MEMPHIS.. bigger population than Cleveland or Cincinnati.. Gets Haslem closer to home, even if it’s on the other side of the state.
I don't mean it's a big difference to the coach or GM. I mean having an owner sign off on that decision. He's the one paying the bill. I can imagine a scenario in Carolina where the owner said, "You want me to pay 18M more at the QB position? Hell no. 8M? Still too much. Get it down to 5 and I'm in."
I don't see those situations as similar. In Carolina, they're already paying Sam Darnold a fully-guaranteed $19 million to be the backup quarterback. Toss another $19 million for Baker if they didn't negotiate down the due amount and you're at 19% of the team's overall cap in just two guys (one of which isn't playing) at the position. In Cleveland, if Watson is suspended the season, Cleveland can recover the contract costs ($10 million), which would leave them spending only $5.5 for Brissett/Dobbs, neither of whom should provide a high degree of confidence to a franchise built to win immediately and with a 2-3 year championship window. Lastly... has Haslam every shown himself to be restrained with the team? Nevermind it's the NFL and each team is making over $300 million in revenues annually... he's got the money to borrow a QB like Garoppolo who can lead Cleveland's roster to 10+ wins. To be clear... I'm not suggesting they do that. I'm saying that Stefanski will start the feel the heat with a QB like Brissett going against 8-man fronts and a below-average recevier corp and as losses continue to mount, the desperation to swing for a guy who can at least threaten teams through the air will undoubtedly increase.
Not true. Watson received a 45M signing bonus which because of the language in his contract can not be touched, regardless of suspension. In fact he is due the first of (3) 15M payments on July 31st (signing bonuses are often deferred, Watson's 45M bonus is scheduled to be paid in three payments of 15M on 7/31, 1/31 and 3/31/23). But the entire amount still counts as a 2022 signing bonus prorated in years '22-'26. The only relief the Browns get is the base salary 1.035M. Fair enough. I don't know the man. Just seems pretty unlikely to me. Okay but there will be a resolution on Jimmy G's contract long before that. As soon as he can pass a physical the 49ers have to do something. They can't let him practice and get hurt with that contract in place. With the likelihood of him getting traded getting lower and lower I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him sign a 1year deal with SF as a backup QB. Let him hit free agency next year.
Thanks for letting us know Lyman. BuckeyesRok and I had a few nice discussions here and there. Nice guy and a really good fan.
I'm not sure where you got (3) payments of 15M, and I am assuming you are talking about salary cap/relief as @SAS is, but his contract has the maximum 5 year cap for signing bonus of $8.993M each.. still, no relief for the Browns on that portion, even if his contract is tolled.
He received a 44.965 signing bonus when they inked the deal but he didn't actually receive a dime that day. Deshaun's and the Browns agreed to defer that 44.965M into (3) payments: 7/31/22 15M 1/31/23 15M 3/31/23 15M As far as the NFL is concerned that signing bonus occurred in 2022 regardless when it is paid. And the act of deferring signing bonuses is not uncommon. Many teams do it. For salary cap purposes only the signing bonus will be prorated over 5 years as you stated @ 8.993M per season. And you are correct, regardless of how the money is paid or counted against the cap, it is protected by contract language - which by the way isn't always the case. Unless explicitly excluded teams are typically eligible to recoup bonus dollars paid to athletes who are suspended. In this case, Deshaun protected himself with specific language and the Browns agreed to it. And for the record this was only mentioned because of the context of the conversation SAS and I were having about the possibility of taking on Garroppollo's contract instead of starting Brissett (assuming there is a suspension). He was under the impression the Browns would receive more relief in the event of a suspension.
Well, the Texans just settled 30 lawsuits with the women involved in the Watson affair for their part of providing NDA's and off-site "massages." Part of their statement: "Although our organization did not have any knowledge of Deshaun Watson’s alleged misconduct, we have intentionally chosen to resolve this matter amicably," the Texans said in a statement. "This is not an admission of any wrongdoing, but instead a clear stand against any form of sexual assault and misconduct." I just have to ask, if they're not guilty, then why settle. And for me, if Watson is going to get punished, then the Texans team and ownership needs to be punished as well. Not some little slap on the wrist fine, a big one. They should lose some draft picks for "conduct unbecoming" of the NFL. Watson hasn't been tried and declared guilty either. He remains innocent (in terms of the law at least) and he's still going to take a suspension soon. Play with the same rules for the owners, Goodell and the NFL!!! Even if the Texans owner didn't know, he should have, it's his team. A team's culture starts at the very top. Sorry, just my rant for today. Happy Friday everyone. Gonna go have a beer or a bourbon in a bit and sit out on the deck.
