For years, the Cleveland Browns were next to Deshaun Watson, despite innumerable problems in the field and off the field. On Tuesday, approximately three years after acquiring the field marshal through trade and rewarding it with a record of $ 230 million fully guaranteed, Browns’ property declared the measure “a great swing and a failure.”
The team owner, Jimmy Haslam, used the phrase at the owners of the NFL owners on Tuesday, through Cleveland.com, adding that fans and the media can hold “me and dee”, a reference to his wife and co -owner.
“We did a great swing and lost with Deshaun,” said Haslam. “We thought we had the field marshal, we did not do it and renounced many draft selections to get it. So we have to get out of that hole. [It] It was a complete organization decision, and ends with Dee and I, so we held responsibility. “
The declaration marks a marked contrast with the previous public feeling of the team with respect to Watson, who for a long time had resorted to the constant support of organizational leadership.
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The Browns exchanged infamous three first -round draft teams to acquire Watson from the Houston Texans in 2022, even when the field marshal faced dozens of civil demands that allege sexual behavior in series, then gave him more money guaranteed than any player in the history of the NFL until that moment. Watson proceeded to play in just 19 total games of 2022-2024, losing 11 games in its debut season due to the suspension, then 21 additional games of 2023-2024 due to multiple injuries.
Haslam attributed the “swing and a lady” to the medical ailments of Watson on Tuesday, alluding to the field marshal that suffers an Achilles torn in 2024, then starting the tendon again during recovery. In truth, Watson was one of the least effective field marshals of the NFL, even when it was in the Cleveland field, completing only 61% of its passes, with 19 Touchdowns and 12 interceptions, in a combined 9-10 section as No. 1.
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Consequently, the Browns acquired Kenny Pickett through the exchange of the Philadelphia Eagles this low season, and all the indications are that Cleveland is still in the Quarterback help market. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday that he believes in Picktt, a former first round of the rival Pittsburgh Steelers, as a possible holder. Haslam himself suggested “It would be great if we could obtain” a superior seafood prospect at the beginning of the NFL 2025 Draft, in which the Browns have the general selection No. 2, “but we are not going to force it.”
As for the future technician of Watson, the Browns cannot free the field marshal under their current contract, at least without incurring a substantial blow at its salary limit, until after the 2025 season. Even then, they would be in the hook for tens of millions still due to the exailed of the ancient Texans.
