No matter the final score, triumph or tragedy is something the quarterback must carry — despite how they played. And since that’s the way things work, Cleveland Browns third-string quarterback PJ Walker gets the praise for the team’s surprising win over the NFL’s best team, the San Francisco 49ers. But the game wasn’t just an example of how any team can lose on any given Sunday, it was proof that the Browns decision to give Deshaun Watson a guaranteed $230 million contract is one of the most head-scratching deals in sports history.
Crazy things happen in football weekly because football is a crazy sport. However, the difference between the amount of money Walker and Watson make may be the craziest thing about what happened between the 49ers and the Browns.
According to Spotrac, Walker is making $289,800 this season in Cleveland — as he was just on the practice squad a few days ago. And while comparison is the thief of joy, in this situation, it’s also a great example of how a capitalistic society works. To most Americans, Walker has a great salary. But when you compare it to Watson’s it makes Walker look broke.
Due to the Browns restructuring Watson’s deal earlier this year — as it freed up almost $36 million in cap space for this season — he’s on pace to take home almost $19 more than Walker. Check this out from Spotrac:
Yes, the Browns are on the hook to pay Watson more than $60 million in 2024, 20025 and 2026 when we don’t know if he’ll be back to himself after this shoulder injury, on top of the fact that he hasn’t been “back to himself” since he’s worn a Browns jersey.
(Expensive) buyer’s remorse is so real.
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