Did Cleveland Browns make deal with the devil in trading for Deshaun Watson?

The Cleveland Browns made the big trade for Deshaun Watson but is the price of success worth it and has it divided a loyal fanbase?

Emotions are very high amongst Cleveland Browns fans right now. Their team made a huge trade for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. They then agreed to a new deal with him that’s worth a fully-guaranteed $230 million over a five-year time frame.

In exchange for Watson, the Browns gave away first-round picks over the next three seasons and a few second and third-round picks as well. All of this sounds very glamorous and Watson’s going to get paid.

However, the other part of this huge deal is that Watson found out recently he wouldn’t be indicted by a grand jury who had recently reviewed lawsuits filed by 22 women accusing the quarterback of harassment and sexual assault. With that decision, he was free to then be traded by the Texans. There are still civil suits against Watson waiting in the wings, so the issues and his past behaviors are still very much a part of this story.

The Browns front office brass however didn’t seem to be bothered by all of this as they tried heavily to recruit Watson this week and sell him on becoming a member of their team. In the end, the recruiting worked, and the team has a new starting quarterback. The Browns previous franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield, who was very upset with these moves by his employer this week and requested a trade earlier in the week will now be granted that request.

Where do Cleveland Browns go from here?

But where does all this put the Browns as a team and with its fans? The reaction to this mammoth deal seems to be very divided and emotional by the fanbase. Those that look at this deal as strictly a football decision to try and make the team better are missing how this type of move by the franchise — openly trying to seek a player with such a suspect background whether innocent or not — is a big deal.

The shock of the decision by this front office that has recently tried to pride itself on finding players of high character and demeanor is the other big part of this story. It’s what’s causing the high emotions and the divide, and it remains to be seen just how prepared the Browns are for such a reaction.

This isn’t the type of story either that is going to fade away. Cleveland is giving Watson $230 million in guaranteed money. Many questions await and many Browns fans, who are honestly wavering on their allegiance to their favorite team, expect to hear some answers. It’s the very least this organization owes its fans.

The price of stardom and success can be very high. Do you remember the old movie, “The Devil’s Advocate”, which starred Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves? Pacino plays the devil in human form and Reeves plays a hotshot lawyer looking to climb the latter of fame. Pacino’s character offers Reeves character a piece of success at the expense of his soul.

The Browns deal for Watson certainly has a lot of dollar signs attached to it. Is that price worth it? Has Cleveland gone down a road of no return? Is all of this worth it? In the pursuit of a Super Bowl, some may say yes, but to a large loyal fan base, who have prided themselves on being hard-working and dedicated, this all seems like a lot to be comfortable with.

In the end, the Browns got the quarterback that they were looking for to try and help their team get to the Super Bowl. Is the risk worth it? Only time will tell.