Dan Le Batard thinks the timing of Deshaun Watson's latest sexual assault lawsuit is a little too convenient for the Browns.
Details of another shocking lawsuit against the Browns quarterback emerged Monday after Watson successfully settled 23 of 24 civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault in 2022.
This came a day after Watson struggled in the Browns' 33-17 loss to the Cowboys.
The series of events led Le Batard to speculate that someone within the Cleveland Browns organization may have a shot at Watson.
“If you think the quarterback is good, the number of people defending this behavior, and strategically leaking information to make people suspect he's trying to get out of a contract … that's pretty egregious,” Le Batard said on “The Dan Le Batard Show with Staggots.”
“this [are] It’s so cold and awful that it almost feels like the Browns are trying to see if they can sneak out of there, even though they shouldn’t be able to.”
The Browns acquired Watson in a trade and signed him to a record-breaking five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract for 2022.
They are no doubt regretting it, as Watson has collapsed as a player and is nearly impossible to sack.
The Browns still have to pay him $92 million in guaranteed money, plus a $172.77 million dead-money cap charge.
Pro Football Talk, News of the lawsuit was first reported byreported on specific language in Watson's contract that would have put the remainder of his contract at risk if he had not disclosed this particular claim prior to signing.
“The full text of Section 42 is as follows,” website founder Mike Florio wrote: “The Player hereby represents and warrants (unless otherwise disclosed in writing to the Club) that as of the date of this Agreement, (1) the Player has not been charged with, indicted or convicted of, and has not pleaded not guilty to, any felony and/or misdemeanor, including fraud or moral turpitude, (ii) the Player has not engaged in any conduct that may result in the Player being charged with, indicted or convicted of any such offense, and (iii) no circumstances exist that would prevent the Player from continuing to participate in the Club during the term of this Agreement.”
If Watson does not disclose this new case in writing to the Browns before signing a new contract, the Browns could consider terminating his contract.
Of course, this is thinking several steps into the future, but Le Batard would like NFL fans to take a look at the reports that Cleveland media reporters have been reporting on this new incident “about how to get out of this deal.”
Watson has been one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL since the initial allegations came to light while he was with the Texans and he was traded to Cleveland.
Things got so bad in Week 1 that there were calls for backup Jameis Winston to be replaced after just one game.
Watson won a national championship while at Clemson and was expected to rocket to stardom as an MVP candidate in Houston.
