Where there is smoke there is fire. Watson's career stats are not heads and shoulders above Baker's other than rushing. It's a push. The contract is bad. Watson as a person IMHO (perhaps not based on fact) is the same as it is for Ben Rothlisberger right now. I have been a Browns fan for 45 years. I am 50 years old. I cannot route for a team that would take that expensive of a chance on a dude who has not proven himself on or off the field. Baker has a chip on his shoulder. So what. Is he a winner...? Is Watson a winner...? Is Watson a sexual predator? I KNOW Baker is not. Just my two cents.
Actually all "smoke" proves is that there is "smoke." Is the smoke caused by fire or was it a special effect created with dry ice? If there is fire, how big is it? A small fire can put off a lot of smoke.
DeShaun does appear to be a philanderer with a type, but that's not illegal and, sadly, isn't even that unusual in the NFL. Is he a "predator" or an unsavory "rock star?" I'd have preferred to find out before the trade. Unfortunately, we might never find out for sure. It appears the Browns' brain trust believed it is the latter. With the story now out in the world, it's unlikely that it will happen again, if it did happen. I'm curious if there's any special language in the contract with regards to the whole massage therapist situation. Or if there's just an unwritten understanding that he'll get all his bodywork at the team facility. I'm really hoping that it comes out that the most serious allegations were fabricated.
As far as the contract, it's not great, but the salary cap and other contracts are expected to go up heading forward. He'll only be 30 at the end of the deal. It could look cheap after Derek Carr and Lamar Jackson's extensions and even better after the next cycle. We weren't getting a QB of his football ability to come to Cleveland without a lot of money being involved. He had a lot of leverage and multiple teams bidding.
With regards to the proven on the field comment, Watson made 3 consecutive Pro Bowls (Baker 0.) He was number 18 on the NFL's top 100 list of 2021 even with the allegations hanging over him and having had a losing season (Baker 71, Ryan Tannehill was the next QB below him.) Watson was number 20 in 2020 with Baker not even on the list.
As far as being a winner, was Stafford a winner? He just won a Superbowl after joining a better team. Houston didn't have a much better roster than Detroit (possibly worse after trading Hopkins and Watt being hurt) and he carried the Texans to a pair of division titles in his 2nd and 3rd seasons.
It is a very conflicting situation. Hopefully some good can come from this and the team can help DeShaun become a better man.
