For Browns, Deshaun Watson Is a $230 Million Question Mark

Towards the top of the introductory information convention in March for his crew’s new quarterback, the Cleveland Browns’ common supervisor, Andrew Berry, sat close to a microphone together with his arms crossed and publicly supported Deshaun Watson with rigorously chosen phrases and with out fully defending him.

The Browns had simply traded three first-round draft picks and two different picks to the Houston Texans for Watson, betting the crew’s speedy future on the quarterback. That they had signed him to a completely assured five-year, $230 million contract, the biggest of its type in N.F.L. historical past, although greater than 22 girls have been suing him, alleging sexual harassment or assault.

When requested if he thought Watson did something improper, Berry stated, “We really feel very assured in Deshaun the individual, and now we have a whole lot of religion in him.”

That religion is being examined because the Browns take into account new revelations from accusers and new questions from followers about Watson’s conduct.

Two extra girls have sued Watson within the final week, bringing to 24 the variety of plaintiffs who say he turned massages sexual with out their consent, together with purposely touching them together with his penis and coercing sexual acts. Watson and his lawyer, Rusty Hardin, have been adamant that he did nothing improper.

Including to the public-relations disaster, Hardin stated in a radio interview final week that “joyful endings” have been frequent on the finish of massages, seemingly minimizing this apply regardless of his insistence that Watson by no means had sexual contact with a girl throughout a therapeutic massage — solely afterward, based on Hardin, and on the girls’s suggestion on all three events.

And on Tuesday, The New York Instances reported that Watson had met with not less than 66 girls for massages inside a 17-month span, generally utilizing lodge rooms and a nondisclosure settlement offered by his former crew.

How have the Browns and Watson responded?

The Browns have declined to remark publicly on Watson’s standing with the crew. The N.F.L. is investigating whether or not he violated its private conduct coverage, and Coach Kevin Stefanski stated on Wednesday that he wouldn’t remark whereas the investigation was persevering with.

“I’m going to be respectful of the investigation, of the authorized proceedings and let that play out,” Stefanski stated.

Watson was current at Wednesday’s low season exercise, finishing passes to teammates in an orange jersey and shorts, however was not made obtainable to the information media. That day, he set his Twitter account to non-public, limiting his posts to his 1.4 million followers.

What motion may the Browns take subsequent?

The Browns’ choices seem like restricted in the event that they wish to get out of their take care of Watson.

An individual with direct data of the deal stated the contract had protecting wording, just like that in different gamers’ contracts, that allowed the franchise to void facets of it for detrimental conduct that the crew was unaware of when the settlement was signed. The individual, who requested anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to talk publicly on the matter, stated the Browns have been unlikely to take motion except Watson was charged criminally.

Watson, 26, requested a commerce from the Texans after the 2020 season, months after signing a four-year contract extension in Houston value almost $111 million assured. Shortly thereafter, the primary allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced. He was on the Texans roster in 2021 however didn’t play a snap.

Berry stated in March that the Browns determined to pursue Watson after third-party counsel accomplished an unbiased investigation that included interviewing references and legislation enforcement officers. When a Harris County, Texas, grand jury declined to cost Watson in reference to 9 felony complaints, the Browns, the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints entered the bidding for him. Cleveland introduced the Watson commerce quickly after.

Nevertheless it wasn’t till after Watson was signed {that a} second grand jury, in Brazoria County, Texas, declined to press prices in opposition to him. The Browns haven’t defined why they signed him when there was nonetheless a chance he can be charged criminally.

The influence of the brand new lawsuits on Watson’s standing with the crew can also be unknown. Hardin stated that his authorized crew had by no means heard of the twenty fourth plaintiff till Monday, and it’s unclear whether or not Watson disclosed the potential of recent authorized actions to the Browns earlier than signing.

If the Browns sought to commerce Watson, he would wish to waive the no-trade clause in his contract and log out on his new vacation spot, as he did when he left Houston. Regardless, a deal can be tough to rearrange, as many groups can be hesitant to tackle his wage, and the vast majority of golf equipment have solidified their quarterback rooms within the draft and free company.

Releasing Watson outright with no vital return would appear unlikely due to the lengths Cleveland went to amass him and since the Browns haven’t any long-term succession plan.

The crew excused its former starter, Baker Mayfield, from its low season program because the entrance workplace seeks to commerce him, and the present backup, the journeyman Jacoby Brissett, will not be seen as a multiyear starter. The Browns’ finest path ahead, stated Invoice Polian, the previous common supervisor of the Buffalo Payments and Indianapolis Colts who was inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2015, is to attend for the N.F.L.’s last choice.

“They don’t have a alternative,” Polian stated. “The information are what they’re.”

At an N.F.L. assembly in Atlanta in Could, Commissioner Roger Goodell stated that the league’s private conduct investigation was “nearing the top” and that the method would quickly be handed over to a disciplinary officer. The N.F.L. could self-discipline Watson whatever the consequence of the lawsuits in opposition to him if it feels he violated the league’s private conduct coverage.

How have Browns followers responded?

Browns followers, denied the satisfaction of a championship since 1964, are displeased, if not near mutiny.

“It’s simply sickening,” stated Robyn Lockner, 51, a lifelong Browns fan.

Lockner, who runs the Cleveland Browns Girls’s Group on Fb, stated the allegations in opposition to Watson made being a Browns fan that a lot tougher. “You’re smacking your feminine fan base within the face; that’s type of what it felt like,” she stated.

Cleveland’s public-relations headache intensified on Tuesday when the crew — apparently coincidentally — invited followers on Twitter to take part in a question-and-answer session simply minutes after The Instances revealed its investigation. “We’re taking your #BrownsMailbag questions,” the invitation stated.

After followers savaged the crew within the replies, the Browns deleted the publish.

For Lockner and lots of different followers, the Watson allegations are one other chapter in an extended historical past of anguish. Lockner described herself as “the most important feminine fan on the market”: She has a bus for tailgating, season tickets, Browns-themed dwelling and eating rooms and a canine named Cleveland. Her whole flower backyard is orange and brown.

“We’re not Browns followers for a sure participant. We assist the entire crew and group,” she stated. “This signing made lots of people query that. It’s very tough as a girl to like and assist the crew you grew up with, that’s been a household custom your complete life, when it simply feels such as you’re not being revered or taken critically by the group in any respect.”

Annastasia Meadors, a moderator of the Fb group and Browns fan for 22 years, stated in an interview, “Who needs a supposed sexual predator as a soccer quarterback star for his or her crew? It doesn’t make any sense.”

“We’re the laughingstock of the N.F.L.,” Meadors added.

Lockner stated Watson may have delivered a visit to the Tremendous Bowl for the Browns however hopes the crew can discover a manner out of his contract.

“I like the crew,” she stated. “I can’t say I’m not going to assist the Browns, that I’m not going to be a fan anymore, as a result of one participant doesn’t make the crew. We now have a ton of expertise on this crew. We’re going to get there. It’s only a disgrace we bought our soul to Deshaun Watson.”