@hoorta said:

Lets hope he adapts like Aaron Rodgers. California guy (Chico), then U Cal Berkley to Green Bay.  Personally, I wouldn't pick Green Bay for a vacation in December and January.  

And Bart Starr went to the Ice Bowl of Green Bay from Alabama. 

@hoorta said:

Lets hope he adapts like Aaron Rodgers. California guy (Chico), then U Cal Berkley to Green Bay.  Personally, I wouldn't pick Green Bay for a vacation in December and January.  

Yes in the 1967 Ice Bowl -15 degrees  brutal weather to be playing outside. 

@dutch-oven said:

I absolutely think the reason he came here was because the Browns offered the best contract.

He's a kid from the South, who played college ball in the South. 

In fact, and I've brought it up before, when he played here in 2020 the weather was pretty miserable (you know, typical NE Ohio November day) and he did not look comfortable playing in the elements at all. 

How he does in the late season is something that I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for. 

Lets hope he adapts like Aaron Rodgers. California guy (Chico), then U Cal Berkley to Green Bay.  Personally, I wouldn't pick Green Bay for a vacation in December and January.  

@westside-steve said:

Not at all. It happens all the time. I think that was just a response to somebody who speculated that he chose Cleveland because he thought it was the best place to be and not because Jimmy was the only guy that made an offer that high.

And who knows? He might reconsider the reasons he didn't want to come here in time.

But we've also seen what happens when Star players are stuck somewhere they don't want to be. Obj.

Hopefully this case will be different.

WSS

I absolutely think the reason he came here was because the Browns offered the best contract.

He's a kid from the South, who played college ball in the South. 

In fact, and I've brought it up before, when he played here in 2020 the weather was pretty miserable (you know, typical NE Ohio November day) and he did not look comfortable playing in the elements at all. 

How he does in the late season is something that I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for. 

@dutch-oven said:

A professional athlete took the highest contract offer?

This is news? 

Not at all. It happens all the time. I think that was just a response to somebody who speculated that he chose Cleveland because he thought it was the best place to be and not because Jimmy was the only guy that made an offer that high.

And who knows? He might reconsider the reasons he didn't want to come here in time.

But we've also seen what happens when Star players are stuck somewhere they don't want to be. Obj.

Hopefully this case will be different.

WSS

This is news? 

@gorka said:

I'm still in the belief that, if Sean Payton did not move to the tv booth this season.. Watson could have became a Saint.. The Saints roster might be just as equal to ours.. The Saints could have added voided years to a few more contracts to land Watson with S.Payton still working with their bargaining table ..

Watson ranks 3rd among QB's, with a 46M base salary..

proving that,

@unsympathetic said:

It's not that the headline total value of the deal is "more" or "less" -- it's that the Browns said you have a 100% chance of making this amount and all the other teams were only willing to say you have a 50% chance of making the same amount.

And so Watson went with the certainty.

the Watson claim of 'he did not know the guaranteed"... is complete BS ?

@gorka said:

That and a guarantee and the extra year. 

(btw "lose respect????)

WSS

@hoorta said:

You have to wonder then, if just maybe the other (it was at least three teams) were willing to match, or come mighty close the the final $230 million he got from the Browns. The possibility sure could be Watson viewed the Browns as the most "playoff ready" ready team with offers on the table.  I'd lose respect for him if the only reason he picked the Browns was grubbing over an extra $10 million or so.  

So even though it's theoretically possible the other teams' proposed contracts could end up with the same final value, reality is that the non-guaranteed status means he'd be pushing for a trade/extension in just 2,3 more seasons.  It's not that the headline total value of the deal is "more" or "less" -- it's that the Browns said you have a 100% chance of making this amount and all the other teams were only willing to say you have a 50% chance of making the same amount.

And so Watson went with the certainty.

@unsympathetic said:

People [intentionally?] forget that all of the teams that interviewed Watson agreed before the talks to Houston's draft pick compensation requirements.  The draft picks were a given -- the only thing that was unique/different about the Browns offer is the amount guaranteed.  

It's bizarro-land ahistorical revisionism to assert It Would Have Been Possible that draft picks weren't going to happen.. 110% nope.  Watson is one of the few trades in recent NFL history where the player picked his destination from multiple equal offers.  ALL of the draft pick compensation packages that would have been received by Texans were approved beforehand.

It was up to Watson to decide which team to join -- Texans were good with each of the four proposed trades, all of which included 3 first-round picks.

You have to wonder then, if just maybe the other (it was at least three teams) were willing to match, or come mighty close the the final $230 million he got from the Browns. The possibility sure could be Watson viewed the Browns as the most "playoff ready" ready team with offers on the table.  I'd lose respect for him if the only reason he picked the Browns was grubbing over an extra $10 million or so.  

@hoorta said:

there were other NFL teams who were willing and able to match the Browns in draft picks

People [intentionally?] forget that all of the teams that interviewed Watson agreed before the talks to Houston's draft pick compensation requirements.  The draft picks were a given -- the only thing that was unique/different about the Browns offer is the amount guaranteed.  Furthermore, the actual value of all 4 teams' proposed contracts were roughly equal.. unless you want to quibble about 0.3M on any one year, the approximation is equality between all the offers.. the value and total cap hit over contract years is the same.  The single item that set the Browns above the rest is the guarantee..

It's bizarro-land ahistorical revisionism to assert It Would Have Been Possible that draft picks weren't going to happen.. 110% nope.  Watson is one of the few trades in recent NFL history where the player picked his destination from multiple equal offers.  ALL of the draft pick compensation packages that would have been received by Texans had to be approved before Watson was allowed to get on a plane to even talk with a FO seeking to sign DW.

