The Cleveland Browns made their trade for Deshaun Watson official, which was a momentous day for them. The Houston Texans will now receive a slew of draught picks, while Watson will remain with the Browns. This is a significant development for the franchise.
This decision is not without controversy, because Watson is still facing 22 sexual assault cases. Watson’s willingness to play this season is in doubt, and there’s a good chance he’ll be suspended by the league. The Browns chose to issue a statement following the announcement that Watson has officially joined the organization.
They are well aware of the situation, as you can see below, but they have apparently done their best to vet Watson. Finally, they decided he’s good enough to be their future quarterback. Dee and Jimmy Haslem finally release a lengthy statement on Watson.
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.
Watson faces total of 22 civil lawsuits and 10 criminal complaints by more than 20 women accusing him of forced sexual interaction, groping and much more. Watson’s legal difficulties are still unfolding, so stay tuned to Thirsty For News for more developments from the football world.
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