As a second Achilles tear leaves Deshaun Watson’s career in danger, the Browns can begin moving on from the biggest mistake in franchise history. How did it get to this? And how did it end so badly? ✍️ @jasonlloyd.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/605... - ThreadSky

theathletic.bsky.social • 155 days ago

As a second Achilles tear leaves Deshaun Watson’s career in danger, the Browns can begin moving on from the biggest mistake in franchise history.

How did it get to this? And how did it end so badly?

✍️ @jasonlloyd.bsky.social

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6054794/2025/01/15/cleveland-browns-deshaun-watson-contract-injury/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=twhq&source=twitterhq

Comments

treetopunknown.bsky.social•155 days ago

As a Houstonian, I thank the Browns for making THE WORST trade in sports history.

crunk1977.bsky.social•155 days ago

"According to multiple players, those mistakes weren’t pointed out in film sessions, frustrating at least a few veterans who believed Stefanski wouldn’t criticize Watson in front of the team.". This was an issue when Baker was here too. Stefanski is a problem.

whoeveriam.bsky.social•155 days ago

".... and more settled lawsuits than games played."

Yikes!

itsjason.bsky.social•155 days ago

It’s almost like karma is a real thing.

illfaded.bsky.social•155 days ago

Who is the Karma on exactly?

In terms of the Browns, what exactly have they lost out on since signing Watson? Not winning Super Bowls? They weren’t doing that without Watson either. It’s the Browns lol.

benchptschamp.bsky.social•155 days ago

Deshaun Watson’s performance on the field is putting his career in danger. The Achilles tear might just expedite the inevitability of his career ending.

teebodo.bsky.social•155 days ago

How did it end so bad? Never heard of karma?

braise-the-rich.bsky.social•155 days ago

It's called karma

laurapeconick.bsky.social•155 days ago

Karma is so nice to watch

ellisonx.bsky.social•155 days ago

give in to a rapist and reap the negative benefits
The Browns found out and the US is about to

dontlikerapists.bsky.social•155 days ago

Woa there is a lot of stuff going on with the browns that most of us plebs do not know.

tednottim.bsky.social•155 days ago

Being called the worst mistake the Browns ever made is quite the achievement haha.

theuntrainedeye.bsky.social•155 days ago

If the Browns plan on bringing in a new QB in the draft to develope (which they need too) would you really want Watson in the qb room?? I mean, honestly.

gameshowhost.bsky.social•155 days ago

“He abused all those other people but I can change him…”

chuck-e-jesus.bsky.social•155 days ago

Incompetence and karma, mostly.

cfallsstan.bsky.social•155 days ago

The trade for Watson has affected Browns fans nearly as much as the Modell move to Baltimore. The loss of three first round picks was simply adding insult to injury. Yet, the Haslams fail to acknowledge this mistake, sad. At this point the dumpster fire has become a smoldering smelly heap.

theupsideofdown.bsky.social•154 days ago

Karma be a bitch.

theupsideofdown.bsky.social•154 days ago

And yes, Browns fans too. If he were winning, they’d be fine with the whole massage rapist situation.

evelude.bsky.social•155 days ago

It doesn't seem likely that the biggest mistake in that franchise's history was taking a swing at a once elite tier QB who made the playoffs last season. Remember this organization went 1-31 over a 2 year stretch.

dirigojoe.bsky.social•155 days ago

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes

nobssports.com•155 days ago

finrodthefelagund.bsky.social•155 days ago

They are hoping he never plays again.

badger-in-mn.bsky.social•155 days ago

dbhoosier.bsky.social•155 days ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iruzIEQsL4

clmsmooth.bsky.social•155 days ago

I think it’s odd to advocate for people to be underpaid and to advocate against job security. Only in America…

icedbrew2.bsky.social•155 days ago

Uh he was grossly overpaid. And how many other jobs are guaranteed if you can’t actually perform them?

bobbymax716.bsky.social•155 days ago

This was Dallas Cowboy - Vikings - Hershel Walker bad.

mariokreiner.bsky.social•155 days ago

I am a Bengals fan.
My son is a Browns fan.

I really feel for him going thru the pain of the biggest team-management mistake in the history of the NFL

blaktimusprime.bsky.social•155 days ago

It’s insane that he’s still going to get a quarter of a billion dollars.

liblar.bsky.social•155 days ago

Really? Deshaun was the biggest mistake? Have we already forgotten Johnny “Football”?

dalerojodcf.bsky.social•155 days ago

Johnny Football was a first round pick.

