In the wake of new civil lawsuits being filed against him, the matter of guaranteed compensation in Deshaun Watson‘s contract has come into question. In response to the potential uncertainty, the team remains fully committed to the beleaguered quarterback. 
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that the team is not looking to void his contract – a fully-guaranteed, $230MM deal signed upon his trade from the Texans. The possibility of the Browns considering doing so came up not long after a 24th suit was filed, adding to the allegations made against him which are separate from the initial 22 in place at the time the contract was signed.
As Cabot details, however, “nothing has transpired… that has caused the Browns to change their view of Watson” in a way which would lead them to try and void the contract. In much the same vein, she further states that the team is not currently looking to nullify the trade with Houston that saw six total picks (including three first-rounders) sent to the Texans.
“The Browns and all of us that know Deshaun are still totally behind him” as stated by his attorney, Rusty Hardin. “These latest claims by [plaintiffs’ attorney Tony] Buzbee change nothing, and they are totally false, and that will ultimately be what everyone concludes when they hear the evidence.”
The ongoing lawsuits Watson faces – which now include the Texans as well – will be paused until the conclusion of the upcoming NFL season, barring settlement deals being made. A suspension is expected to be handed down sometime in July, though the door remains open to further punishment, pending the outcome of the civil trials. For now, at least, the Browns are prepared to move forward with Watson as their franchise signal-caller, regardless of the backlash associated with doing so.
Just like Amazon….if something doesn’t meet your expectations, send it back.
On what basis could the Browns nullify the trade or contract?
It’s not like the allegations were new or not public info.
If new allegations came up. Watson may have told them about these beforehand though.
I certainly haven’t viewed his contract personally but there is a very vague portion listed as: “Actions detrimental to the team”. Its in each contract leaving the door open to discretion by any team to use at anytime.
“Conduct by anyone in the league that is illegal, violent, dangerous, or irresponsible puts innocent victims at risk, damages the reputation of others in the game, and undercuts public respect and support for the NFL.”
Watsons actions meet this threshold as we speak. So the option to move to this contract option is always out there.
I don’t think they can void guarantees over this clause though.
They can void the whole contract
They can’t because they were aware of the conduct before the contract was written and touted how thoroughly they investigated the situation. On top of that, according to people who have seen the actual contract, they basically let his agent write it and have no outs for the first two years at minimum. The Browns have Brownsed all over themselves.
Not what the Cleveland writers are writing but I guess they don’t know and you do. It’s written if anything else arises then they can void it. Watson may have told them about these. I’m going to believe the people that cover the team exclusively every day
Hilarious the team is not currently trying to nullify the trade. Lmao like that’s an option. GTFOH.
It is an option. Right now, the only story out there is the women’s story. The Browns spent 5 months with a professional investigation team looking into this. Either way, the Browns can walk away from this since there’s been more accusations since the trade
Did they though? Athletes are very picky with who they work with. He hires 66 masseuses in 17 months. 23 openly accuse him. Another wrote an SI article about him. Others verified the scenario but didn’t sue. They simply think there is no evidence and they can ride out the pr nightmare if he helps them win. A big F U to the browns, their employees who sit by while these happens, and anyone who continues to support his team.
You mad bro?
Yeah predators who sexually assaulting dozens of women have that effect on me
More accusations since the trade, it can certainly be voided.
so 23 allegations were okay, but 24 is too many?
Read the article. It explains why
It was 22 when contract was signed and now there is 24.
So 22 was ok but 24 is an issue smh
I heard yesterday that the 66 masseuses identified so far may only be the tip of the iceberg. This may have been going on for years with 100-200 women involved.
Hoisted by their own petard. My dad always had a fond reverence for the browns organization. I never understood that, were they less of an embarrassment 30 years ago?
No they were awful, it’s why they were moved.
Awful? Hardly. They were in the AFC championship game in 86,87 and 89. Playoffs in 92 and 94. There last year was bad but was expected to be that way because of the move.
“…and that will ultimately be what everyone concludes when they hear the evidence.”
So, Hardin has evidence that will totally clear his client AND stand up to more than a few minutes of scrutiny BUT he’s not sharing it now because who cares if his totally innocent client’s name and reputation are destroyed…?
OR he’s got a line of BS that might be work if he can spring it on a jury at the last minute?
If this exhonorating evidence will stand up to scrutiny, not sure why he wouldn’t clear his innocent client’s good name now and make his life easier and better…
The only evidence that would exonerate this deviant would be full video and audio of each interaction with the accused. Other than that it’s all he said she said. They may not prosecute because of that, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t commit criminal acts.
It kinda does mean he didn’t commit criminal acts, otherwise there would be evidence that he did. It’s one thing to be acquitted on charges but he wasn’t even arrested or charged. I love your form of justice….get enough people to say you did something and you’re guilty. No evidence. No trial
Reading comprehension really isn’t your thing…
If they don’t prosecute it’s because they don’t have enough to convict. You’re right that it doesn’t mean he didn’t do anything wrong, but you do realize that these women have to prove that he did….even in a civil suit.
They don’t have to prove he did in a civil suit. They just have to convince the jury to believe something may have happened more than it didn’t. Considering Watson’s texts to apologize for making one cry and previous deposition of him stating their masseuse experience level/skill was “not a priority” he’s going to have to climb Mount Everest to prove something didn’t happen.
Convince or prove seems like the same thing. You’re not going to convince a jury unless you can prove something rather illegal took place. Everyone knows something took place. Watson said it did.
Otherwise there would be evidence hmm. Let’s say you lay down for a nap on a couch in a room. All of a sudden someone puts their sack on your face. You walk out and see their face. No camera in the room. It was just you and the pervert in the room. What proof is there? Now let’s say dozens of other people had the same scenario. See how easy it is to leave no evidence now.
