CLEVELAND — Deshaun Watson maintained his innocence and strongly denied committing any sexual misconduct despite allegations made by 22 women against the Cleveland Browns’ new starting quarterback.

Wearing a dark pinstriped suit and orange tie at his introductory news conference on Friday, Watson showed little emotion while saying he’s done nothing illegal.

“I’ve never assaulted or disrespected or harassed a woman in my life,” Watson said, flanked at the dais by Browns General Manager Andrew Berry and Coach Kevin Stefanski. “That’s not how I was raised. I’ve never done these things people are alleging.”

Berry defended the team’s controversial decision to trade for Watson, who has been accused by two dozen massage therapists of various sexual activity during private sessions. He has always claimed any sex was consensual.

“We as an organization know that this transaction has been very difficult for many people, particularly women in our community,” Berry said. “We realize that it has triggered a range of emotions. And that, as well as the nature of the allegations, weighed heavily on all of us.

“It was because of the weight of the anticipated reaction and the nature of the allegations that really pushed us to do as much work as possible internally and externally in terms of understanding the cases and who Deshaun was as a person. We do have faith and confidence in Deshaun as a person.”

Watson dismissed needing counseling because he feels he’s been falsely accused.

“I don’t have a problem,” he said. “I don’t have an issue.”

While Watson hasn’t been indicted by two grand juries in Texas on criminal charges, he’s still facing civil lawsuits. He has no intention of settling the lawsuits and that his only goal “is to clear my name.”

Berry described the Browns’ investigation as “a five-month odyssey” that resulted in the team feeling comfortable enough with Watson as a person to trade for him – and in extension make him the face of their franchise. The Browns lured Watson to Cleveland with a record-setting $230 million, fully guaranteed contract, which includes a $1 million base salary in the first season in the event he’s suspended by the NFL.

The league has an ongoing investigation into his behavior and whether he violated the personal conduct policy.

Watson said the Browns’ contract had nothing to do with him waiving his no-trade clause to come to Cleveland. The Browns traded three first-round draft picks and six picks overall to Houston for Watson.

On Thursday, a second grand jury in Texas decided not to indict Watson on one of the original criminal complaints of sexual misconduct. Watson being cleared by another grand jury had triggered his pursuit by the Browns and several other teams hoping to sign the three-time Pro Bowler.

ROB GRONKOWSKI still hasn’t decided whether to play again in 2022, his agent said Thursday.

“I talked to Tampa (Wednesday) and I told them that he’s still undecided,” Drew Rosenhaus told reporters Thursday at a news conference in Miami for new Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill.

It’s been assumed that Gronkowski would match whatever Tom Brady did regarding his NFL career. But when Brady ended his retirement after only 41 days, Gronkowski did not immediately follow suit.

Tampa Bay Coach Bruce Arians said at the NFL scouring combine earlier this month that Gronkowski had been working out two days a week at the team’s training facility, even before Brady reversed course. But Gronkowski had a much more difficult season than Brady a year ago. He fractured four ribs and missed five games, while playing in only six snaps in another one at New Orleans.

TITANS: Tennessee hired Chase Blackburn as an assistant special teams coach after he spent the past six seasons with Carolina.

The Titans announced the hiring along with two other promotions. Clint McMillan and Kylan Butler worked on the coaching staff for the 2021 season and now are full time. McMillan is a defensive line assistant, while Butler is an offensive assistant.

Blackburn, who spent the past four seasons as Carolina’s special teams coordinator, will work with Titans special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman.

BILLS: The team moved closer to landing $200 million in NFL funding to help finance their bid to build a new stadium, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.

The NFL’s stadium and finance committee backed the Bills’ request for what’s called a G4 loan, by recommending the team’s application be presented at the league’s owner meetings for final approval, the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the decision was made privately.

The committee’s approval was anticipated, and it will require 24 of the NFL’s 32 owners to formally OK the loan during a vote scheduled to take place on Monday.

Copy the Story Link

« Previous

U.S. Alpine Championships: Super-G championship races canceled due to weather

Next »

Sports Digest: Super-G races canceled at U.S. Alpine Championships