Deshaun Watson -- shown with lawyer Rusty Hardin -- was 'humble, sincere, and candid' in a meeting with the Browns discussing his past and future, they said. (Houston Chronicle)
Browns begin process of dousing the fire of controversial Deshaun Watson acquisition
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
In statements announcing the acquisition of Deshaun Watson, the Browns said they did “extensive” research over “several months” before trading for the quarterback being sued by 22 licensed massage therapists for allegations of sexual misconduct.
Almost immediately after the team’s statements, however, the lawyer for the 22 plaintiffs told news organizations that neither the Browns – nor any other NFL team – contacted him about the civil cases that are still proceeding.
“The Browns organization did not reach out to me,” lawyer Tony Buzbee said to John Barr of ESPN and other media outlets. “I didn’t expect them to do so, and can understand why they didn’t. But, knowing what I know, they probably should have.”
Despite the lawsuits and the likelihood of an NFL suspension in 2022, the Browns traded three No. 1 draft picks, plus two other picks, to the Houston Texans, and then awarded Watson with the largest fully guaranteed contract in NFL history -- $230 million over five years.
The contract contains a minimal salary in 2022 to minimize Watson’s financial loss if suspended for multiple games. It also reportedly is free of standard language that would require Watson to forfeit bonus money as a result of a suspension.
For these reasons, and the nature of the accusations, the Browns have been met with strong national and local outrage, muting celebration of the team's "all-in" acquisition for an elite quarterback on the field.
The Browns acknowledged the controversy and indicated they have a plan for Watson to regain the public’s trust and esteem as he takes over for soon-to-be-traded Baker Mayfield as face of the franchise.
The first step will be hearing from Watson at an eventual introductory news conference, which may be held later in the week. Watson was not quoted in the following statements released by the Browns on Sunday.
From owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam:
“We spent a tremendous amount of time exploring and investigating the opportunity to trade for Deshaun Watson. We are acutely aware and empathetic to the highly personal sentiments expressed about this decision. Our team’s comprehensive evaluation process was of utmost importance due to the sensitive nature of his situation and the complex factors involved.
“We also understand there are still some legal proceedings that are ongoing and we will respect due process. It was pivotal that we, along with Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski, meet with Deshaun to have a straightforward dialogue, discuss our priorities, and hear directly from him on how he wants to approach his career on and off the field. He was humble, sincere, and candid.
“In our conversations, Deshaun detailed his commitment to leading our team; he understands and embraces the hard work needed to build his name both in the community and on the field.
“Those in-depth conversations, the extensive evaluation process, his dedication to being a great teammate and devotion to helping others within the NFL, within the community, and through his charitable initiatives provided the foundation for us to pursue Deshaun. We are confident in Deshaun and excited about moving forward with him as our quarterback and supporting his genuine and determined efforts.”
From GM Andrew Berry:
“We look forward to having Deshaun as our starting quarterback. We have done extensive investigative, legal and reference work over the past several months to provide us with the appropriate information needed to make an informed decision about pursuing him and moving forward with him as our quarterback.
“Deshaun has been among the very best at the position and he understands the work needed to re-establish himself on and off the field in Cleveland. We are confident that he will make positive contributions to our team and community as we support his return to football.”
From coach Kevin Stefanski:
“Our organization did a tremendous amount of background on Deshaun. We understand the concerns and questions that exist but are confident in the extensive work Andrew and his staff have done to feel confident about him joining our organization.
“It was important for us to meet with Deshaun in person as part of our team’s evaluation process, we had a candid conversation regarding his approach to coming into our organization and community. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to coach Deshaun, he is ready to put in the hard work needed to help our team improve and make a positive impact in our community.”
A “sweepstakes” for Watson began after a Harris County (TX) grand jury last week did not indict him on criminal complaints brought by nine of his accusers.
The Browns joined the Panthers, Saints and Falcons in vying for Watson. The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback did not play last season after demanding a trade from the Texans. Watson controlled the process because he had to waive a no-trade clause to complete the deal.
The Browns were the first team eliminated by Watson. But Watson changed his mind after the Browns took the unprecedented step of guaranteeing the full five years of a new contract – something the other teams declined to do.
Watson has said in the past that he wants to clear his name and see the civil cases through jury trials. But that may change now that a trade has been completed.
Settlement of the cases could result in non-disclosure agreements ending further public discussion by the plaintiffs. But it probably also would result in an NFL suspension. Length of the suspension is difficult to project because there is no precedent for the volume of allegations.
The Browns expect a suspension. They upgraded their backup quarterback situation on Saturday by trading Case Keenum to Buffalo for a seventh-round pick and agreeing to terms with free agent Jacoby Brissett.
The Browns confirmed the Keenum trade on Sunday. They will confirm the Brissett acquisition when he signs a reported one-year contract.
