Browns sign Ben Watson - 3 years, $12M ($6.35M GTD)

[102 Pat]

Adam Schefter reported it on his twitter a few minutes ago:

Adam_Schefter

Cleveland scores: TE Ben Watson signed a three-year, $12 million deal with the Browns that includes $6.35 million guaranteed.

5 minutes ago via UberTwitter

Interesting he would sgn with a team who has no starting QB at the moment.

 

[muzz]

Re: Ben Watson To The Browns

Why, do you think he really cares about winning?

"str8cashhomey"

GL Ben, hope ya enjoy the extra time off every year.

 

[AGHPatsfan]

Re: Ben Watson To The Browns

Thank you Browns, watson was an endlessly frustrating player.

 

[Triumph]

Re: Ben Watson To The Browns

They are supposed to be running the West Coast Offense. Is that an offense that uses its TE much as a passing option?

Just askin

 

[alvinnf]

Re: Ben Watson To The Browns

He played under a 6 year rookie deal. Nice to see he made some cash. I hope he enjoys the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Adios!

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Re: Ben Watson To The Browns

He played under a 6 year rookie deal. Nice to see he made some cash. I hope he enjoys the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Adios!

Not that those 6 years didn't net him more cash in that brief career than 99% of posters will make in 45 years of working.

Glad to see this really decent guy get a good deal, seeing that the Pats didn't see his future value.

 

[shmessy]

Re: Ben Watson To The Browns

Not that those 6 years didn't net him more cash in that brief career than 99% of posters will make in 45 years of working.

Glad to see this really decent guy get a good deal, seeing that the Pats didn't see his future value.

Amen. This is a classy human being who worked very hard and always put in 100% effort. He was simply a square peg in a round hole in the NE system.

The guy actually fired his agent in order to agree to NE's hardline 6 year rookie contract (something that is no longer allowed to be done by the league). He never complained in his 6 years about anything in NE and was an active member of the community.

Good luck, Ben and best wishes to you and your family for the future.

 

[cupofjoe1962]

Re: Ben Watson To The Browns

Watson should bring us a 6th (possibly 5th) round comp pick in 2011.
We should get a 5th (possibly 4th) for losing Jarvis Green.

 

[satz]

Re: Ben Watson To The Browns

cheap money to improve the crappy TE position for brown.

watson is going to be good if they actually run 5-6 plays for him every game unlike us where we run 5-6 plays every 6 games.

 

[Clonamery]

Re: Ben Watson To The Browns

Amen. This is a classy human being who worked very hard and always put in 100% effort. He was simply a square peg in a round hole in the NE system.

The guy actually fired his agent in order to agree to NE's hardline 6 year rookie contract (something that is no longer allowed to be done by the league). He never complained in his 6 years about anything in NE and was an active member of the community.

Good luck, Ben and best wishes to you and your family for the future.

Well said, shmessy.

 

[RayClay]

Re: Ben Watson To The Browns

Sounds like they could have kept him if they wanted, but it's a decent contract. I have nothing against the guy, but frustrating was a good word. He used outstanding physical and intellectual abilities to be about an average tight end.

Got open very well, no YAC and didn't fight for the ball. TE is not a finesse position.

The epitomy of the phrase "not the size of the dog in the fight, but the fight in the dog" with junkyard dog Ben Coates as a comparison. Good luck. Honorable guy.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Re: Ben Watson To The Browns

Watson should bring us a 6th (possibly 5th) round comp pick in 2011.
We should get a 5th (possibly 4th) for losing Jarvis Green.

So BB is now up to 10 picks for the 2011 draft? Nice!

 

[patsinthesnow]

Re: Ben Watson To The Browns

Well he's gone,so raise the question, is watson the first 1st rd bust of the BB era? He's VERY close to a bust , but it's debateable.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Ben Watson To The Browns

Well he's gone,so raise the question, is watson the first 1st rd bust of the BB era? He's VERY close to a bust , but it's debateable.

He's a disappointment, like Maroney, but not close to a bust. You need to look at half the #1s being out of the NFL by Watson's age as busts.

As for him leaving, personally I would have liked to keep him but it appeared that Belichick had zero interest. Which says something although Holmgren's offense is more TE friendly - that said, Watson is looking at the likes of Seneca Wallace throwing to him now

 

[WelshPat]

Re: Ben Watson To The Browns

Well he's gone,so raise the question, is watson the first 1st rd bust of the BB era? He's VERY close to a bust , but it's debateable.

For me i would use the word disappointment not bust. There's different levels of bust. You get the Ryan Leaf, Tony Mandirich type bust. Then you get the don't live up to the hype but are still useful IE Reggie Bush. For a late first round pick i don't think he was that bad.

Hey, everyone including me raves about how the good the Colts are at drafting. Anthony Gonzalez was taken around the same spot. Check his stats out, not that good.

 

[mojocaster.com]

Re: Ben Watson To The Browns

He played under a 6 year rookie deal. Nice to see he made some cash. I hope he enjoys the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Adios!

Could not agree more.

Fascinating that the play I remember him for is the one when he ran after Bailey and stripped him of the ball right before the end zone...

 

[tanked_as_usual]

Re: Ben Watson To The Browns

Amen. This is a classy human being who worked very hard and always put in 100% effort. He was simply a square peg in a round hole in the NE system.

The guy actually fired his agent in order to agree to NE's hardline 6 year rookie contract (something that is no longer allowed to be done by the league). He never complained in his 6 years about anything in NE and was an active member of the community.

Good luck, Ben and best wishes to you and your family for the future.

X2

laughing at those who hate someone who never did anything wrong and was a great teammate

 

[IcyPatriot]

Re: Ben Watson To The Browns

Amen. This is a classy human being who worked very hard and always put in 100% effort. He was simply a square peg in a round hole in the NE system.

The guy actually fired his agent in order to agree to NE's hardline 6 year rookie contract (something that is no longer allowed to be done by the league). He never complained in his 6 years about anything in NE and was an active member of the community.

Good luck, Ben and best wishes to you and your family for the future.

Yes .......................... :yeahthat:
Good luck Ben

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Re: Ben Watson To The Browns

Well he's gone,so raise the question, is watson the first 1st rd bust of the BB era? He's VERY close to a bust , but it's debateable.

How can a guy be a bust when he actually plays for 6 years for you and then gets a decent sized contract to start for another team?

Was he a good LATE 1st round pick? No. But not a bust in any way.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Ben Watson To The Browns

When Bill drafted Graham and Watson TE was emerging as the next hot weapon and Bill wanted at least one. Graham was injury prone so he targeted Watson who was ultra athletic. He was also bright, but he just didn't have tremendous football instincts and he never developed them. If they do locate a functional QB he may do better statistically in a simpler system where he doesn't have to think about a multitude of variables.

His best play ever here was predicated on speed and athleticism, unfortunately it was also only necessary because he missed his block and that led to Brady being chased out of the pocket and ultimately throwing a pick...

That he didn't even get a sniff from any of Bill's protogees speaks volumes. And Eric doesn't count since he is out of the offensive loop in Cleveland and likely out of a job once Holmgren gets through his re-tooling season. Good kid, hard worker, just couldn't consistently master all that the position entailed in a complex, sight adjusted offense.