CRINGE ALERT!
Deshaun Watson was grilled by Cleveland media at Browns introductory press conference
We haven't heard Deshaun Watson speak much over the last year, so it was very interesting to see him answer tough questions in front of the Cleveland media on Friday. Overall, it was a bad look for Deshaun and GM Andrew Berry in my opinion. The whole thing was uncomfortable and just felt icky. But that was to be expected in a circumstance like this.
The presser was filled with what seemed to be blatant lies from Watson and Berry. Such as, the money not being that big a factor in Watson's decision to play for Cleveland. Andrew Berry stating that Watson's base salary of $1 million in 2022 wasn't an attempt to avoid financial punishment from the league when a suspension is handed down. Also, the Browns saying they fully investigated the lawsuits against Watson, but didn't actually talk to any of the alleged victims.
Andrew Berry and owner Jimmy Haslam told the media they received "strong recommendations" from their legal team not to speak to any of the woman. The list goes on and on. When Watson was asked tough questions about the sexual assault allegations, he was able to hide behind the ongoing lawsuits and not comment.
Watson was also asked about the status of the lawsuits, and said he didn't plan on settling the cases and plans to keep fighting and trying to clear his name. One of the highlights of the day was Watson saying he has "no regrets" for what has transpired over the last year.
In the end, the Browns basically said they felt comfortable with Deshaun as a person, and that ultimately led to the decision to trade for him.
I highly recommend watching the full press conference above, especially if you're a fan of cringe-worthy pressers. And let's give credit to the Cleveland and national media for asking tough questions and not backing down. See you later Deshaun, you're Cleveland's problem now.