is going after Watson changing the culture?  Sure one is in the office, and one is in someone's personal life, but the bottom line is it is in that person's character, and Watson would be the face of the franchise. I'd rather have Darnold on the field seeing ghost vs Watson on the field at all. That's just my personal opinion. 

 

[Jayded]

The man. Has been accused.

That’s it so far.  The rest will be dependent on whether the NFL has evidence that the violated the PCP. 

If he did, there’s a pretty well established track record of the NFL’s possible actions. 

Let me rephrase : No matter what he’s accused of, I would be very surprised the NFL is ok with teams actively trying to help players avoid the punishment they could dole out. 

Feels like a slippery slope. 

 

[bostonfred]

Watson’s a slime-ball but this part is an odd take to me. Did you post something similar in Russell Wilson’s thread?

Lost in all Watson’s allegations, it’s apparent some have forgotten how terrible the Texans organization is and they caused the rift with Watson prior to the massage stuff coming out. There were legitimate reasons for him to want out of the Houston train-wreck before it came out he was a creeper slimeball. Number 1 of which was the owner telling him they would take his input and desires for a new head coach and GM into account and then pulling a 180 and completely ignoring that in favor of a completely unqualified, snake-oil clergyman and his cronies (maybe Caserio turns out to be a good GM, but not holding my breathe.) They also hired the GM they had to back off of 2 years prior because they got caught illegally tampering trying to lure him away while he was working for the Patriots. They then hired an unqualified head coach who had never been a coordinator in 27 years, much less considered as a head coach candidate and who they fired after one year. A guy who’s resume included being the passing game coordinator on the worst passing offense in the league the year prior to hiring him and being the WR coach the year KC’s WR’s didn’t catch a single TD pass.

Their owner is an inept man child, who inherited the team a few years ago and who was known for playing video games all day in his “office” at the stadium in the year’s prior to taking over the team. I am glad Watson’s gone given his allegations, but the Texans organization is every bit a massive dumpster fire starting from the top, they are far from blameless in running off their franchise QB. To some extent they are lucky his allegations surfaced, as the focus shifted to Watson being a slime-ball vs their own ineptitude.

How much does this change if Houston knew about the allegations before they became public and their response caused the drift?  I have no reason to suspect that other than the timing but it kind of fits

 

[ghostguy123]

Let me rephrase : No matter what he’s accused of, I would be very surprised the NFL is ok with teams actively trying to help players avoid the punishment they could dole out. 

Feels like a slippery slope. 

Call me crazy, but didnt they need to structure his contract that way to fit under the cap this year?

 

[Jayded]

Call me crazy, but didnt they need to structure his contract that way to fit under the cap this year?

No. They took it down to $1M and converted the rest to signing bonus, most assume to help him avoid much financial penalty from a likely X games suspension. 

That’s the portion I think the league will look upon skeptically. 

 

[ghostguy123]

No. They took it down to $1M and converted the rest to signing bonus, most assume to help him avoid much financial penalty from a likely X games suspension. 

That’s the portion I think the league will look upon skeptically. 

Did that move lower their cap number for this year or not?

 

[menobrown]

I'm so glad the Panthers didn't get him. It is already hard to pull for them with the way Tepper

My only thought is I've been binge watching last few seasons of Billions(C+) and Axelrod would have found a way to  get Watson. Tepper's pull and reach have been very disappointing so far.

 

[Jayded]

Did that move lower their cap number for this year or not?

Clearly. Slippery slope still. 

But, I’m dropping this here. Annoyed at my team for what they got but glad we did have Watson for a few years. It was fun thinking we had any shot. We need new owners to likely feel that again. 

 

[-OZ-]

Let me rephrase : No matter what he’s accused of, I would be very surprised the NFL is ok with teams actively trying to help players avoid the punishment they could dole out. 

Feels like a slippery slope. 

imagine, an employer working with an employee to reach the most mutually beneficial deal. 
 

I’m just glad this thing is over, this part of it that is. Very glad to see him end in Cleveland as it was already easy to cheer against that franchise before they treated Baker badly. Browns seem to be embracing the villain role. 

 

[Soulfly3]

Browns seem to be embracing the villain role. 

eh, why villain? i am one of baker's BIGGEST supporters, and always have been... and I 100% was on board with going after watson. 

we have a SB calibre roster. top to bottom. baker has shown glimpses, but never put it all together, and seemingly lost the lockroom to a degree. the mgmt saw an opportunity to get a player thatd otherwise NEVER touch the market, that could conceivably bring CLE a SB in year 1.... they had to take the shot... they were obligated.

again, im probably the biggest Baker fan on this forum. 

