Optics will always matter when it comes to the Cleveland Browns and Deshaun Watson

The Cleveland Browns deserve criticism for Deshaun Watson’s contract.

The NFL world, especially those within it, are not a fan of the Cleveland Browns or their contract given to Deshaun Watson. The fully guaranteed deal to a man who a federal judge ruled was guilty of sexual assault, has been a sore spot to many who believe Watson is being rewarded for his bad behavior.

He’s not, he’s being rewarded in spite of his bad behavior. It’s not soothing to know that, but it’s at least more accurate.

The NFL and the fans alike have had complaints about the fact that Watson’s going to be suspended in a year where he’ll only make $1 million dollars, suggesting that the Browns knew all along he was guilty or at the very least, that he’d be suspended. Peter King of NBC Sports talked about this point, saying;

"One influential NFL person told me on this trip that it doesn’t sit well with the league or 31 other owners that the Browns rigged the Watson contract so that his suspension would cause him to lose only a fraction of his 2022 compensation."

This is a fair point, and one fans should keep in mind. It’s also important that the Browns set up many of their contracts this way. It’s part of how they operate. That doesn’t mean that the Watson situation gets a pass, however, when it comes to Watson in 2022, optics is the only thing that truly matters.

The truth behind the Deshaun Watson contract

The Cleveland Browns constructed Watson’s contract in a way that if the quarterback is suspended a bulk of the 2022 season and not the entirety of it, he’ll only lose $345,000. Yet, if the Browns lose him for the year and the NFL gets their way, he’ll not only not make a single dollar in 2022, but the contract will be frozen and rolled over to 2023, with the $1 million base starting in 2023 and going through 2027 instead.

However, due to how they set up contracts, including the bonuses, Watson would still make $8.93 million according to Sporting News.

What is even more damning is that the NFL allows teams to ask for things like signing bonuses back in rare occurrences. It usually happens after a player retires after just having collected a bonus. It’s not a tactic I think is right but it’s allowed.

Watson’s contract inhibits the Browns from attempting to collect any financial compensation back in the event of a full year (or more) suspension.

While the Browns do stuff like this with contracts all the time, say for instance with Amari Cooper, who they’ll be paying for a few years after his deal ends, when it comes to Watson it’s all about the optics.

The optics are the only thing that matter here and rightfully so. Even Judge Sue L. Robinson called Watson’s “pattern of conduct” the most “egregious” that the NFL has ever seen. Watson’s behavior is so bad, that Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports tweeted out that the NFLPA may not seek an injunction against any ruling, as they no longer feel they could win a lawsuit. It’s all but assured he’ll be out six games at least now, and people are wondering why the union failed to appeal the initial ruling

The failure to do so means the union can really only file a lawsuit that would prohibit any more additional games to the suspension; which they would still likely lose as the wording of the player conduct policy is very clearly worded.

So yes, if fans aren’t happy that the Browns are getting roasted for the way they handled the Watson contract, tough.

It’s warranted for what they gave the man. The debate is over, he did these things. A judge ruled on it, it’s over. The Browns are now the team that gave a known predator a massive, unshakeable contract and if someone wants to slam the Browns for it, they’re more than welcome to.