Browns painted themselves into a corner. Alienated their starter, Mayfield (probably permanently) by pursuing a guy who still had unresolved legal issues. Other than at WR, they really have one of the better rosters in the league. But no real QB either. Ouch
This is the leauge and the NFLPA showing out for the media so they can both look noble when they announce the suspension that has already been pre-agreed.
I know this team has some issue with a questionable GM AND owner but holy sheep dung....Browns decision makers must be some real idiots for taking a chance with Watson.... Unbelievable
I think they should make him get all of his massages in the future from burly Cleveland dock workers.
The new disciplinary officer Sue Robinson is a former Judge of 26 years. I'm sure she's a peach. As far as what the Browns did, I have to believe they anticipated a suspension up to a year. So I'll hold off on my Browns criticism until the suspension is handed out.
His mistake was playing injured. But even at his best he's a halfway decent QB. These short QBs have trouble in the NFL. Not going to find too many Drew Brees types. I wouldn't mind a QB like Baker, but not for going rate for a top QB. Maybe half that. But Baker wouldn't accept that anyway. So I can't really blame the Browns.
Meh, more of a backup type. I've watched him several times, and what is always out of his reach is the ability to consistently move the ball w/o TOs. When he had his "good" year in 2020, he had all of 3,563 yds passing. Browns were 3rd in the league in rushing, which is the real reason why they won. Baker was a bus driver that year, no more. Baker = Case Keenum = Colt McCoy = Teddy Bridgewater = Chase Daniel = Taylor Heineke = Kyle Orton = You get the picture!!! These guys can win you some games and can look very good at times, especially if not asked to do all that much.
The Browns may have anticipated a year long suspension at the time they made the trade, but that still is quite the gamble. Quarterbacks need to be playing to get better. Sitting out last year and perhaps this year will stunk the growth of Watson as a QB. This is the year to go for it for the Browns. The salary cap hits for their core group of players including Watson all go up substantially in 2023. They won't have first round picks to help getting more cost efficient help. There really aren't throw away years in the NFL. If he is unavailable to them this year, it hurts and really makes their decision to trade for him a bad one.
The hearing starts Tuesday and it will be interesting how much transparency the NFL allows and just what the NFLPA's involvement will be. I would like to be a fly on the wall with Goodell and the owners and at the NFLPA HQ to hear the conversations.