Deshaun Watson cost 3 first rounders in a trade, plus they gave him a $270 fully guaranteed contract to lead a team that Joe Flacco was able to take to the playoffs. The Browns screwed up worse on so many levels with Watson, including morally.

braise-the-rich.bsky.social•155 days ago

You can't be serious.

gaildardennecole.bsky.social•155 days ago

Johnny footballs contract didn’t blow up the team’s salary Cap for years. He was easy to get rid of.

badger-in-mn.bsky.social•155 days ago

DeShaun is a way bigger mistake

rmere85.bsky.social•155 days ago

Man gtfoh its the browns were talking about, this ain't nothing but a racist ass bullshit the browns been the biggest mistake since the merger but sure blame this guy for a few seasons for what they have already been TRASH

badger-in-mn.bsky.social•155 days ago

They traded massive draft picks to a piece of shit human who sucks at his position and is also constantly injured. Racism has nothing to do with it.

rmere85.bsky.social•155 days ago

You literally called him a piece of shit for being injured and what the franchise has done to get him how the fuck is any of that deshauns fault? Lmao you can tell it's about race Rothlisberger was accused of sexual assault but since he won a few SBs he gets a pass and he's white lmao stfu

henderburn.bsky.social•155 days ago

They gave him the largest guaranteed contract in league history

illfaded.bsky.social•155 days ago

No Signing Watson was a sensible move. Franchise QB available, they took a chance and it didnt work out.

So what. They are moving on 3 years later. The Browns were never going anywhere with Mayfield had they not signed Watson.

badger-in-mn.bsky.social•155 days ago

It's one thing to sign a franchise QB, it's another to way over pay in draft picks, and give him a bloated contract, especially when he's a piece of shit human.

liblar.bsky.social•155 days ago

I think I might have touched a Cleveland nerve…😂

colincowbeard.bsky.social•155 days ago

Deshaun Watson
• Guaranteed Amount: $230M
• Draft Picks Traded:
• 2022: 1st (13th), 4th (107th)
• 2023: 1st, 3rd
• 2024: 1st, 4th

Johnny Manziel
• Guaranteed Amount: $7.999M
• Draft Pick Used: 22nd overall (2014)

birddroneone.bsky.social•155 days ago

Yes. Johnny cost almost nothing. Deshaun will impact the team for a decade.

icedbrew2.bsky.social•155 days ago

Johnny was a bad late first round draft choice with a drinking problem. That’s nowhere near paying a guy with two dozen credible sexual assault cases $230 million.

sanoyes.bsky.social•155 days ago

Sexual assault? They aren't disqualifying according to the US Senate and voters. See Hegsmith and Trump

yonxers.bsky.social•155 days ago

They didn't have to give up the farm AND overpay Manziel.

oneozone.bsky.social•155 days ago

I say karma got him

whatsafajita.bsky.social•155 days ago

They knowingly signed a sexual predator and then another sexual predator as a backup. The only thing anyone can feel is schadenfreude.

philliplrizzo.bsky.social•155 days ago

The Cleveland Browns franchise has historically made poor decisions, even back when the organization was owned by Art Modell. THIS front office is even worse. Haslam et. al ... should stay with selling gas at gas stations. As long as HE owns the team they will never be positioned for greatness.

amrenaissanceman.bsky.social•155 days ago

How many reasons do you want? Start with over $200M - all guaranteed, for a sexual offender.

That's enuf time to spend on this loser of a human being.

jadedj1.bsky.social•155 days ago

He's a disgusting rapist, should be in jail

chardoranks.bsky.social•155 days ago

If the current owners care about the city of Cleveland and this team. They will sell the team.

gaildardennecole.bsky.social•155 days ago

They are trying to move the team out of the city and have the state pay for it.

chardoranks.bsky.social•155 days ago

Yikes. If that happens the NFL will send a message any team will leave on a whim. Fans have to believe their team will be there next year to have a true fan base. Raiders & Rams being the exception But because the Browns moved once and got a totally different team it’s different than just relocating

gaildardennecole.bsky.social•155 days ago

They want to move them to Bedford near the airport. It is in the area. There is a lawsuit going because when they moved the last time a law was passed saying they had to stay in Cleveland. It was agreed to as part of the funding. Hasslam is the worst.

