Wow finally a good decision by Watson and his legal team. It seemed like it was spiraling out if control.

Like others said, I bet the NFL started mentioning the exemption list and that no suspension would happen until the lawsuits were done. That would have been worst case scenario for Watson and Cleveland, if he was on paid suspension all of this year getting his 1 mil, and then suspended next year on his big contract.

Yeah if gets them settled I anticipate something along the lines of a 1/2 season suspension.

What if all but a few cases are settled? Given that the strategy has always been about the sum of the cases versus the particular case itself, if there are a few stragglers I could see the issue not going away.

I am SO glad this is not on the Texans. We may suck next season, but at least we have a vision and players that you can get behind without having to excuse their character questions.

Max Power said:

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Ag_07 said:

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I don't disagree but I think based on how this new deal was structured with the low salary this year CLE went into this expecting a 1 year suspension.

So what I'm saying is it's a win for them since it wouldn't be any more than had already accounted for.

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I'm not so sure about that. I think they took a gamble on it, but I think the $1MM to offset a suspension came directly from the Watson camp. I'm guessing they expected 6-8 games, an entire season with their Mayfield situation is not what they were expecting.

I also think that the contract bothers both the NFL and ownership of the other teams. They completely reset the QB market with that deal, and they are still required to put all guaranteed money into escrow, which is a problem for some of the teams out there. Because this contract was meant to circumvent a loss of player compensation due to suspension I could see the NFL putting him on the exempt list, so the Browns have to pay his salary but also don't get to put him on the field. The suspension might not come until the civil suits are resolved. The NFL/Goodell are going to set a precedent with how they respond to this situation, I'm real curious to see how it shakes out.

Training camp is around the corner, something is going to happen soon.

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Well said. It's obvious that Watson's agent structured the contract with a 2022 suspension in mind so as to drastically minimize it's financial impact on Watson. Smart on his part, but it will be interesting to see if the NFL lets him get away with that. I suspect they won't look too kindly on such an obvious effort to skirt the league's disciplinary power.

JCA1 said:

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Max Power said:

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Ag_07 said:

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I don't disagree but I think based on how this new deal was structured with the low salary this year CLE went into this expecting a 1 year suspension.

So what I'm saying is it's a win for them since it wouldn't be any more than had already accounted for.

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I'm not so sure about that. I think they took a gamble on it, but I think the $1MM to offset a suspension came directly from the Watson camp. I'm guessing they expected 6-8 games, an entire season with their Mayfield situation is not what they were expecting.

I also think that the contract bothers both the NFL and ownership of the other teams. They completely reset the QB market with that deal, and they are still required to put all guaranteed money into escrow, which is a problem for some of the teams out there. Because this contract was meant to circumvent a loss of player compensation due to suspension I could see the NFL putting him on the exempt list, so the Browns have to pay his salary but also don't get to put him on the field. The suspension might not come until the civil suits are resolved. The NFL/Goodell are going to set a precedent with how they respond to this situation, I'm real curious to see how it shakes out.

Training camp is around the corner, something is going to happen soon.

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Well said. It's obvious that Watson's agent structured the contract with a 2022 suspension in mind so as to drastically minimize it's financial impact on Watson. Smart on his part, but it will be interesting to see if the NFL lets him get away with that. I suspect they won't look too kindly on such an obvious effort to skirt the league's disciplinary power.

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Goodell has hinted at this - that he can fine Watson in excess of his salary. He will not lose just $1M, I'd bet.

I also just read that Solis is not going to settle. So, yes, while 20 have settled, there are still 4 cases including one very public and believable case.

I'm curious if the NFL had any input with the Watson camp or not on the settlements. But the fact that there's still 4 that are ongoing doesn't get him or the Browns out of the woods yet. If anything it puts added pressure on him to get those done sooner rather than later.

The settlements shouldn't have anything to do with the league's decision. Ponying up the hush money at long last after more than a year of this dog and pony show doesn't make the sting to the league go away.

The number of quarterbacks who have gone from the Texans to the Browns or vice versa has becoming bizarrely huge in the past decade or so.

• Brandon Weeden: Browns 2012-2013 Texans 2015-2016, 2018
• Brian Hoyer: Browns 2013-2014, Texans 2015
• Josh McCown: Browns 2015-2016, Texans 2020 (to be fair, Josh McCown has played for 137 NFL teams since 2002)
• Tyrod Taylor: Browns 2018, Texans 2021
• Case Keenum: Texans 2012-2013, Browns 2020-2021
• Brock "The Natural" Osweiler: Texans 2016, Browns (practice squad) 2017
• Handsy McGee: Texans 2015-2021, Browns 2022-??

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/06/25/report-deshaun-watsons-disciplinary-hearing-due-to-start-tuesday/

Max Power said:

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https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/06/25/report-deshaun-watsons-disciplinary-hearing-due-to-start-tuesday/

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How long of a suspension you guys thinking here? I feel like it's going to be 8 games once the dust settles.

