BEREA, Ohio (AP) — A year later, everything seems different to Deshaun Watson, transformed.
After an abbreviated season, Watson isn’t feeling the same weight of uncertainty and overwhelming attention that defined his arrival in Cleveland and dogged him throughout 2022 with the Browns.
“Honestly, the difference is like night and day,” Watson said Tuesday.
It’s like a fresh start for the quarterback, who was suspended for 11 games last season after the NFL determined he had violated its personal conduct policies. Two dozen women had accused the quarterback of sexual assault and harassment during massage sessions while he was playing for Houston.
Watson played only six games with the Browns. Hardly the comeback they expected from the 27-year-old when they signed him to a controversial $230 million, fully guaranteed contract.
Rarely did Watson give off the flashes of the player of yesteryear, who went on to make the Pro Bowl. He had a 3-3 record and the Browns finished the season 7-10.
Exactly one year ago, Watson’s future was uncertain, to say the least.
There seemed to be a new legal matter involving him every day. It was unknown to the Browns when he would be eligible to play, and many fans in Cleveland had questions about whether to support a player with such a disreputable reputation.
“It was like a whirlpool,” Watson said.
Watson, who has settled out of court in 23 of the 25 civil lawsuits in Texas, says in retrospect that the experience has prepared him for the best.
“It was my first time here, with everything that was going on,” said Watson, who played in Cleveland with the Texans. “But all that is in the past. I’m looking forward to moving on with my life and my career and really being able to insert myself in this community, in this city and in this organization for a long time, to win a lot of games.”
This is the plan. And as the Browns begin their voluntary workout program, Watson expressed optimism about what he and his teammates can accomplish in 2023.
