Despite reports of “a lot of grumblings” amongst NFL owners in response to the Browns’ trade for Deshaun Watson and his subsequent extension, Cleveland owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam haven’t gotten the sense that that’s the case.
Asked by a group of reporters Tuesday about his run-ins with colleagues at the NFL’s annual owners meetings, Jimmy Haslam said they were “normal.”
Jimmy Haslam said the #Browns didn’t begin earnestly looking at acquiring Deshaun Watson until after the season (despite the 5 month odyssey of vetting)
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 25, 2022
“Yeah, I mean, really good,” Haslam exclaimed. “I saw Peter King’s story, and there may be people that don’t want to say something to your face, but we’ve had great interactions with the owners like we always do. So we’ve noticed no difference.”
In King’s “Football Morning In America” column, the longtime NFL writer said Haslam’s fellow owners thought trading six picks and giving a player “who may be found guilty of heinous offenses” $80 million more guaranteed dollars than any player in NFL history “stinks to high heaven.”
But, if the other owners have any disdain for the Haslam’s, they’ve certainly been hiding it well this week.
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti is already on-record that he didn’t like the move. Telling ESPN.com, “I don’t know that [Watson] should’ve been the first guy to get a fully guaranteed contract. To me, that’s something that’s groundbreaking, and it’ll make negotiations harder with others.’’
#Browns‘ Jimmy Haslam says he & Roger Goodell talked about Deshaun Watson: “I think you just need to need to let the process run its course & we’re comfortable that that’ll lead us to a good position & I think the league will feel the same way.” Updated https://t.co/ymooWNJw5C
— Nate Ulrich (@ByNateUlrich) March 29, 2022
Jimmy Haslam also said he spoke to commissioner Roger Goodell about Deshaun Watson. But admitted, “it’s probably appropriate that stays between [Goodell and I].”
Adding, they’ve had “good conversations.”
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