NFL exec blasts Deshaun Watson’s new contract with Browns

The Cleveland Browns shocked the NFL world earlier this month after they acquired Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans for a number of draft picks after one grand jury declined to indict him on sexual assault complains and whereas he nonetheless faces 22 civil lawsuits over the identical accusations.

Watson and the Browns then agreed to a five-year, $230 million contract, which supplies him a base wage of simply over $1 million in 2022 together with an $8.9 million signing bonus as he might nonetheless be hit with self-discipline by the NFL in some unspecified time in the future this season.

After 2022, Watson is reportedly set to make $46 million in every season via 2026.

At the least one NFL government gave the impression to be bewildered by the contract Watson obtained. The nameless government instructed NFL author Peter King in his “Soccer Morning in America” column on Monday that the contract “stinks to excessive heaven.”

Watson made his debut with the media on Friday. He once more denied any of the sexual assault allegations towards him and mentioned he regarded ahead to clearing his identify “as soon as every part is resolved.”

CLAY TRAVIS ON DESHAUN WATSON: IF 22 WOMEN ACCUSE YOU OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, YOU SHOULD HAVE SOME FORM OF REGRET

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski speaks throughout a press convention introducing quarterback Deshaun Watson at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 25, 2022 in Berea, Ohio.
(Nick Cammett/Getty Photos)

“I perceive the entire circumstance may be very tough, particularly for the ladies’s facet – the followers on this group. I’m not naive to that,” he mentioned of the criticism his commerce has drawn. “I do know these allegations are very, very critical however like I discussed earlier than, I’ve by no means assaulted any girl. I by no means disrespected any girl. I used to be raised by a single mother or father mother … that’s who raised me.”

He continued: “I used to be raised to be real and respect anybody and every part round me. So I’ve at all times defended that and I’ll proceed to face on that and I simply need the chance to have the ability to actually present who I’m locally and be hands-on and assist individuals and serve different individuals.”

Watson was requested concerning the quantity of allegations leveled towards him and in the event that they have been all fallacious. 

“I can’t converse on what individuals’s opinions are, as a result of everybody has their very own opinions,” he responded, “however what I can proceed to do is inform the reality and that’s I’ve by no means assaulted or disrespected or harassed any ladies in my life. Like I mentioned earlier than, I used to be raised in another way. That’s not in my DNA, that’s not my tradition. That’s not me as an individual and that’s not how I used to be raised.”

Cleveland Browns basic supervisor Andrew Berry, left, new quarterback Deshaun Watson, middle, and head coach Kevin Stefanski pose for a photograph throughout a information convention on the NFL soccer workforce’s coaching facility, Friday, March 25, 2022, in Berea, Ohio. 
(AP Picture/Ron Schwane)

One other Texas grand jury declined to indict Watson on one other grievance final week too.

The 22 civil lawsuits are nonetheless going via the method.

Fox Information’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.