By Martin Rogers
FOX Sports activities Columnist
When the Cleveland Browns traded for Deshaun Watson and instantly signed him to a long-term contract in March, buying him from the Houston Texans and jostling to the entrance of the pack of groups searching for his signature, it was an "all-in" transfer.
On Tuesday, when the NFL begins its disciplinary listening to to handle a number of sexual misconduct accusations towards Watson, the Browns' acquisition would possibly change into much more of an all-in transfer.
A couple of months again, any point out of Watson’s identify was accompanied then — simply as it's now — by a sequence of sexual misconduct allegations introduced forth towards the QB by greater than two-dozen therapeutic massage therapists. They're allegations which have saved him off a soccer subject since Jan. 3, 2021.
Even so, for the Browns, there couldn't have been any holding again in the event that they have been going to land their man.
It needed to be all-in.
Any hedging and Watson would fairly probably have opted for the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints or Carolina Panthers, all of whom have been within the last operating and appeared like extra possible choices than the Browns.
Generally groups say they’re going all-in, however they’re probably not. Not so with Cleveland. The Browns glided by the textbook definition. They swung not only for the fences, however to clear the car parking zone, too.
They supplied Watson a mind-boggling, record-setting pile of money. 5 years, $230 million. No caveats. Each cent assured, creating a brand new NFL watermark with phrases structured to reduce any monetary affect on Watson from a possible NFL ban.
All-in required burning bridges on Cleveland’s half, with the franchise torching its relationship with former No. 1 decide Baker Mayfield — a state of affairs that lingers regardless of Mayfield nonetheless being underneath contract.
All-in meant giving Watson public backing, with Browns basic supervisor Andrew Berry saying the group felt "very assured in Deshaun, the individual." All-in meant going full velocity, understanding backlash would observe, conscious that to take action would imply alienating no less than some a part of one of many NFL’s most passionate fan bases.
All-in, in each approach. All-in, as a result of the Browns really feel they're an excellent quarterback away from making a run at a Tremendous Bowl.
Nonetheless, if circumstances play out the best way the NFL hierarchy reportedly feels they need to, the Browns’ choice will immediately change into one thing else. Name it "All-in Plus," a double-strength, fully-loaded model of the idea there may be merely no precedent for.
Numerous experiences over the weekend said the NFL’s choice can be for an indefinite suspension, that might primarily impose a one-year minimal on the ban and permit Watson to hunt reinstatement solely when a full 12 months have elapsed.
Presumably, the Browns didn’t see a year-long suspension coming, however you’d be hard-pressed to search out somebody who didn’t assume that was a probable final result now. Extra plaintiffs have come ahead since Watson’s deal was inked, together with Monday when one of many ladies accusing Watson filed a lawsuit towards the Texans, alleging negligence.
Tuesday's proceedings will culminate within the first ruling underneath the auspices of latest NFL disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson, who was appointed by each the NFL and the NFL Gamers Affiliation.
If Robinson decides on an indefinite suspension or one thing that might hold Watson out for a yr or extra, then Cleveland’s all-in technique simply acquired upgraded. For it will immediately add an absolute whopper to the laundry checklist of things the workforce gave up — the 2022 season.
The Browns, with every kind of items in place and the wage cap structured round "win now," would primarily be left with no selection however to primarily punt on what formed up a marketing campaign filled with prospects.
Jacoby Brissett would transfer to the highest of the depth chart. Mayfield continues to be underneath contract, however there is no trying again there, and experiences linking him with a transfer to the Seattle Seahawks have escalated. A one-year cease hole resembling Jimmy Garoppolo can be too costly, each financially and by way of commerce choices.
No matter whether or not a full-year suspension would transfer Watson’s total contract again (to start in 2023), as some experiences have claimed, the impact on the Browns can be drastic.
Every part can be a yr afterward the timeline, with success largely depending on a signal-caller who can have been out of the sport for greater than two-and-a-half years.
Watson misplaced the final 5 NFL video games he performed and issues had clearly gone downhill by the point he sought to go away Houston. At his greatest, he's excellent. Quarterbacks of his age and skill are an excessive rarity.
That truth, after all, is why Cleveland went and acquired him, regardless of all the luggage, regardless of the general public relations hit, regardless of all that cash and all these picks.
However he didn’t play particularly properly in 2020, earlier than sitting out all of 2021. If he misses all of 2022, how lengthy would it not moderately be anticipated for him to absorb getting as much as full velocity?
That’s a query for the longer term. Right here’s one for now. Is there an final result the place Cleveland’s daring transfer is deemed successful? Or are we already on the level the place it wasn't value it?
Martin Rogers is a columnist for FOX Sports activities and the creator of the FOX Sports activities Insider publication. You can subscribe to the each day publication right here.
