Watson signing looms over NFL league meetings

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in last night's opening remarks at the annual league meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., "celebrated the high the NFL is on -- great competition in 2021 (each of the last seven playoff games decided by six points or less), playing well through the pandemic, with strong points about gains in diversity, equity and inclusion." If observers were "looking for him to say something strong about teams falling all over themselves to trade" for QB Deshaun Watson, they were "disappointed." It went unmentioned as Goodell addressed 700 club owners, coaches and top employees.

Given Watson ending up at the Browns, Owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam were "not the most popular people at the league meetings on Sunday." There has been "grumbling from those who think a) trading six picks for a player who may be found guilty of heinous offenses or b) signing Watson to the richest guaranteed contract in league history and giving him an $80-million raise 'stinks to high heaven,' as one team exec said" (NBCSPORTS.com, 3/28).