”I’ve been asked that a lot,” Watson told “Fox & Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade. “The reason why I took 84 … I’ve been an 82 since I left New England … And the reason why I took 84 back was because it was the number I was drafted in, the number I had when I was with the Patriots before, the number I felt like I would finish the circle in.

”But with that being said Mr. Kraft, the owner, owns all the numbers and I was told very early on in my career by a very wise veteran that we’re all renting those lockers and so it’s not my decision about the numbers. So we’ll see what happens with the numbers.”

Watson said he would “love to keep” the number but the decision to give it up wasn’t going to be his to make.

Doesn’t sound like someone that had a phone call with Brown and agreed on compensation...i think you’re purely speculating. It’s pretty clear from his own words he wants 84.