I still don't understand the process. It's an independent arbitrator but then either side can appeal to….Goodell? Gee I wonder who he is more likely to side with.

what don't you understand? you spelled it out exactly

Todays filings add even more fun.

Maybe Tony Buzbee will be the one to get rid of Jack Easterby.

bigjag19 said:

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Hwy30East said:

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Maybe Tony Buzbee will be the one to get rid of Jack Easterby.

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I'm hoping he gets rid of the McNairs.

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That would work to. I think the McNairs just want to have the right people run it. The rest of the family doesn't have a passion for it like Bob did. If they get rid of Jack, then they are one step in the right direction.

These kinds of low-lifes never give you the outcome you like. They will probably find some shmuck to pin the whole thing on (probably a single security guard), followed by a press conference where they say they will make positive changes. Next thing you know joel osteen will be the new VP of football operations and Benny Hinn will be in charge of player development.

Vegas might give you 5-1 on that.

Hasn't this already happened? If I remember, the first demand against Deshaun came in December 2020, since then...

• Amy Palcic (PR Director) fired November 2020
• Jamey Rootes (Team President) resigned February 2021
• Kevin Krajcovic (Director Football Admin) fired Feb 2021
• Mike Parson (Equipment Manager) fired Feb 2021
• Doug West (Director Practice Facility Development) fired Feb 2021

Quote:

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Parson was said to have a close relationship with Watson, and these changes aren't sitting well with players.

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The timing of these is very coincidental to the month right before Buzbee unleashed hell on Watson (March 2021).

I still believe that there was a cover up and part of these dismissals were related to it. In any case, it benefits the Texans as they can make a case that the leadership of the club when these actions were happening has been let go and no longer creating an environment which would "enable" such behavior. They may pay up a bit and settle, but I doubt there's a continuing systemic issue (at least that's what they'll argue).

Exactly right. Nobody important is going to be pushed out unless there is some real evidence. Watson has already stated that the Texans didn't know any of this was going on.

Quote:

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• Amy Palcic (PR Director) fired November 2020
• Jamey Rootes (Team President) resigned February 2021
• Kevin Krajcovic (Director Football Admin) fired Feb 2021
• Mike Parson (Equipment Manager) fired Feb 2021
• Doug West (Director Practice Facility Development) fired Feb 2021

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Rootes is the only one in this list that's a bit fishy. PR Director was canned because her social media posts didn't align with the McNair family politics. The other three were let go because they aren't Caserio guys.

So apparently Deshaun has his hearing today. I'm seeing that the NFL is pushing for indefinite suspension with ability to reapply after 1 year.

Deshaun's camp is lobbying for no suspension at all. That right...0 games.

They're so far apart I'm not sure how this will play out.

rbcs_2 said:

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Quote:

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• Amy Palcic (PR Director) fired November 2020
• Jamey Rootes (Team President) resigned February 2021
• Kevin Krajcovic (Director Football Admin) fired Feb 2021
• Mike Parson (Equipment Manager) fired Feb 2021
• Doug West (Director Practice Facility Development) fired Feb 2021

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Rootes is the only one in this list that's a bit fishy. PR Director was canned because her social media posts didn't align with the McNair family politics. The other three were let go because they aren't Caserio guys.

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"weren't Caserio guys" could be "they were involved and wanted to let them save face". I don't know that's the case, but there's been so much BS in the media from Watson/Texans/other camps, I don't know that anybody really knows what's going on. We have people leave our company all the time for "new opportunities" that were really firings.

apparently Palcic only made it one year in Jacksonville

W said:

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the NFL may have not liked the Browns payroll stunt.

i.e. only $1 MM salary in year 1 of the contract

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OH I don't doubt that the 1mil salary combined with the fully guaranteed contract pissed off a ton of people in the NFL office

Ag_07 said:

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And now the thinking is Deshaun's camp is gonna argue that his year off last should be timed served and he can't be punished twice.

That's quite an argument seeing as he sat because he didn't wanna play for the Texans and was getting paid. That ain't a suspension.

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HAHAHAHA, that is the definition of spoiled enablement right there...hell if they let him do that I would hope Buzby sues the NFL for enabling the behavior too.

So why haven't we fired the head of security Brent Naccara yet?? We claimed we have fired everyone involved but not the guy who gave him the NDA? Doesn't make sense to me

I think the context around why he gave him the NDA is important. If Deshaun asked him for a standard/boiler plate NDA and it was given, I don't think there's much there. The question will be did he know or should have known what the intent of it was for. If these were personalized and created a pattern, it's a really bad look.

I don't know for sure, but I would bet the Texans have a standard NDA for use of outside training staff.

Apparently Naccara have him 1 NDA for when Nia Smith posted something on Instagram saying she was going to expose him. But I guess he didn't ask any question and just gave it to him. Watson then used the same NDA over & over again.

It's not true that the #NFL would likely accept a 6-8 game suspension for Deshaun Watson if that's what Sue L. Robinson, league source tells https://t.co/o11vJSOExu https://t.co/cdQa5EMHWt

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) June 29, 2022