It has been a rocky offseason for the Browns, to say the least, and it will almost certainly continue to be rocky in at least some respects going forward.

But Monday’s decision by former federal judge Sue L. Robinson is unquestionably the brightest spot. That quarterback Deshaun Watson got a suspension of “only” six games is a huge, huge, HUGE win.

Yes, yes, yes, of course, the word is that the Browns, along with all of the other teams interested in trading with the Houston Texans for Watson several months ago, thought for a long time that the suspension would be six to eight games. So that hit their target spot-on.

That is all well and good, but the fact remains that until the judge rendered that decision – until something expected to happen, actually happens, no matter what it is – you just don’t know, right? With that in mind, then, the Browns let out a big sigh of relief in the offices and halls of team headquarters in Berea.

The Browns’ regular-season schedule is backloaded, meaning that the toughest parts of it come toward the middle and end and not at the beginning. As such, after hoping and praying and holding their breath with career backup Jacoby Brissett at quarterback to begin, the Browns can turn the reins of the offense – and the team overall – over to the much more capable hands of Watson at right about the time the quality of the competition gets ramped up.

From the Browns’ standpoint, in relative and realistic terms, things – the decision – could not have gone better.

But for those fans who are still very mad at the Browns for simply getting involved in the Watson derby, let alone winning it, the decision could not have gone worse.

Steve King