24 July 2023 , 14:52
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Deshaun Watson has opened up on his suspension from the NFL after being involved in 26 different filed cases against him.
Twenty two massage therapists accused the quarterback of sexual misconduct during appointments in 2020 and 2021 while he played for the Houston Texans. Watson did not play during the 2021 season with the allegations ongoing and being investigated, before making his return to the team in 2022 when the NFL and the NFLPA reached a settlement with the player fined $5million (£4.25m).
And Watson told reporters at Cleveland Browns ' training camp: "The whole situation changed me. In a situation where I just had to lock in on myself, channel and really know who I’m surrounding myself with and just really who’s going to be there and support me even when I’m at my lowest point and the last few years were definitely my lowest point in my life.
“But that’s part of life. I just grow from it, I learn from it. I continue to move forward and push forward and continue to show my real character, my real personality and who I am.” In the midst of the allegations and while being suspended from the NFL, Watson was traded from the Texans to the Browns - with the team criticised for the move while giving him a huge, $230m (£180m) fully-guaranteed deal.
Watson had to sit out the first 11 games before he returned to the team, where he became the starter after taking over from Jacoby Brissett - who performed admirably in his absence. Before returning to the team, Watson insisted he address the whole roster - telling his side of the story of the alleged incidents in Houston.
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Deshaun Watson opened up on the allegations and is looking to move forward with his lifeHe told reporters: "Things that people don’t really get to hear about. Especially last year, it’s been the media directing and narrating something else. My story has been kind of overshadowed." But whatever the away from the field case, Watson must improve drastically on how he performed last season on it after looking a shell of his former self when he returned to the Browns.
Watson had career-lows in all of his averaged numbers, including a woeful 58 per cent completed passes while throwing just seven touchdowns in six games. The Browns have one of the strongest rosters on paper in the entire league, and should Watson return to the All-Pro calibre player he once was, the team could find themselves as surprising Super Bowl contenders.