chardoranks.bsky.social•155 days ago

Oh I see they want a new stadium already. Lame! So they wouldn’t be leaving OHIO. Just making the tax payers move them and build a new stadium. That’s annoying… Washington did this to DC and look how that ended up. Now the new owner is trying to move them back to DC Browns need a new owner to repeat

gaildardennecole.bsky.social•155 days ago

The voters at the time said no to a dome. They liked the play in the elements game. Hasslam wants a dome so he can have more events. He also wants a huge complex of hotels etc. Not a bad idea if it doesn’t leave a big whole in the city of Cleveland and he pays for it since he wants to make the money

hillviewestate.bsky.social•155 days ago

The Haslams don't care.

chardoranks.bsky.social•155 days ago

I know. I wish they did. The NFL is better when the Browns are good. I’m a rotten Steelers fan saying this BTW. I root for the Ravens to lose regardless of who they’re playing. If the Steelers can’t win the division I literally root for Cleveland and Cincinnati to win it. This year sucked!

chardoranks.bsky.social•155 days ago

I understanding taking a risk on a player that might have your team in the win column. But the amount of money they chose to while he was under investigation and facing charges was absurd. Even if he had never gotten another injury he was never going to be the same. They need ownership change period

gloomytennis.bsky.social•155 days ago

Really? How? It's called the universe correction.

gamercat365.bsky.social•155 days ago

Watsons new book ,how to legally rob millions

escanaba.bsky.social•155 days ago

His signing (and what the Texans did enabling him) is one of the most offensive things I can think of when I think of the worst parts of professional sports. An absolute travesty.

mschase.bsky.social•155 days ago

Who could have predicted that trade would blow up? Shocking. If I believed in it, this would be the ultimate example of karma.

casonator.bsky.social•155 days ago

If only someone had said how bad this would be when they signed him...

penn942000.bsky.social•155 days ago

It was doomed from the beginning! Karma eventually caught up to all of them.

kitncaboodle.bsky.social•155 days ago

It's almost like they were the prey for a predator.

jamesmccormick.bsky.social•155 days ago

If only there had been red flags.

heyhoody.bsky.social•155 days ago

Schadenfreude here is fine. Player has still has never owned up to any bad behavior. And Haslam, also unsaintly - see flying j fraud - bid against himself, then twice doubled down with restructures. They can cram it with walnuts.

1tigger.bsky.social•155 days ago

The richest non playing player in the NFL. He doesn’t even seem to care he has ruined the Browns for five years and hasnt played. I hope nobody will ever pick him up even for free

share24.bsky.social•155 days ago

Should he care? Has he been treated like a member of the team from Day 1?

He was hated from the start.

I'm not saying he didn't deserve it...but another sexual assaulter became president.

The fans hated him from Day 1.

oohlacle.bsky.social•155 days ago

texasvulcan.bsky.social•155 days ago

We ran him out of Houston. I cannot understand why anyone hired the guy.

marcopazienza.bsky.social•155 days ago

And why did they give up on Baker Mayfield and instead pick up this criminal piece of shit??

houstonjoe.bsky.social•155 days ago

Could have been the dumbest move in sports history? Baker is the only one who came out ahead.

nadrik.bsky.social•155 days ago

I feel like you could ask those questions about every decision the Browns have ever made.

dmpj.bsky.social•155 days ago

An apocalyptic disaster. Watson had a shipload of damaged baggage and Haslam and Berry STILL signed him to a ludicrous contract. Fans should simply boycott the team until Haslam, Berry, and Watson are gone.,,,

saveusfromfascism.bsky.social•155 days ago

It's the best thing that can happen to the Browns. Stefanaski babied and was afraid of him. Good riddance.

gtgtok.bsky.social•155 days ago

WTF were they thinking when they signed this guy.

mwelsh1977.bsky.social•155 days ago

The sexual assault allegations should have kept the Browns from ever signing him but aside from that this should be a warning to other teams as several fully guaranteed contracts have been signed since. The injury part of this story could be the Eagles, Ravens etc.

melusc.bsky.social•155 days ago

Eh, I think we have seen what happens to men with sexual assault allegations. They become president in America. Just sad sad

lashuanmichelle.bsky.social•154 days ago

Regarding, fully guaranteed contracts & not speaking about Watson specifically, but I do believe football players should fight for reasonable guarantees in their contracts. This is a highly physical sport & I just dont see how they can play their best knowing 1 injury could take them out the game.

illfaded.bsky.social•155 days ago

I don’t get the stand on principle for a football team when America elects a rapist for President.

