Over the weekend, the confirming that they had reached an agreement with three-time pro-bowler to be their next quarterback. The deal comes with a lot of controversy including accusations of sexual harassment and assault against Watson from nearly two dozen women. Our sports commentator Terry Pluto has been following the story closely. He鈥檚 among those questioning the decision by the Browns.
The contract with the Browns gives Watson the largest guaranteed contract in NFL history. The five-year agreement is worth $230 million. Previously the highest guaranteed contract was the one Green Bay gave Aaron Rodgers valued at $150 million. Watson sat out the entire past season with the Houston Texans.
鈥淭he Browns would tell you he鈥檚 a top 5 quarterback. I would say the top 10. He鈥檚 above average. He鈥檚 pretty good. He鈥檒l make them better,鈥� Pluto said. The issue though, he says, is 鈥渢hey paid him as though he were the best, despite the civil charges hanging over him.鈥�
But wait, there鈥檚 more
Pluto says it鈥檚 about more than just the money. The deal includes future draft picks including three No. 1 draft picks, which Pluto says are like gold.
鈥淭his is the first time since 1989 when three No. 1 draft picks were in a trade,鈥� he said. Combine that with the highest contract ever for someone who sat out a year and will likely face suspension for at least part of the upcoming season and the moral issues and 鈥渋t鈥檚 like he鈥檚 being rewarded for what happened.
Cleaning house
Following a so-so season filled with injuries, there鈥檚 been talk of whether current quarterback would still have a job. He essentially found out about the team鈥檚 pursuit of Watson as everyone else did, by reading about it.
鈥淭hey did not keep [Mayfield] informed upfront as they should have. Baker was not exactly an angel throughout all this either. He was pouting about some other stuff but that was a problem,鈥� Pluto said.
The Browns also announced over the weekend it had traded backup quarterback Case Keenum to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a draft pick. Pluto says other moves by the team are about freeing up money because of the NFL salary cap.
鈥淲hen you spend a lot of money for one player, it takes away from being able to spend money for other players 鈥� What makes the NFL a really good league is it doesn鈥檛 matter if you鈥檙e Green Bay, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Pittsburgh or New England, you can only spend a certain amount of money on your team,鈥� he said. Aside from that, Pluto says it really doesn鈥檛 matter how much money owner Jimmy Haslam spends on Watson.
Motivation for the Browns
Pluto points to the fact the Browns are tired of losing and of not having a true 鈥渇ranchise鈥� quarterback. Dee and Jimmy Haslam 鈥渂ought the team in 2012. They鈥檝e had only one winning season," Pluto said. "I think they felt that at 26-years-old, DeShaun Watson, from a football standpoint, is coming into his own. They will tell you, and this is correct, 鈥楢s far as we know, when Watson was leading Clemson to a national title, when Watson was in his first two years with Houston and playing very well, there were never any bad stories or charges or anything against him.鈥� So in other words, this is not a guy who鈥檚 had a whole long criminal history.鈥�
Stefanski鈥檚 ticking clock
There鈥檚 been a revolving doors from both quarterbacks and head coaches for the Cleveland Browns. Does the acquisition of Watson signal the fact that the days may be numbered for coach ? Pluto says the most recent Browns coach to survive three full seasons was Romeo Pernell, who coached the Browns from 2005-2008. The closest was Hue Jackson who made it 2.5 years. Stefanski is heading into his third season, and Pluto says the pressure will be on.
鈥淯nless things totally fall apart, he鈥檒l survive this upcoming season. But the pressure on him to win has increased quite a bit, and it鈥檚 going to get even higher,鈥� he said.
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