Mike Florio explains why several NFL team owners pushed for Deshaun Watson to not be suspended for entirety of 2022 season
Deshaun Watson was given an 11-game suspension, along with a $5 million fine, after the NFL and the players' association reached a settlement for the quarterback, who has been accused by more than 20 women of sexual misconduct.
According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, several team owners wanted the browns" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-is-sponsored="false">Browns quarterback to play this season as a form of payback for Cleveland.
“Some owners apparently spoke privately about not wanting Watson to be suspended for a full year, in what would be a bit of payback to the Browns for paying so much guaranteed money to Deshaun Watson.”
A full-season suspension of Deshaun Watson arguably would have been better for the Browns. Per @peter_king, multiple owners may have pushed for something less than a year, for that very reason. wp.me/pbBqYq-clGB
The suspension will count toward the quarterback’s contract, making him a free agent after the 2026 season while moving his salary to $46 million next year.
When Cleveland's signal-caller returns, there will only be six games left this season. For the Browns, it makes it tough to take in significant value from their quarterback in the first year of his five-year deal.
After the Browns traded for Watson, they gave him a five-year, fully-guaranteed, $230 million contract. The contract did not sit well with many people, including Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti.
"I'm trying to answer that when I had a reaction to it. And it's like, 'Damn, I wish they hadn't guaranteed the whole contract. I don't know that he should've been the first guy to get a fully guaranteed contract. To me, that's something that is groundbreaking, and it'll make negotiations harder with others."
#Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti to reporters on Deshaun Watson getting $230M fully-guaranteed: “I don’t know that he should’ve been the first guy to get a fully-guaranteed contract. To me, that’s something that is groundbreaking, and it’ll make negotiations harder with others.”
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Why the Cleveland Browns would have preferred Deshaun Watson getting a year-long suspension
For Cleveland, a strong argument could be presented that they would have preferred their franchise quarterback to miss the entire 2022 season. This would have fully suspended his contract, driving it back by a full year and keeping him signed through the 2027 season.
In addition, it would have cut his salary next year from $46 million to the veteran league minimum for a player with his level of experience, which is at $1.035 million.
As for Browns fans, they will have to wait until Week 13 for an opportunity to see Watson play. Cleveland will face Watson's former team, the Houston Texans.
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