 

[Ilov80s]

Yes - I’ll be rooting for this to not work out. I do expect Watson to be great, because he is, but having sports “villains” is fun and Watson and the Browns are not likable any longer to me so I hope this crashes and burns. No offense to most of the Browns fans.

Totally agree. Hate the way it all played out. 

 

[Ilov80s]

eh, why villain? i am one of baker's BIGGEST supporters, and always have been... and I 100% was on board with going after watson. 

we have a SB calibre roster. top to bottom. baker has shown glimpses, but never put it all together, and seemingly lost the lockroom to a degree. the mgmt saw an opportunity to get a player thatd otherwise NEVER touch the market, that could conceivably bring CLE a SB in year 1.... they had to take the shot... they were obligated.

again, im probably the biggest Baker fan on this forum. 

Obligated to feed into the Watson auction, give him the biggest deal ever and help him out in case the NFL finds him guilty of breaking the contract? 

 

[ghostguy123]

Obligated to feed into the Watson auction, give him the biggest deal ever and help him out in case the NFL finds him guilty of breaking the contract? 

They didnt do it for him.

 

[Ilov80s]

They didnt do it for him.

Oh they thought they were offering that contract to Josh Allen? They were confused? 

 

[ghostguy123]

Oh they thought they were offering that contract to Josh Allen? They were confused? 

Yep

 

[Capella]

Btw I hope the league throws the book at the Browns for what they did to his contract. Helping him avoid any kind of financial penalty of the league and especially for what he’s accused of cannot go unpunished.

It really looks bad on the Browns. They just got into the slimeball territory with Watson by pulling that. 

Yea I feel like there is a chance the league disapproves that. Holy cow is that slimy. 

 

[Ilov80s]

Yep

I just don't get what you mean by your statement. If you offer to pay $250 million to someone whom you currently have no relationship to,  you are definitely doing it for them. 

 

[SHIZNITTTT]

Well it was fun rooting for the Browns the past few years.  Getting to know the players.  I know that Baker was 100% in on Cleveland and trying to turn it into a winning franchise.  Hate that it ended with sourly.  I will be following Baker to whatever team he ends up on.  I wonder how the Cleveland fans (females) are going to welcome Watson?  Good luck to Chubb, and Garrett.  #### the front office and I hope that this goes horribly wrong for Cleveland and keeps the Brown's franchise poverty for many more years.  

 

[GregR]

Watson has a $10m cap hit for the Browns in 2022.

That leaves $220m to hit the cap in 2023-2026. Don't know yet what his yearly salaries are, but that's an average of $55m per year. 

 

[-OZ-]

eh, why villain? i am one of baker's BIGGEST supporters, and always have been... and I 100% was on board with going after watson. 

we have a SB calibre roster. top to bottom. baker has shown glimpses, but never put it all together, and seemingly lost the lockroom to a degree. the mgmt saw an opportunity to get a player thatd otherwise NEVER touch the market, that could conceivably bring CLE a SB in year 1.... they had to take the shot... they were obligated.

again, im probably the biggest Baker fan on this forum. 

You might be the biggest Baker fan. But the way he was treated after this season was sad. I never liked the browns anyway, or anything with Cleveland (the rock and roll HoF is cool though) but that’s just because I grew up near Detroit while there has always been a fairly strong rivalry between MI/OH. 
so maybe I’m biased, but I’ll definitely be cheering against the Browns all year. 

They didnt do it for him.

Of course they did. There’s nothing wrong with this part really. New employer helps new employee

 

[menobrown]

What if the league decides they will hold off on any possible suspension until Watson settles or the cases are heard in court? This could possibly push any possibly suspension to 2023.

Either way, a little to early IMO to overreact about his base and what that might help him avoid in suspension loss.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I get that this is a football forum and don't hold anything against anyone here discussing the football or financial ramifications of this trade, but the whole subject just kind of makes me ill. It's not just that he almost certainly committed wrongdoing and looks like he'll get away with it, it's that his behavior, in addition to being awful and predatory, is so weirdly sociopathic. I'm not excusing Ray Rice or Big Ben or Kareem Hunt or Joe Mixon, but I can at least understand how a situation like that happens (less so the serial abusers like Tyreek or Greg Hardy). But how messed up do you have to be to book appointments with (at least) 22 different masseuses for the express purpose of exposing yourself and forcing them to touch your junk? What he is accused of doing is not as bad as Dave Meggett, Darren Sharper or Bill Cosby, but there is the same weirdness at the core of it.

Even if Watson came out tomorrow, confessed everything, and pledged to spend the rest of his life seeking atonement, I still don't think I could ever get past this.

It's as if he wanted the contract to be announced before the team he was going to was revealed. He's all but spiking it in peoples faces and the vulgarity of announcing the $230M guaranteed feels like a mind #### to the accusers. 

