Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

Deshaun Watson’s stat-line Vs the Cowboys last Sunday:

C/ATT YDS AVG TD INT RTG
24/45 169 3.8  1    2     51

On top of his poor showing, Watson is facing new lawsuit, this time for sexually assaulting a victim in her apartment.

At this point Watson is only on the field for the Browns because of the unforgiveable contract he’s signed to. Five years/$230M with a $45M signing bonus, all of it guaranteed, an NFL record deal at the time. This despite 24 civil lawsuits filed against him over the summer of 2022, accusing Watson of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions.

This latest lawsuit is unrelated, which is good news for a Browns franchise with certain buyer’s remorse. Watson's record contract “includes language that could trigger a default if he is suspended for a previous incident he failed to disclose to the team.”

From Sports Illustrated–

“…Watson can be considered in default if he is reasonably believed by Club to have engaged in personal conduct that materially and adversely affects or reflects on Club or has his contract terminated for engaging in personal conduct that reasonably judged by Club to materially and adversely affect or reflect on Club.”

“If Watson did not disclose these allegations, and if the allegations result in a suspension that would prevent  continuing availability to the club, one could presume the Browns may have an avenue to explore considering Watson in default.”

Defaulting would give the Browns an out from paying the $92M left on the last two years of Watson’s 5 year contract – from Pro Football Talk:

“As a practical matter, this is about 2025 and 2026. He’s still due to receive $92 million, fully guaranteed, after the current season. If he would be suspended before the 2025 season begins, the Browns could declare a default, void the guarantees, and move on from Watson.”

“To summarize, did Watson disclose this to the Browns? If yes, the issue is over. If he didn’t, and if the ends up being suspended for it, the Browns could indeed escape the final two years of the five-year deal.”

If you’re the Browns, do whatever it takes to move on from Watson and not pay the rest of his insulting contract.


https://twitter.com/ProFootballTalk/status/1833289862167875636

I heard, and have not verified, that for the first time in many years no HFC in the SEC has either left or been fired.  Wonder when the last time that happened?  

Pulling from another thread:&
NY Post on Belichick's UNC buyout drastically dropping next month:

"Bill Belichick and North Carolina have an easy way out of their troubled relationship. And the date to keep an eye on is coming soon. On June 1, the legendary football coach’s buyout clause will drop from $10 million to $1 million, giving him an out from the top job in Chapel Hill and a much more palatable payment to the university should he bail on the Tar Heels. The buyout was originally seen as a potential path for Belichick, who is on a five-year, $50 million contract with UNC, to return to the NFL after striking out during the last two hiring cycles."

So Belichick's side wanted the early buyout drop in order to make it financially easier for an NFL team to swoop him away as early as this summer? $10 million to $1 million is a remarkably high buyout reduction when not a single game has yet to be coached. If I'm UNC I buy Belichick out on June 1. $1M is a small loss to cut ties with a guy whose best coaching days are long past and is more interested in his 'runaway train' girlfriend than coaching. Learn your lesson, UNC, after hiring Mack Brown well past his prime.

That's now much Belichick owes UNC if he chooses to leave, not how much they owe him if they fire him. It's a one-sided escape clause. 

If UNC wanted to fire him, they'd probably owe him the bulk of that $50M depending on how much of the contract was guaranteed.