BEREA, Ohio — In Deshaun WatsonThe interview was his first in almost four months. Cleveland Browns QB refused to answer any questions that were not related to football.
Watson said that Watson acknowledged that Watson had many questions. “But I have my legal team and my clinic team so there aren’t any football questions I can answer at this point.”
Watson was just suspended for 11 games after he committed sexual assault on massage therapists, in violation of the league’s personal behavior policy.
More than two dozen women have accused him of sexual assault during massage sessions.
Two civil lawsuits are still pending, one of them filed on Oct. 13. Watson settled 23 other civil lawsuits filed against him earlier in the year.
Watson was also required to pay a $5million fine as part of the settlement between the NFLPA and NFL.
When asked why he agreed for the 11-game suspension, he replied that he was simply trying to do as much football in 2022 as possible. “Most settlement stuff with NFL was mostly my legal and agency. I had no control. My main goal was to accomplish all I needed to play this season.
Two Texas grand juries rejected to file criminal charges against Watson earlier in the year.
Watson denied that he had committed any wrongdoing in his August interview and stated that people haven’t been interested to hear his side of the story. Watson answered Thursday’s question about whether he is still interested in sharing his story.
Watson declined to share any information he had learned from the league’s mandated counseling.
He said, “That’s more during that phase of clinical or legal stuff.” “I have been told to keep that private and stay clear of that. … Focusing on football is what I am doing. My main focus is on football. I’m preparing to become the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback so that I can execute the game plan and try to win this Sunday.
Watson’s return to his former team, Houston TexansHe will be celebrating 700 days since he last played in a regular season game (with the Texans Jan. 3, 2021).
In March, the Browns traded Watson to them. The Texans received three draft picks in the first round. Watson was then signed to a five-year contract by Cleveland, worth $230million guaranteed. This is the most lucrative NFL contract.
Tony Buzbee of Houston, who represented 25 women who brought civil suits against Watson, stated earlier this week that about 10 of his clients planned to attend Sunday’s match with him.
Buzbee stated that “they thought it important that they make clear that there are still here” and that they matter.
Watson stated that he is not concerned about Houston’s atmosphere.
He said that he was focusing only on being the starting quarterback and executing his game plan. “That’s my main concern.”