For the record I was never a fan of the Watson trade. I knew they wanted to jettison Baker, and it’s their team they can do as they please. I felt with Baker, it was 100% personal, and in the end it was. Then last year it was Flacco, who led them to the playoffs along with a good defense and a few breaks along the way. But this year was the year that the egos in Berea were going to be “right” about Watson. And that has not gone well at least so far.
I didn’t like the trade for many reasons. First, I have always felt Watson was highly overrated in an NFL sense, and of course his off field problems were disturbing and distracting. Plus, mortgaging the future for almost any professional franchise is never a good idea. The guaranteed money, putting all the eggs in the one basket thing. And I just feel he is not a leader of men, and that is a big problem on an NFL field. Is that right? Right now it seems so, and I really don’t like that. But what’s going on here, has way more to do with the organization than just Watson. I have felt all along this roster is overrated as well. But he’s not played well, and there is something very, very wrong here.
It appears the 2-time Coach Of The Year has virtually no say on his team. This front office is bound and determined to be right about this trade. And this is the year they are either going to be right, or they are going to scramble to convince us somehow they’re not wrong. I think the Browns could be 2-12, and Watson will continue to play, in hopes of a late season turn around in his play. The front office seems far more committed to him than to winning. Stefanski is stuck with this problem and he’s the guy responsible, and that’s sad. My feeling is, this trade and move was done way over his head. And I don’t think he can bench him, as that probably has to come from the top.
Last year when Flacco was playing here, I never saw Stefanski more relaxed and happy watching Old Joe carve up defenses within Stefanski’s patented offense. The Browns were rolling and finished great, but lost in the playoffs. But you know how this goes, Flacco had to go, to clear the way for Watson. Then many coaches, many of Stefanski’s friends were canned to do what the front office wants. Watson’s offense. Stefanski is sort of a sympathetic figure here as he has a mess here. There is too much money and given up capitol for the front office to ignore. And we stink right now.
This is what happens to teams when real “non-football” people are making football decisions. The team that just destroyed us, Washington? Had that exact same issue for YEARS. Team sold, house cleaned and a good product is now on the field. The Browns organization is good at a few things. Giving out big long term contracts to who they view as core players is one of them. Properly identifying who those are, is another story. And now it’s starting to dawn on them, just how expensive that trade was. All those high draft picks lost are catching up to us and have built the Texans quickly, what a great trade for them. And what we have gotten in return is zero, and a big bill. It’s among the biggest trade disaster in, well…..maybe ever.
It’s no fun trying to be right. The Browns are learning that at 1-4 – and right now being almost non-competitive, that is exactly true.
GO BROWNS!
