Depends on where you are pointing at 'mismanagement' when it comes to Berry, and it also depends on how much this decision rests on the shoulders of ownership. As for the rest - Your opinion on it is something that can't be argued against, as it is entirely your opinion. I still haven't formed my thoughts on it completely, as this is something that is so damn convoluted from a personal standpoint (Watson), a team standpoint (Browns), an organizational standpoint (ownership/front office), and a league standpoint, that it still feels like there is information that will come down the pipeline that will reshape the results. The only thing I'm sure of - It leaves a really foul odor all the way around...
Depends on the roster moves coming up. I'm pretty sure I read that they could move some money around and clear some on the books that would put them in a buyer's position (relatively $35mil in space).
Everyone keeps forgetting DePodesta. I really believe (or perhaps would like to believe) that the decision to go get Watson was a true collaborative decision between Haslam, Berry, Stefanski and DePodesta.
I liked him, actually. Had a first round grade on him. He was my QB3 that year (Baker, Jackson, Rosen). That's fair... given that Berry was reportedly not on the plane to visit SP4 when they were still trying to woo him, I can conceive of a reality where Huckleberry Haslam was growing impatient and where a coach like Stefanski needed a trump card so they schemed it up. It's not necessarily just the SP4 move, however, that has me critical of Berry. I came down on him hard last season when I was still a card-carrying fan of the team for keeping Odell around after it was reported he went to the F/O and demanded a trade in training camp. The best players on this roster aren't Berry picks, either. Garrett - Brown Ward - Dorsey Chubb - Dorsey Hunt - Dorsey Teller - Dorsey Bitonio - Farmer Njoku - Brown John Johnson, Clowney, and Conklin are probably Berry's best pick ups and they were free agents. Owosu-Koramoah looks like a young stud but time will tell there. Didn't hate the Amari Cooper trade, but he's essentially a replacement-level guy for Landry's output. Amen.
The messed up part is - My best case scenario would be that Haslam decided he wanted a franchise quarterback and didn't give a damn about the consequences of going after a player with baggage that is never going away. It would absolve Berry, DePodesta and Stefanski of some of this, but if they all were in agreement...
Your list is accurate, but does this become a 'time will tell' discussion? I'm not sure we have enough data yet on whether or not Berry has been successful (if you look at the moves with Watson removed).
, IDK. It smells to me like the only way for that to happen is if Watson's off the books. I really don't think they want to fuck with the contracts they just extended (Bitonio, Teller, Ward, Njoku, etc)
I could be wrong, but I will look and see if I can find where I read that. Granted, I'll need a Sunday morning to mend up first. I got enough sun and suds today to keep me from doing anything work related for a few hours. lol
Sure, not saying he can't be -- or rather... couldn't have been. I think now his fate is sealed and tied to Watson. If this ultimately works out for them (I can't see that happening) then he'll be praised. If it falls apart, he's gone and just another in the long list of guys who "couldn't turn it around" in Cleveland.
I agree with this, and I hate it. I like Berry. I wanted Cleveland to bring him back, and I think it could have been/could be the move that breaks the Browns out of the quagmire. This move for Watson though is something that I'm having a hard time reckoning. I really want to see the Browns get it right. Going back to 2012, I wanted Cleveland to draft Russell Wilson in the second round. It's a team that I know a lot about for the wrong reasons (if you are a Browns fan), because they have been so tied to the draft for the entire decade that I have been scoring players the way I currently do. In my personal opinion - Browns fans don't deserve the mess that this will forever be. Regardless of how a person feels about whether or not Watson should be allowed to play, the idea that this episode will be attached to the brown and orange permanently is something that cannot be overlooked.
Got to try and get money when you can I suppose. Not like the browns can say we are up against the cap. Having missed most of last year injured doesnt help him but it could also be part of whats making him try to get some more money while he can.
FWIW / per PFT; Word emerged this weekend that running back Kareem Hunt is “holding in” — not participating in team drills as he tries to get a new contract. Now we know a little more about the situation. And it doesn’t sound like Hunt will be going anywhere. Per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns have told Hunt they will not be trading him after the running back requested the organization do so. Hunt is slated to earn a base salary of $1.35 million in 2022 with a $1.5 million roster bonus. He also has a per-game roster bonus of $200,000 each, which could bring him up to $3.4 million. Hunt is reportedly planning to only participate in individual drills. He does not have much leverage at this point, as the Browns can fine him for not participating. Hunt, who turned 27 on Saturday, will be a free agent after the season. In 2021, he recorded 560 yards from scrimmage — 386 rushing, 174 receiving — and five total touchdowns in eight games.
Hunts a really good RB. The only reason he joined the Browns was because they were the only team willing to give him a chance after he had a domestic abuse charge against him.