Amid a 24th civil suit filed by a new accuser on Monday, Browns quarterback Deshawn Watson participated in the Cleveland Browns Foundation Golf Outing Monday at Westwood Country Club. (TheLandOnDemand)
Deshaun Watson’s 24th accuser is news to his defense team
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
The 24th lawsuit against Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was a surprise to his lawyer Rusty Hardin.
Originally, there were 24 complaints against Watson. Twenty-two filed lawsuits, and the 23rd fell into line last week. But No. 24 was a new accuser.
Hardin issued the following statement: “We are unable to respond to the new lawsuit at this time. Our legal team has not had time to investigate this new filing and had not heard her name until today. Deshaun continues to deny he did anything inappropriate with any of the plaintiffs.”
The Browns said they did five months research on Watson, starting in November, using independent investigators and Houston law-enforcement agencies to help vet their “comfort level” with Watson. So it’s unclear if the Browns were taken by surprise by this latest accuser.
“I think with that, we’re trying to just be respectful of the process and let it play out,” coach Kevin Stefanski said at the Cleveland Browns Foundation Golf Event at Westwood Country Club on Monday.
The latest lawsuit contains more unsavory, graphic allegations against Watson. It also includes this new nugget: “Defendant Deshaun Watson has a disturbing pattern of conduct. Each of the cases against him is strikingly similar, evidencing a habit or custom: Watson seeks out random strangers on Instagram, as he has done more than a hundred times.”
More than a hundred times?
Thanks for asking
The Watson events take top billing, but the Browns’ drama double-feature includes the Baker Mayfield dilemma.
Will he be excused from mandatory minicamp next week? Will he show up to force the Browns to make a move? Are the Browns communicating with him?
The Browns refuse to comment on anything to do with Mayfield. Which, in itself, suggests the detonated relationship with Mayfield remains a problem in resolving his future.
“I’m not going to get into that,” Stefanski said.
Pressed on whether the club expects Mayfield at the June 14-16 minicamp or will it excuse him, Stefanski said, “I think with all of that, this whole offseason we’ve been pretty consistent that we’ll take it day by day. So if there’s something to update, we will.”
Thanks, coach.
Minicamp with a twist
Stefanski will hold his mandatory minicamp across three venues.
June 14 practice will be at team headquarters in Berea.
June 15 practice will be at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.
June 16 practice will be at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Minicamp practices are not open to the public.
Stefanski said he wanted his players to visit the Hall of Fame, so he decided to hold practice there as well, probably in Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (aka Fawcett Stadium).
“I think it’s so vitally important we understand what’s come before us – the players, the coaches, the teams. We’re so fortunate to have the Hall of Fame down the road,” he said.
As for concluding the final practice before summer recess at FirstEnergy Stadium, Stefanski said, “I just want to get down there with this team. Get our young kicker working at the stadium. I just think it’s a good spot to end camp, also from a communications standpoint with all coaches, really put ourselves through some situational football.”
Prior to next week’s minicamp, the Browns have three more OTA practices this week. Wednesday’s will be open to media.
Stay tuned
One of the more intriguing positions to watch in training camp will be running back. The revamped $2.433 million one-year contract for D’Ernest Johnson includes $900,000 guaranteed.
So the Browns go into training camp with:
Nick Chubb as RB1.
Kareem Hunt as RB2.
D’Ernest Johnson as RB3.
Rookie fifth-round pick Jerome Ford as RB4.
Second-year Demetric Felton as RB5.
And yet they’re paying Watson more than $46 million in 2022 – ostensibly not to hand off more than 50 percent of the time.
“I think those type of things are really good problems to have,” Stefanski said of the glut at running back. “We want good players. We have a bunch of good players at one position. That’s OK. No. 1, it builds depth. But it promotes competition. I just think it’s our job to utilize our guys as we see fit.”
My take: Ford will be a player to watch in preseason. If he has a great camp and shows a grasp of pass concepts early on, Hunt could be deemed expendable – if a team comes calling with a legitimate trade offer. If Ford falters some, Johnson would be the first back expendable.
But the Browns love Johnson because he’ll do anything on special teams and looms as the backup returner behind Jakeem Grant. Hunt doesn’t play special teams, but he’s one of the best receiving backs in the NFL.
I think it all depends on what the running back market is like in August or September.
Bottom line: All five backs can’t make the final roster.
One more bonding session to come
The Myles Garrett bonding experience with defensive teammates in South Beach, FL, apparently came off without incident. All were present and accounted for at the team’s OTA practice on Monday.
However, cornerback Greg Newsome disclosed that no DBs attended the South Beach experience hosted by Garrett.
“There was a big miscommunication. I think the DBs were planning to do something of our own [anyway],” Newsome said.
Cornerback Denzel Ward, fresh off a $100.5 million contract extension, is expected to organize a DB getaway prior to training camp.
Watson took offensive players to the Bahamas. Garrett took D-linemen and linebackers to South Beach. So what location is in the offing for the DBs?
“I’ve been everywhere,” Newsome said. “If I had to choose, I’d choose Dubai, or something. But we’re not going to Dubai. We’ll probably do something like Miami.”
