The problem with the Hail Mary pass is that it's a low-percentage play. Born of desperation, it's something NFL teams try only when they have no other choice. It's breathtaking to watch and thrilling to attempt, but they do it with the full knowledge that it has little chance to succeed.
When Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam decided in March to throw a Hail Mary with his checkbook, however, he had a pretty good chance of connecting. That's because Haslam's heave was a five-year, $230 million contract offer to quarterback Deshaun Watson that was -- unlike nearly every other NFL contract -- fully guaranteed.