As it stands, the Cleveland Browns won’t have Deshaun Watson for the first six games of the 2022 NFL season.
That’s the recommendation from former federal judge Sue Robinson after the Pro Bowl quarterback was proven to have violated the league’s personal conduct policy.
However, the league can appeal that decision and the six games might increase.
Regardless of the final verdict, it’s difficult to see the judgment suddenly jumping from six games to an indefinite suspension.
Therefore, Cleveland will have Watson back at a certain time during the year.
It remains to be seen if the Browns are competing for a playoff spot once he returns.
What’s important, though, is that he gets to compete again after a layoff that stretches back to the 2021 season.
However, his 2022 salary is a point of contention because the media insists that his five-year, $230 million deal was structured as such to give Watson the chance to earn most of his money.
That’s why Cleveland sports veteran Daryl Ruiter had to set the record straight.
Dear national media, Please stop saying #Browns structured Watson's contract to minimize financial loss during a suspension. If you pay attention to how the team does business, ALL of their major contracts are structured this way: a massive signing bonus + min year 1 salary. https://t.co/yXaDhA4iG7
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) August 1, 2022
Ruiter tweeted, “Dear national media, Please stop saying #Browns structured Watson’s contract to minimize financial loss during a suspension. If you pay attention to how the team does business, ALL of their major contracts are structured this way: a massive signing bonus + min year 1 salary.”
He said this in response to Darren Rovell’s post which pointed out that Watson will only lose $333,000 in salary.
Why Such A Contract Structure?
The Browns would like to give huge money upfront but through a signing bonus.
That way, they can prorate the value over the contract’s duration to soften the player’s cap hit.
The player will still get their money and the minimum base salary serves as insurance.
Likewise, teams would like their players to earn the money they signed up for.
Therefore, they defer a huge portion of the base salary to succeeding years as some sort of reward for taking care of themselves.
Ruiter should spread his view over much of the media, not just Browns or sports.. They make blatantly false misleading comments without challenge with goal of changing peoples mind. Disgusting. Good for Daryl
I don’t understand the difference between sexual assault without violence, Watson was suspended 6 games for sexual assault, i would think there would be violence in sexual assault, or was it someone saying no after the fact?
Either way this ends my opinion is that laws or penalties shouldn’t be set after the fact or during a trial, i don’t believe in making an example of one person is right, why wasn’t the person before this guy made an example of? This kind of action makes me believe that there is discrimination against certain teams and i believe Rodger Goodell doesn’t like the Browns and the owners are mad at Cleveland for giving Watson such a big contract, seems like they could be in Goodell’s ear ???
The Cleveland Browns did absolutely positively nothing illegal. Darryl is exactly correct Pro Bowl corner back Denzel Ward’s contract is done the same way. There are people that are upset with this situation I fully understand. And the same percentage of fans( different group) would have been upset the Browns if the did not pursue this phenomenal Quarterback. There was not rape, Physical abuse, or bodily harm. This seems to be a fetish with this young man. He was still wrong But I believe we should all support him. This was not a Rothlesberger situation where there was rape of a student and an offensive lineman and retired patrolman guarded the door. The Haslam family and front office has built a phenomenal team that we always wanted. Do so much with there generosity. Let’s support them now..