They can afford to pay him THIS year...but that's likely it. Tagging him, even after a good year, and trying to work a trade would be a risky move.
I agree that not playing well would have a negative effect that's worse than sitting out, but I do think that playing well would significantly increase his value. And by "well" I mean a season a little better than his best season so far.
He's not going to sit out as that would result in fines that would eat into the $18.86M. Equally he's not really going to contribute much either. Either he takes the bad back/dodgy hamstring approach or he plays in self preservation mode where it's better to go down to a phantom sack than throw it away or take unnecessary hits. He could come in and play hard but there's not much reward for that risk. This is why teams don't want to guarantee contracts and they avoid falling out with those on guaranteed contracts wherever possible. If the Browns can't agree a trade the next best solution is to have him sit at home on an exempt roster or fake IR. There's no reason to release him with $18.86M and have him play elsewhere.
what will we see? If he's wanted or if those in the locker room would be OK with it?
Cannot say this is anything new. My thinking he could play means 2 things are true...Watson gets a long suspension AND they believe Baker is a much better option than Brissett at QB based on talent.
What do the 20 lawsuit settlements mean for Deshaun Watson? We break down everything you need to know, plus what comes next
On Tuesday, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson settled all but four of the lawsuits filed against him. We answer the most important remaining questions.www.espn.com
Who will play if Watson isn't available? Any chance it's Baker Mayfield?
This is the NFL, and this is the Browns, so never say never. But sources have said that Mayfield has no interest in playing another down for the Browns again, especially after a team source told ESPN NFL Insider Chris Mortensen that the Browns were looking for "an adult" to replace Mayfield at quarterback during their pursuit of Watson in March. The Browns have given no indication they have any interest in Mayfield playing another down for them, either. Both sides have moved on, even if Mayfield still remains on the roster. And so, in the event Watson is suspended, Cleveland would plan to move forward with Jacoby Brissett, whom the team signed earlier this offseason and who has 37 career starts in the league, as its starting quarterback. -- Trotter
I find it hillarious - OK, typical - you were scared off by another question. Once again, it was the Browns offer Baker 4 years and $160 mil he says no?
OK, but didn't your reply come after me saying it's overblown to say the locker room would not want him there?
You think they signed Brissett thinking he'd be the starting QB for an entire season? What team has ever done that in the NFL?
You and your stupid "what if" pretend scenarios. People don't ignore them because they are scared, they ignore them because it's a stupid game and is irrelevant.
That's at best just a guess and irrelevant.
They (and you) ignore them because if they answer it makes their previous comments look foolish. If Baker was paid what he wants he would sign without thinking twice. Meaning there is more than zero interest by him in staying here.
agree neither inclined to help the other...but him playing well helps both.
No one knows, because no one can know, in a pretend scenario because...it's fiction.
If you are speaking of 2022, They have $40 mil in cap space with baker on the books. If you are speaking beyond 2022 why would there be a reason to keep Baker?
I mean, he had his best season ever with no preseason games, very limited camp AND it was his first year in a new offense
He really could not have been much further from the truth.
No he nailed it. He doesn't have a agenda, he has no reason to be bias, he's got no skin in this situation, he made a perfectly sound observation, his views aren't colored because he's a Brown fan, neither is it colored because he hates the Brown, or hates Mayfield.
Can you know with 100% certainty? I guess not. But you could offer an opinion if you were not scared of questions. In your opinion, would Baker sign if offered a 4 year deal for $160 mil?
He may not be biased but I gave reasons based on logic, facts and reason to refute some of his comments in post 956
