New Lawsuit Could Allow Browns to Terminate Deshaun Watson’s Contract Guarantees
The Cleveland Browns and their quarterback, Deshaun Watson, are making headlines once again, but this time for troubling reasons. Watson is now facing a new lawsuit, which could potentially give the Browns an opportunity to void the remaining terms of his contract.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has examined Watson’s contract and discovered a critical clause that may allow the Browns to eliminate the guarantees still left on Watson’s deal. According to Florio, this provision could give the team a legal path to terminate the contract, depending on whether Watson and his agent disclosed the lawsuit details when signing.
“Player hereby represents and warrants (except as otherwise disclosed to club in writing), as of the date hereof, that (1) Player has not been charged with, indicted for, convicted of or pled nolo contendre to any felony and/or misdemeanor involving fraud or moral turpitude, (ii) Player has not engaged in conduct which could subject him to a charge, indictment or conviction of any such offense, and (iii) no circumstances exist that would prevent Player’s continuing availability to the Club for duration of this Contract.”
As Florio explains, the situation hinges on whether Watson and his agent disclosed this lawsuit to the Browns at the time of signing his contract. If they failed to provide this information, the Browns could have a valid reason to terminate the remainder of Watson’s contract without facing any financial penalty.
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