If Watson is found guilty, draft picks and money question

There’s no way there isn’t something in the contract to get them off the hook for the money if something like this were to happen. I’m not sure how the browns would play it out if found guilty on the civil side though

Him being found guilty of anything criminal at this point is extremely low. Grand jury already passed on most if not all these cases

Browns have some level of protection in case this goes haywire supposedly, but they would have a long fight on their hands trying to get that money back by claiming the new allegations materially effected the deal signed when he already had like 23 of em when they made the trade and contract

I don’t think the criminal element is going to bite them, I think it’s the impending suspension. Goodell can’t go light on him in this climate, and more keeps coming out making it worse.

First the Browns minimized the damage a suspension can do to his pocketbook, his salary for 2022 is only $1 million. An eight game suspension would cost him less than $500K.

His contract is fully guaranteed, including the allegations that were leveled against him. He provided all information to the Browns about what happened, the Browns were satisfied.

However the 24th and many of the subsequent women identified by the New York Times were not in their discussions. The Browns can void the contract and claw back the signing bonus, if he faces any discipline regarding any woman not previously disclosed to the Browns.


I'll try and find the article I read on Sunday about this situation.

Also not mentioned is depending on how the verbiage in the contract is set-up; there is a possibility that if he's suspended a full year, or finds his way on the Commissioner's exemption list, that the year won't count and the contract could essentially shift a year. Not sure how that affects signing bonus money as that would have already been paid

I would assume the Browns risk management dept. put something into his deal for this very issue. If not they deserve this for being complete idiots.