It was up to Watson to decide which team to join -- Texans were good with each of the four proposed trades, all of which included 3 first-round picks. 

We didn't overpay.. Sure, you may not agree with allocating that much of a resource to the QB position -- but a ProBowl QB in his prime had his contract set roughly at that level before Berry proposed it.  Mahomes' cap is actually more per season than DW..

@dutch-oven said:

Garoppolo is recovering from a throwing shoulder injury, while Baker had surgery on his non-throwing shoulder... 

So why do you think Jimmy will be in more demand? 

I base that on their respective resumes.

Garropolo has taken his team to the playoffs including the NFC Championship Game.

He’s also 4-1 in the post season.

@dutch-oven said:

Aren't you just a ray of sunshine!? ?

I consider myself an optimist…with experience!

@gumby73 said:

9'ers will soon need to settle on Debo or Jimmy G..

Jimmy G's contract is a easier GM trade fix, than Baker's 

How much does he make this season?

Edit: I looked it up, it appears he makes $5 mill more than Baker. 

@dutch-oven said:

Garoppolo is recovering from a throwing shoulder injury, while Baker had surgery on his non-throwing shoulder... 

So why do you think Jimmy will be in more demand? 

9'ers will soon need to settle on Debo or Jimmy G..

Jimmy G's contract is a easier GM trade fix, than Baker's 

@hoorta said:

The debate around here is how much we overpaid for him. The deniers\hatahs don't want to believe the rumors\speculation that's out there- there were other NFL teams who were willing and able to match the Browns in draft picks. 

We're sort of arguing in circles about the future value of money.  Rodgers is already going to make more this year than Watson. and Mahomes is damn close. It's been pointed out with the cap certainly going up- way up- in the next couple of years $230 million guaranteed may look cheap down the road. It wasn't that long ago that Kirk Cousins' $72 million guaranteed was considered insane. Pay attention to what the Ravens are going to have to cough up shortly to keep Lamar Jackson happy. Then Herbert and Burrow when they come off their rookie deals.   

The DW "would have signed elsewhere"? For sure, and the media backlash would have been every bit as condemning regardless of where he wound up. It's just that the Browns pulled the short end of the straw to get attacked by the morality police.   

As for the highlighted part yes somebody might have come up with the draft picks but no nobody was going to add an extra here and a guarantee.

As far as media backlash? I think the insane deal drew more scrutiny to the Cleveland Browns than it would have to another team. Especially Atlanta famous for the dog torturing Michael Vick. And just for the record just on a moral spaces I'd rather have Watson than Vick.

WSS

@orion said:

It's a lazy verb. 

The Browns overpaid for Watson.  But if they didn't he would've signed elsewhere.

Baker of course, is a different story.  Because there, right now, is no elsewhere for him.  And frankly, when a spot finally opens up for his services, I bet Jimmy G gets the call first.

The debate around here is how much we overpaid for him. The deniers\hatahs don't want to believe the rumors\speculation that's out there- there were other NFL teams who were willing and able to match the Browns in draft picks. 

We're sort of arguing in circles about the future value of money.  Rodgers is already going to make more this year than Watson. and Mahomes is damn close. It's been pointed out with the cap certainly going up- way up- in the next couple of years $230 million guaranteed may look cheap down the road. It wasn't that long ago that Kirk Cousins' $72 million guaranteed was considered insane. Pay attention to what the Ravens are going to have to cough up shortly to keep Lamar Jackson happy. Then Herbert and Burrow when they come off their rookie deals.   

The DW "would have signed elsewhere"? For sure, and the media backlash would have been every bit as condemning regardless of where he wound up. It's just that the Browns pulled the short end of the straw to get attacked by the morality police.   

@orion said:

I know you're not asking me, but I did say about the same thing.  It certainly depends upon each player's healing time...but by the time the need for one of the two arises, perhaps even into the regular season, if they're both healed up, I certainly would call Jimmy G before Baker.  And it's not that I think Jimmy G is just THAT much better of a football player than Baker, but the 'whole package' of the person/player probably favors Jimmy G.   Although Baker is a natural when it comes to making commercials.  And I do actually mean that as a compliment to Baker.  

At this point, I fully expect the Browns will just have to release him and eat his contract.

So if they end up getting ANYTHING for him, I'll be thrilled. 

@dutch-oven said:

Garoppolo is recovering from a throwing shoulder injury, while Baker had surgery on his non-throwing shoulder...

I know you're not asking me, but I did say about the same thing.  It certainly depends upon each player's healing time...but by the time the need for one of the two arises, perhaps even into the regular season, if they're both healed up, I certainly would call Jimmy G before Baker.  And it's not that I think Jimmy G is just THAT much better of a football player than Baker, but the 'whole package' of the person/player probably favors Jimmy G.   Although Baker is a natural when it comes to making commercials.  And I do actually mean that as a compliment to Baker.  

@canton-dawg said:

I think the difference would be the Browns paid for 2 QB’s, and only need one.

Is lolly-gagged a verb? ?

Lollygag

to spend time idly; loaf.

to indulge in kisses and caresses; make love; neck.

 

In the BROWNS  case it might become a noun.  

@canton-dawg said:

No doubt Haslam and company are taking a huge gamble on DW.

I believe that Garropolo’s phone will be the first to ring in the off-season, and Baker will have to play second fiddle to him.

I think with the slim pickings of QB’s in this years draft will create somewhat of a demand for both of them.

Garoppolo is recovering from a throwing shoulder injury, while Baker had surgery on his non-throwing shoulder... 

So why do you think Jimmy will be in more demand?