The Cleveland Browns just wrapped up Deshaun Watson’s rough season debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and man, are the fans calling for a new QB1 already. Seriously, you hear it everywhere. But it’s not just the loyal Browns faithful fed up; ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown got in on the action with former New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan dropping an absolute bombshell: if he were the guy in charge, he wouldn’t just bench Watson, he’d have cut him outright in camp! Can you even believe that?
“No Way in Hell” Says Rex Ryan, But Did He Check the Books?
Ryan didn’t mince words ahead of the Browns and Jaguars game. He declared that if he were the coach, Watson wouldn’t have started, and he’d be off the team. The whole reason? Watson’s press conference where he aired his frustration about the Browns faithful booing him. Ryan stressed the fan base’s importance, saying, and I quote, “No way would I have started him. No way. In fact, I would have cut him. I mean, that press conference… There’s no more important thing than that fan base. No way in hell.” It sounds like strong, decisive talk, right? But here’s the kicker: this fiery declaration isn’t about Watson’s past off-field issues, or even his consistently uneven play on the field; it’s strictly because of a post-game presser. Wow.
The Cap Hit Nightmare Rex Ryan Conveniently Missed
Here’s the *real* problem with Ryan’s take: while it’s definitely spicy for television, it’s incredibly shortsighted and, honestly, financially suicidal. Cutting Watson in camp, around the time of that now-infamous press conference, would have cost the Browns over $40 million in a cap hit. Let that sink in. The Browns only have about $16.5 million in cap space right now. So, Ryan’s “solution” immediately plunges the team into a financial disaster with two absolutely terrible options. They’d either have to restructure contracts for some of their highest-paid players or outright cut them to absorb that $40 million penalty. That would mean saying goodbye to some really good players, gutting the roster, and causing a ton of fan frustration. Or, and this is the more likely scenario, they’d kick Watson’s already massive owed money, which is a staggering $136 million over the next four years counting against future caps, even further down the road. Adding another $40 million to that already insane bill? That’s a mess.
Drowning in Debt and Desperation for Cleveland’s Future
Seriously, adding another $40 million to future cap figures just for cutting a player because of a press conference? That’s what you call a fireable offense, hands down. The Browns desperately need every single bit of cap space they can get to turn around a franchise that’s been struggling for consistency since way back in 2002, when former team owner Al Lerner passed away. Ryan probably knows this deep down, and let’s be real, his dramatic statement was most likely just a hot take designed to drum up interest for his show and himself. A more practical approach, like simply burying Watson on the bench or sending him home, would have cost the Browns far less financially in the long run. But, hey, that wouldn’t make for great television drama, would it?
The long-term health of any team depends on smart financial decisions, and Rex Ryan’s idea would completely wreck the Browns’ cap figure for years to come. With this kind of financial pressure, the Browns are staring down an even steeper uphill battle for any kind of future consistency, no matter who’s eventually under center. It’s a rough road ahead for Cleveland.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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