You still need proof in any trial. Civil or criminal. So 10 coworkers could say the boss sexually harassed them just to get him fired? It’s 10-1 favoring the workers. Please never serve on a jury. You would hang the guy before the trial starts
It’s not a jury. Again he will never be found guilty by a jury because there is no proof. The difference is that doesn’t make him innocent.
Well that’s the way it is in the United States. You have to have proof to find someone guilty. You can’t just think someone is guilty, even in a civil suit. It may be easier to find someone culpable in civil but you still need to bring something to the table
Because that is not how the legal system works.
Oh? The legal system compels you to NOT reveal evidence that will clear your name until the trial?
No.
It’s typically not done so as to not give the prosecutors or plantiffs a chance to poke holes in it.
But if it’s evidence that is as clear and convincing as Hardin says, no reason to wait…and given the damage to his innocent client’s good name there is good reason to NOT wait.
IF the evidence will stand up to scrutiny, that is.
that’s also not how FRE works; you cannot hide the evidentiary ball.
Whatever evidence the parties have must be disclosed within a specific window/timeframe; otherwise it’s ripe for exclusion regardless of “the interest of Justice” if the judge finds it was intentionally hidden/undisclosed
ijs
Even his excuse should cause teams to not want him as a qb, or organizations to have him as the face of their franchise, someone whose jersey they want little kids to buy and wear. It’s frankly disgusting, even if we take him at his word. Dude has 2 dozen happy endings that we know about, this is the kind of guy you want to be the face of your franchise? What kind of sick deviant does that?
Most reputable lawyers don’t try a case in the media. If Watson is absolutely guilty of rape and or assault, why wouldn’t he settle out of court and move on? He could have settled each case for 100 thousand is what was reported. He’ll be suspended but since the Grand Juries failed to indict, the fact that he refused to settle and the fact that the Browns have not voided the trade tells me his side is confident in their story.
Even if he is not guilty of rape why would you want a guy that gets 24 happy endings that you know about from massage therapists as the qb of your team? What kind of person does that?? Would you be friends with a guy like that? Do you think thats the deepest skeleton in his closet? I think the risk greatly outweighs the likely benefits considering the browns are the browns they’re not going anywhere anyways, ever, and now you have this sick deviant as your qb. So grimy, much disgust.
He’s claimed he did nothing wrong this entire time. Paying out millions of dollars would make him look guilty.
Lots of very rich people settle. People have already deemed him guilty so paying or not paying isn’t changing any minds. Apparently the women’s stories have some holes in them otherwise he’d been indicted on at least a few charges
Clowns doubling down on their stupidity.
Browns:
“These new accusers will not change our stance with Watson’s contract!”
Homelander:
“Is your idiot brain getting fvcked by stupid? That wasn’t rhetorical … answer the question!”
Apparently they know more than you. Imagine that
When a team drops 31% of their overall cap on two QBs that most likely won’t play for them next season, I’d question anything that they know or did – stupid is rampant over there right now.
And yet they’re still 20 million UNDER the cap
More about the evidence? Definitely
… but if you’re assuming I’m not an attorney, a Criminal Defense Attorney, because I post on this board, then I’ll join the assumption party and congratulate you on having Bill Cosby under center
huzzah
Statement of a vote of confidence.
Watson should be worried now.
Nothing has changed. Until people make it a point to get rid of him, they won’t.
It’s a business about money and if you can keep a guy who has done something wrong employed, because he’s talented, they will.
Kareem Hunt still got paid. Ben Roethlisberger played for more than a decade after his and that included stories about professional fixers minding that situation. Ahmad Brooks, Greg Hardy, Julian Edelman…it’s a long list. The NFL doesn’t care and neither do teams largely. Especially ones who give up so much to obtain them.
If Watson was given for a mid-rounder, he’d be gone tomorrow.
Julian Edelman? What did he allegedly do?
What about ray rice, ray Lewis, Marvin Harrison??
Everybody seems to be thinking this is a legal matter. From the NFL’s perspective it is not, it is a personal conduct matter and thus requires no “evidence” of any kind. No matter what the courts do the NFL could choose to let its reputation get dragged through the mud by this turd if it so chooses, but frankly that seems pretty short-sighted.
Exactly. I’m sure the NFL has the same information the Grand Juries had though. You’re hearing one side of the story because Watson’s lawyers won’t litigate this on social media. NFL let Kraft off so the NFL is weak on perverts
What Kraft did and Watson did numerous times are not alike, the discipline will be much more severe.
So you think it’s ok if you pay for it? That is called sex trafficking. Do you also believe that was Krafts 1st and only time? I’m guessing not. You are right in that they are different, Kraft was charged with a crime and Watson wasn’t
That is called prostitution not sex trafficking and yes sexual assault is much worse than prostitution. Prostitution is legal in many civilized areas as well. Having it be illegal is what allows trafficking to occur also.
Once again, reading comprehension really isn’t your thing. You’re so blinded It’s time for you to take off your Browns underoos, fanboy cape and goggles and try to think objectively.
Shame on the Browns for even getting involved with this guy. Much respect lost for the organization… winning is more important than who the face of your franchise will be.
Wouldn’t it be a hoot if the NFL decides to take away all of the picks Houston got for Watson due to their role in this mess?
However, given that Goodell has basically not punished anyone for abusing women since Cowboy fans got upset over the Ezekiel Elliott incident I don’t expect him to do much of anything other than give Watson a token 6-8 game period sitting on the commissioner’s list (fully paid of course).
Not fully paid if it’s a suspension and the commissioner has already said he won’t use the exempt list for Watson. It’ll be a suspension, just how long is anyone’s guess. Mine is 8. There’s about as much a chance of 4 as there is the whole season