The Browns will have some big decisions to make, particularly at quarterback, after a disappointing season. Deshaun Watson's three years in Cleveland have been marked by poor play and injuries, but who is to blame for the blockbuster trade that brought him to the Browns?
During his mid-season press conference, General Manager Andrew Berry said 鈥渁ll of us were on board鈥� in the decision to trade for Watson.
91制片厂's sports commentator Terry Pluto believes there were too many factors involved in the decision for it not to ultimately rest on the owners, Jimmy and Dee Haslam.
鈥淚t isn't like a straight football decision,鈥� Pluto said. 鈥淎ll these things come into play; Public relations, money -- not just money out of your pocket, but also the bigger thing in football is money on your salary cap. And finally, trading all these draft picks. That's an ownership decision.鈥�
Watson has played only 19 games in three seasons, due to a suspension and two season-ending injuries. Watson has two years left on his guaranteed contract. They owe him $92 million over the next two years.
Now, Pluto said, the Haslams will decide the next steps.
鈥淭hat's what's so frustrating for fans about owners," Pluto said. "They can basically outlive their mistakes where others are held accountable, hired, fired, etc.,鈥�
Pluto said the Haslams could decide to fire both Head Coach Kevin Stefanski and General Manager Andrew Berry.
鈥淥r do I say, 鈥極kay, we're going to move on from Watson and I'm going to give these two guys who by far have been the best general manager-coach combination Jimmy Haslam has had... Am I going to give them a chance to clean up the mess?鈥� That's going to be the big decision in the offseason for him,鈥� Pluto said.
Meanwhile, Pluto believes the path ahead for the Browns are quarterback is clear.
鈥淚t's a mess to cut him," Pluto said. "I would do it anyway, regardless of what it costs."
Pluto said it鈥檚 less about the money and more about the salary cap space.
鈥淗ere's what the Browns got to realize," Pluto said. "If you keep him next year, he counts $72 million on the salary cap. If you cut him next year, he still counts $72 million on the salary cap. But at least you don't have that hanging over your franchise. It's like a clean break. That's their situation. So that's why to me, it's an easy answer."
