Watson, a free agent tight end who played his entire six-year career with the New England Patriots, has signed a three-year deal with the Browns. As first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, it's a $12 million contract with $6.35 million guaranteed.
A league source who confirmed the deal to PFT says the $6.35 million guaranteed will be paid out completely in the first year of the deal.
Browns coach Eric Mangini was an assistant coach in New England during Watson's first two seasons with the Patriots.
The 29-year-old Watson was generally regarded as the best tight end available in free agency. He played in all 16 games for the Patriots last season, starting seven and catching 29 passes for 404 yards and five touchdowns.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
Holmgren, Mangini, Savage, Butch Davis, Carmen Policy............it's all the same.
Money talks. End of story. Doesn't matter who is running the franchise. Players talk about wanting to be winners, but 95% of the time they sign with the team that offers the most money, bullocks to the flawed belief that nobody wants to come here because we had a bad season.
***Gordon, I really didn't think you could be this stOOpid, but you exceeded my expectations. Wussy. Manziel, see Josh Gordon. Dumbass.***
Quote: It only confirms what Walrus said..get experienced offensive players,go young on D in the draft.
Sounds good to me....with young players, it easier for defenders to get by just by reading, reacting, and going to the ball while they are trying to catch the system.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
excellent news, i was looking for this last night, and with all of the Delhomme talk i didn't even see his visit confirmed. One less position that needs to be drafted this year.
If you want to delete, feel free though my feeling is when we sign a player, it should get it's own thread rather than bury the news in some existing thread.
Some items are stand alone items and not intended to be captured inside a catch all thread.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
Quote: Holmgren, Mangini, Savage, Butch Davis, Carmen Policy............it's all the same.
Money talks. End of story. Doesn't matter who is running the franchise. Players talk about wanting to be winners, but 95% of the time they sign with the team that offers the most money, bullocks to the flawed belief that nobody wants to come here because we had a bad season.
OH HOW WRONG YOU ARE...lil toad..
Had the Browns not added Holmgren, I have no doubt this franchise's future would not be as bright.
Adding Holmgren was the best thing the Browns have done since their return in 99 and it will make a difference in the quality of FA the Browns are able to attract.
We have had a great FA period so far this offseason. We added 3 experienced and proven players to 3 areas of need without breaking the bank on any of them.
Kudos to the FO. That excitement is starting to build again.
“It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.” -Steve Jobs.
Well, getting him from the Pats means his character and work ethic should fit right in with what this franchise, especially Mangini, is trying to build here. Should be a great fit.
Quote: I don't know why, but it seems he's been around a lot longer than 6 years.
Good signing,
I agree. I thought Watson played for them when Steve Grogan was their QB. Seriously, though, it does seem he's been around a long time.
That was that other big lug, name escapes me -- I think he was injured when the Browns played the Pats in the playoffs, "The Belichick vs. Parcells Game." (92-93 ?)
My guess on all of the guaranteed being up front is that there is no cap this year... and we don't know what sort of cap there will be next year. If there is one, and if the owners have their way, it will be MUCH lower than it has been.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
I like the way the front office is targeting specific areas of need. They are getting quality guys to sign up without breaking the bank. Now the key will be to draft at least three starters and four more contributors next month. This mix of vets and youth is exactly how a successful team in constructed. Good job Mike and Tom.
[color:"red"]"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." ---Leonardo daVinci