It was the largest guaranteed contract at the time and the other owners knew they would be pressured to provide similar contracts. Watson’s was $230 million guaranteed. At the time the next largest was $150.3 million to Rodgers.
Sure. But it was the Browns. So nobody really cared. When a fairly competent franchise give a player a lot of money it resets the contract ladder. But the Browns do it, other teams tell players they want that kind of money “well you should play for a stupid team, like the Browns”. Nobody got made at them. Honestly they were probably more upset about the money to Rodgers, who was already showing signs of being washed up, and Green Bay is normally a competent organization.