 

[GregR]

It will be interesting to see what his 2023 salary is. If the civil cases drag out, the NFL could potentially wait until they are done to levy a suspension, which could actually have them hit in a year his salary is even higher than it was this year.

Potentially. They might have thought of that in the contract structure. But if they try to push too much money out past 2023 then he's going to have even bigger cap hits for those final 3 years. That could hamstring the team.

 

[Soulfly3]

the cap is going to rise significantly as well, over the next few yrs. esp w the new deals coming into place.

 

[Beef Ravioli]

No. They took it down to $1M and converted the rest to signing bonus, most assume to help him avoid much financial penalty from a likely X games suspension. 

That’s the portion I think the league will look upon skeptically. 

Btw I hope the league throws the book at the Browns for what they did to his contract. Helping him avoid any kind of financial penalty of the league and especially for what he’s accused of cannot go unpunished.

It really looks bad on the Browns. They just got into the slimeball territory with Watson by pulling that. 

I read somewhere that this is what New England and Brady did before his suspension for deflate gate to avoid losing extra $. May be slimy but not the first or last time it will be done until the league steps in and changes a rule. 

 

[SHIZNITTTT]

What if the league decides they will hold off on any possible suspension until Watson settles or the cases are heard in court? This could possibly push any possibly suspension to 2023.

Either way, a little to early IMO to overreact about his base and what that might help him avoid in suspension loss.

Would be funny if the NFL waits until year 2 or 3 to hit him with fines

 

[Major]

Funny to see this come full circle.  Forgot Houston originally traded up with CLE.

The Houston Texans traded up with the Cleveland Browns to select Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson with the No. 12 pick in Thursday's NFL draft. Houston traded its 2017 first-round pick (No. 25) and 2018 first-round pick to move up to No. 12.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I keep dreaming of Watson signing his new contract and then Goodell holding a press conference right after and dropping the hammer. They've had plenty of time to conduct their own investigation. 

To my knowledge Watson was simply inactive last year and the lawsuits had nothing to do with him being on the field or not, he refused to play.  

 

[Soulfly3]

To my knowledge Watson was simply inactive last year and the lawsuits had nothing to do with him being on the field or not, he refused to play.  

he didnt refuse to play, which is why he got paid. the team held him out, iirc, due to the issues

 

[Ministry of Pain]

he didnt refuse to play, which is why he got paid. the team held him out, iirc, due to the issues

Let's go with that, sounds better. 

 

[ignatiusjreilly]

I get it.   After the Ruggs incident last year, I vowed to never spend another dime on the NFL.  I will watch a few games on TV but never go to a game or purchase team merchandise.  The slow exit away from the NFL is in progress for me,   It’s disgusting what owners, coaches, and players get away with and it’s getting worse.  

I'm hardly consistent on this. I've had Tyreek on my fantasy team twice in recent years (and I'll admit he's damn fun to watch). I'm a lifelong fan of the Redskins/Football Team/Commanders, even though I hated the old name and can't stand the owner. And of course, I have never even considered giving up the NFL for good in spite of all the legitimate reasons to do so.

One thing I've realized about myself is that wrongdoing bothers me, but enabling wrongdoing and allowing the bad guys to get away with it bothers me way more. The priests who abused children were monsters, but the Church leadership who looked the other way and transferred those priests around to multiple parishes without telling anyone are the ones I have a special hatred for.

There's no one that bad in the Watson case. I get why GMs whose job it is to make their team better felt like they had to explore trade options. But man, I was listening to The Athletic's NFL podcast (which, to be fair, did a great job of discussing both the football and moral aspects of this affair) and they were saying how, because of Watson's no-trade clause, the teams speaking to him were strongly disincentivized from pressing him on the allegations, and it made my blood boil all over again.

Also, what odds can I get on this exact scenario playing out in the coming days: the Browns solemnly inform us at the intro press conference that they did their due diligence on Watson before agreeing to the trade. Then a reporter starts calling up Watson's accusers and learns not a single one of them was contacted.

 

[Desert_Power]

Not when you see what the Seahawks got for Wilson. Yes Watson’s no trade hindered for sure, but only one pick this year and no players is inexcusable.

Next year’s picks are likely to be middle to late of the pack, so it’s likely only one of the 1st round picks ends up a top 15 pick. Not good enough. 

I don't think it's that big a difference unless you really value Fant or Lock. Fact is, Houston made clear he would never play there again. That lowers the leverage. I'm just stunned a team would part with 3 firsts for him.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

he didnt refuse to play, which is why he got paid. the team held him out, iirc, due to the issues

He said he wouldn’t play for them and demanded a trade - then the allegations gave Houston the out.