So I heard that Cleveland insured a large portion of Watsons contract. Some of 2024 and nearly all of his 2025 salary.
There’s also rumors that there are new sexual assault accusations against him.
Cleveland now has two potential outs to get out of the contract.
They could cut him right now with these new accusations and claim conduct detrimental to the team. Likely settling his contract in mediation.
They could IR him and hope to recoup as much money via insurance. Ultimately getting cap relief over the next two seasons.
Personally I think they cut him. Then let the entire thing unfold.
So with all that now out there. It’s obvious Cleveland’s season is over…. Chances they could deal Smith just went up…. If Smith was smart and he got wind that the Lions want him. He would be wise to ask to be traded the moment Watson is cut.
Well the Lions cut Sutton and saved. So why can’t Cleveland? The Lions clearly settled and paid him some of it but they only took a 4.2 mil hit of his 10.2 mil owed.
Cleveland has already gotten cap relief from their insurance on Watson. Teams do this all the time.
I agree with your bottom line that the Brown’s season is done and the chances of them unloading assets increased.
Obviously Watson will be placed on IR with the ruptured Achilles and the Browns will get insurance payout for remaining games missed this season.
But I’m pretty sure Browns won’t cut Watson.
Cutting won’t save any of the remaining guaranteed money remaining on the contract.
The Browns will have to keep Watson on the roster and show the injury will prevent him from playing in 2025 to receive additional insurance payout.
The new abuse charges have been settled with an NDA so they can’t be used to void his contract. Also, the allegations date back to prior to his Cleveland signing, so again, no conduct unbecoming or detrimental.
But again, I agree that the Browns could look to begin a rebuild and unload smith or other 2024 players.
In 2022, we received a significant cap credit from insurance bought for Trey Flowers that covered some of his injuries. Here’s the discussion when it happened.
True, but with Sutton, I’m sure there was more evidence, there was definitely a beat up woman and there may or may not have been witnesses. With Watson, like the 20 some allegations in Houston, everything, I’m sure is still a he said, she said. He didn’t lose a dime from those allegations, just a suspension in which he was still paid . . . and was traded where he received the most lucrative contract in NFL history.
I was not aware that the insurance policy would help the get a team credit until @Air2theThrown posted this info…
but it definitely makes sense to insure all top salary playerd if an owner REALLY wants to protect his team’s ability to compete.