From that context, the Browns making the move despite all those allegations don’t seem like a big deal in hindsight.

ronmimnaugh.bsky.social•155 days ago

I feel bad for Browns fans. There is no way that anyone can screw up as bad as the owners are screwing up unless they are doing it on purpose.

rmere85.bsky.social•155 days ago

This was the biggest mistake in franchise history? Or y'all only saying this because he's black,? Don't try to make it seem that this dude was the biggest mistake in the CLEVELAND BROWNS history when this team was trash and has been trash since the AFC and NFC merge gtfoh with y'all sneak dissing

icedbrew2.bsky.social•155 days ago

The color of his skin has nothing to do with the sexual assaults or his completely abysmal performance on the field. Claiming racism here is just ignorant.

rmere85.bsky.social•155 days ago

It does it's been worst QBs and worst contracts but this is the worst in franchise history? Gtfoh

icedbrew2.bsky.social•155 days ago

Please tell me what contract has been worse than his? And not only is the contract terrible, his behavior and play abhorrent…they traded away so much to get him.

rmere85.bsky.social•155 days ago

His behavior has nothing to do with you, you're a sports fan not a fucking therapist tf is wrong with you

icedbrew2.bsky.social•155 days ago

You don’t know whether I’m a therapist or not. What I do know is they traded away half a dozen picks and a good starting QB for some of the worst QB play of all-time from a guy with two dozen credible sexual assault accusation. And they guaranteed his contract.

icedbrew2.bsky.social•155 days ago

And you played the race card here…they traded away the talented white QB who has since won a playoff game and had one of the best seasons in the NFL.

rmere85.bsky.social•155 days ago

Wow 1 playoff game I'm almost of decade of playing ? Shut the fuck up and it's always gonna be about race when it comes to critique my people look how y'all treat Lamar Jackson he's clear MVP but y'all want to give it to Josh Allen so bad because of "voter fatigue" you crakkers the worst

waldegger.bsky.social•155 days ago

Isn't it time to change the name of the Browns?

birddroneone.bsky.social•155 days ago

TLDR: Hired a known serial sexual predator, gave him the richest, stupidest contact imaginable, turned out he was a flash in the pan and exactly the awful human being he appeared to be.

jooooleeuh.bsky.social•155 days ago

And it was one of the best things the Texans did for themselves that year. 😮‍💨🙏🏼

rmere85.bsky.social•155 days ago

Shut ya flat face the fuck up you don't watch football you sell ass

robclose.bsky.social•155 days ago

I blame Amazon for putting him in all those commercials. Only great players are on TV, right? That must have confused the Browns.

ceracon.bsky.social•155 days ago

Hopefully we never see this trashcan on the field again

marathonmom.bsky.social•155 days ago

*biggest mistake in NFL history

grooversparadise.bsky.social•155 days ago

Couldn’t have worked out better for the Texans.

yonxers.bsky.social•155 days ago

Honestly trying to imagine a worse one. Is there?

kitncaboodle.bsky.social•155 days ago

I don't even think the Herschel Walker trade was this bad.

marathonmom.bsky.social•155 days ago

Even my husband, a Vikings fan with a long simmering hatred for the Walker trade, feels this was worse. I mean the money is bad but 3 first round picks is 🤢.

yonxers.bsky.social•155 days ago

That's the only thing remotely even close to this disaster. You have to go back 35 years.

njkid.bsky.social•155 days ago

Lets not forget that time that Somebody drafted Ryan Leaf

jm256.bsky.social•154 days ago

This all falls on the team's owners, the Haslams. They had to have Watson, who came with major legal baggage. It was a disaster on many fronts: the trade - sending multiple high draft picks to Houston; financially - guaranteeing Watson $230m; and on the field with his injuries and poor performance.

jemima1989.bsky.social•155 days ago

Karma really said: "AND I'D DO IT AGAIN."

abmed.bsky.social•155 days ago

I don’t know but I thank god every day that the Panthers came up short in their pursuit. There were other mistakes to be made but this would’ve topped them all.

yonxers.bsky.social•155 days ago

In addition to everything else, Cleveland tried to get slick by configuring the first year of his contract for only $1 million, assuming (correctly) that the NFL would fine and suspend Watson. The small first year number would be the one that got fined, lessening Watson's financial burden. (1/2)

yonxers.bsky.social•155 days ago

(2/2) Roger Goodell should have stepped in immediately and not only invalidate the contract but dock Cleveland draft picks for pulling such a shitty maneuver.

yonxers.bsky.social•155 days ago

And to think what the team would look like had they stayed with Baker Mayfield.

yonxers.bsky.social•155 days ago

Damn.

"If this is the end of his Browns career, his three-year tenure in Cleveland will conclude with a 61 percent completion rate, 3,365 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and more settled lawsuits than games played."