Deshaun Watson was expansive in talking about football in his first media appearance prior to his first game as Browns quarterback Sunday in Houston. (TheLandOnDemand)
Deshaun Watson avoids controversy and dwells on football in first media session since 11-game suspension
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns practice and interviews …
In his first media appearance since undergoing 11 weeks of behavioral therapy and counseling as conditions of his reinstatement, Deshaun Watson avoided any controversial remarks by declining to speak about the actions in 2020 and 2021 that resulted in two dozen civil lawsuits and an 11-game NFL suspension.
“I understand you guys have a lot of questions, but with my legal team and my clinical team, there is only football questions that I can really address at this time,” Watson said in his opening remarks.
After deflecting a few questions about the specifics of the suspension and his counseling, Watson was asked if there would be a time where he would “share his side of the story,” which he professed a desire to do at his introductory press conference upon joining the Browns in March.
“Who knows what the future holds, but right now, I am so locked in on just being the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns,” Watson replied.
On the matters of acclimating himself to his new team and Kevin Stefanski’s offense, Watson expressed appreciation for the support he’s received and excitement about the chance to finally resume his career. His first start for the Browns in Houston on Sunday comes 700 days since his last regular-season game as a member of the Texans.
Watson demanded to be traded about a month after the 2020 season because he didn't like the direction the franchise was taking under former team executive Jack Easterby. Easterby left the Texans in October.
Watson praised Jacoby Brissett, his replacement for 11 games, and thanked him for being “the big brother.”
“He has been awesome for me,” Watson said. “Our relationship has been great. The bond has been great. We are going to continue to grow from there and help win some more football games for the Cleveland Browns.”
Some key points from Watson’s 17 minutes in front of media:
* He is excited about – not dreading – returning to Houston for his first game with the Browns, even though some protesters are expected. About 10 of the women accusing Watson of sexual misconduct, and lawyer Tony Buzbee, will attend the game in a stadium suite.
Watson: “I am excited to just play football in general in front of Cleveland Browns fans but also in front of some of the Houston Texans fans. I respect the whole organization of the Houston Texans. I respect the McNair family [ownership]. I respect everyone that was there that drafted me in 2017. It has been great memories and fun memories. I still have a home in Houston. I still have friends and family still in Houston and relationships that are still there. Some of the players on the team who I played with or seen come up from maybe practice squad or from injuries. I am excited to get in front all of those fans. I have so much love for the City of Houston and H-Town, and everyone in that city pretty much knows that. I am excited to do that, but the most important thing is I am excited to be in front of the Cleveland Browns fans for sure.”
* He is not overly concerned about about the rust accumulated from almost two years without playing in a live regular-season game.
“This is my first time having time off. My biggest focus is just going out there, and just really whatever Kevin calls, make sure I am executing, taking it one play at a time, and let the game come to me, not press or anything like that. Two years is definitely a long time, but at the same time, I have been doing this since I was six years old. Just like riding a bike, I am going to go out there, just find the pedals, get my transition going and then let everything come to me, don’t press it and don’t make anything bigger than what it really is.”
* He does not feel the need to be the dominant player to take the offense to a higher level.
“I just really try to make as many plays as I can. If that is with my feet or with my arm or if that is handing the ball off to No. 24 or No. 27, or whatever I need to do to try to make this offense continue to do what they are doing. Like I said before, Jacoby, I think our offense is in the top five in pretty much every category. I have to hold up to that standard and do everything that I can, don’t try to do anything special and just try to let the game come to me and execute whatever needs to be for the quarterback.”
* He thinks he’ll be a great fit in the Stefanski offense.
“Yeah, the biggest thing is it is definitely a quarterback-driven system, and we have guys around the quarterback who can make plays. You don’t have to do anything special. Just follow the rules that he wants you to follow, get the ball in the playmakers’ hands and let them do work. The O-line has been doing a heck of a job of supporting and protecting the quarterback as much as possible and opening up the run game for Nick Chubb. He is third in the league for rushing, and for a while, he was No. 1. It is a great system to be in, I am happy to be in it and I am just going to continue each and every day to learn as much as I can and continue to grow, not just for this system but as a quarterback and as a leader.”
* He does not feel additional "responsibility" to right the ship of a turbulent 4-7 Browns season and make a run at the playoffs.
“I think my biggest responsibility – like I said before is and just keep reiterating – is just doing what the scheme allows me to do, and that is executing the gameplan, getting the ball to the playmakers’ hands and just try to win and try to put up points, more points than the other opponent. We can’t focus on the next game, we can’t focus on two games or three games down the road. We have to worry about being 1-0 this week and focus on that.”
The York Files
Rookie kicker Cade York’s wild miss of a 39-yard field goal on Sunday was his sixth miss, or block, of a field goal and PAT in FirstEnergy Stadium. Here’s the breakdown at home on the road:
Home: 7 of 11 field goals (one blocked), 14 of 16 PAT.
Road: 10 of 12 field goals (two blocked), 10 of 10 PAT.
Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer blamed all the blocks on low trajectory and not protection breakdowns, and he exonerated holder Corey Bojorquez of any problems with holds. Nevertheless, Priefer’s faith and confidence in York remain high.
“I think Cade’s extremely talented,” Priefer said. “I believe in Cade. I believe we made the right decision in drafting him. I believe we made the right decision in staying with him. I think he’s a very talented young man who’s only going to get better. The sky’s the limit.”
Brownie bits
After tight end David Njoku made that spectacular catch in the end zone to set up overtime against the Buccaneers, he handed the ball to receiver Amari Cooper and told him to spike the ball. “I said, ‘Why you handing it to me?’” Cooper said. “I was kind of confused. I don’t think I’ve ever spiked the ball. First time. I really didn’t know what to do with it.” So, did it change his mind about spiking it after his own touchdown? “Probably won’t do it again,” cooper said …
Hjalte Froholdt’s first career NFL start against the Bucs’ huge nose tackle Vita Vea was deemed a success and was seen as a confidence-builder. “He did good,” said guard Joel Bitonio. “He didn’t even get a week of practice [because of illness for two days]. For him to play well was pretty impressive. It’s something we can definitely build on.” …
When Kevin Stefanski first met Watson in the Browns’ recruiting visit in Houston in March, Watson reportedly asked the coach what he needed to work on in preparation for his offensive system and Stefanski said to improve his sell of the play-fake. Watson didn’t do much of that in the four seasons in the Houston offense. Here’s an update on that part of Watson’s game from offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt: “That’s how we roll. That’s our offense -- play-action, keepers off the run game. He bought in soon as he started practicing with us. It’s like anything, if you emphasize it, you get results. We obviously emphasize it here. He can be as good as anybody at it.”
