From observer’s Willis & Alexander why Panthers declined Watson contract demand

[raleigh-panther]

Bottom line Tepper would not guarantee years 3 and 4 of Watson’s contract.  Browns did 

 

Panthers wouldn’t give Deshaun Watson the contract he wanted. Let’s explore why not

 

BY ELLIS L. WILLIAMS AND JONATHAN M. ALEXANDER

[email protected]
[email protected]

4 hours ago

As negotiations for the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes came to the bitter end, his team called the Panthers with a request on Thursday. 

They asked Carolina if it could guarantee him money on the third and fourth year on his four-year, $156 million deal as part of what would’ve been a blockbuster trade agreement. Those years are not guaranteed as it’s structured now, and the team could move on without much penalty. 

Representatives for the Panthers declined the unprecedented proposal. Later that night, around 9:10 p.m., they called back. Watson informed the team that he would not waive his no-trade clause for them.
 

It was the final straw in an all-out blitz the Panthers made for the 26-year-old quarterback this month. But in a stunning turn of events, Watson decided to waive his no-trade clause for the Cleveland Browns, who were earlier told they were no longer under consternation. Watson changed his mind when Cleveland agreed to give him a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract, the highest guarantee in NFL history.

While Watson was enamored by Carolina’s skill position players — Christian McCaffrey, DJ Moore and Robby Anderson —he preferred the Saints and Falcons, a league source said, and for different reasons. Atlanta was a late addition to the sweepstakes. When they emerged, they became an ideal landing spot. Watson likes the idea of playing for Atlanta because its close to his hometown of Gainesville, Georgia, which is an hour away.

As for New Orleans, the feeling was that the Saints nearly made the playoffs last season and featured a more Super Bowl-caliber roster. The Panthers did not. 

According to Football Outsiders DOVA metric, New Orleans’s defense finished second in efficiency last season. The Panthers ranked 15th. The Saints also feature the NFL’s seventh-best pass-blocking offensive line, according to ESPN’s pass-block win rate metric.

Then why did Carolina back away from perhaps its strongest bargaining chip? No one will say. But the answer likely lies in why Watson and Texans were at this point in the first place, one year after he initially made his request to be traded.

Watson is still facing 22 civil lawsuits from different massage therapists alleging sexual assault and sexual misconduct. The Panthers felt comfortable enough with his current contract after conducting their own research.

The civil lawsuits could take a year or more to resolve, unless he were to settle them out of court. And the NFL is known for taking a while in its investigations. 

But guaranteeing him two more years before the NFL, which is conducting its own investigation and could suspend him, could be an enormous risk. Let alone the trouble they’d be in if another woman were to accuse him. 

Watson has asserted his innocence from the beginning. His attorney, Rusty Hardin, told The Observer in an interview that, “He’s a really, really neat human being. And he probably showed bad judgment, maybe by getting involved with all these women, but he didn’t do anything wrong.”

It’s also reasonable to ask ‘if the Panthers were comfortable with the first two years, the why not the last two?’ Perhaps risk on his last two could be too great.

Now Carolina will move on and search for another quarterback. They’ll spend the $5 million they saved on Robby Anderson’s restructured contract, as well as the other players they restructured, and spend it elsewhere, without the risk.

 

 

[Fan01]

I don't believe this for a second.

[pantherclaw]

Watching all of this unfold was been a comedy for ages, especially here on the huddle. 

[MHS831]

at this point, both the truth or fantasy version of this are bs.

Edited March 18, 2022 by MHS831

[WarPanthers89]

Now that he is officially on another team I will say it: FUG WATSON. I hope he fails and fails hard. 
 

I am exited for the future of our team especially now that we are shoring up the o line. We have a young talented defense who should continue to grow, amazing skill players, finally a half way decent line on paper, all we need now is a QB….one who is not drama

[Toker Smurf]

6 minutes ago, Fan01 said:

I don't believe this for a second.

I don't know. Tepper has gotten to where he is by assessing the risk of where he puts his money.

[onmyown]

if 2022 is a wash due to suspension and you’re already ‘all in’ with draft picks, what exactly the harm? Afraid after almost two seasons of sitting he’ll suck? A hypothetical new victim coming forward? Afraid Watson will say f this two years in? Where is the issue here? I am not following.

Edited March 18, 2022 by onmyown

[Panthers Rhule]

8 minutes ago, Fan01 said:

I don't believe this for a second.

Why? It's obvious we said no because he's in Cleveland now. Really?

[Basbear]

It's what i thought as well as posting it a few times. 230 is insane to give any player in guarantees, faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar be it if the player has court issues with 20+ and more to come after hearing the news. 2 ACLs....the one and only Thomas Davis is the only player to come back form 3....

enjoy the weather Watson...... hope your joints hold up....  

Edited March 18, 2022 by Basbear

[uncfan888]

They must've realized the saints and falcons couldn't do that and asked us if we could. Once we declined, they called Cleveland and gave them the chance 

[WUnderhill]

 Watson seems like an extremely low character egotistical douche. I’m disappointed it took so long and so many ridiculous demands for the Panthers to grow a backbone and stop letting themselves get played.

[top dawg]

7 minutes ago, WarPanthers89 said:

Now that he is officially on another team I will say it: FUG WATSON. I hope he fails and fails hard. 
 

I am exited for the future of our team especially now that we are shoring up the o line. We have a young talented defense who should continue to grow, amazing skill players, finally a half way decent line on paper, all we need now is a QB….one who is not drama

I already said, "fug him!" I can't wish him to fail though, but I suspect that he's not worth what the Browns paid him. I was real iffy on the draft compensation from the get go. I realize he's a good player, but I'm kinda relieved that we chose to be more conservative. We'll have our ones for the next three years, have already made some good moves, and will ultimately get someone at QB--someday--without all the baggage. I'm at peace with our FO not taking it that far.

[PanthersGOATFan336]

All the butthurt comments

[WarPanthers89]

3 minutes ago, top dawg said:

I already said, "fug him!" I can't wish him to fail though, but I suspect that he's not worth what the Browns paid him. I was real iffy on the draft compensation from the get go. I realize he's a good player, but I'm kinda relieved that we chose to be more conservative. We'll have our ones for the next three years, have already made some good moves, and will ultimately get someone at QB--someday--without all the baggage. I'm at peace with our FO not taking it that far.

I definitely wanted Watson while we were waiting on a decision. I’m just a sore loser and hope any player fails if they are not on our team (not safety wise, just performance wise)