BEREA, Ohio — In Deshaun Watson‘s first interview in practically 4 months, the Cleveland Browns quarterback refused to reply any non-football questions.
“I perceive that you just guys have loads of questions,” Watson stated Thursday. “However with my authorized crew and my scientific crew, there’s solely soccer questions I can actually tackle right now.”
Watson simply completed serving an 11-game suspension for violating the league’s private conduct coverage by committing sexual assault, as outlined by the NFL, on therapeutic massage therapists.
He has been accused by greater than two dozen ladies of sexual assault and different sexual misconduct throughout therapeutic massage periods.
Two civil lawsuits stay excellent, together with one filed on Oct. 13. Earlier this yr, Watson settled 23 of the opposite lawsuits that had been filed towards him.
As a part of a settlement between the NFL and the NFLPA, Watson additionally needed to pay a $5 million advantageous and endure a compulsory remedy program.
“I used to be simply attempting no matter I might do to play soccer in 2022,” he stated when requested why he agreed to the 11-game suspension. “A lot of the settlement stuff with the NFL was largely my company and authorized crew. I had no management. My predominant focus was doing all the things I wanted to do to play this yr.”
Two grand juries in Texas declined to pursue prison costs towards Watson earlier this yr.
In his final earlier interview, in August, Watson once more denied any wrongdoing and stated folks hadn’t been excited about listening to his facet of the story. When requested Thursday whether or not he is nonetheless excited about telling his story in some unspecified time in the future, Watson stated, “who is aware of what the long run holds.”
Watson additionally declined to say what, if something, he had realized from the league-mandated counseling.
“That is extra in that section of scientific and authorized stuff,” he stated. “I have been suggested to avoid that and preserve that non-public. … I am specializing in soccer. That is my predominant focus is soccer and making ready to be the beginning quarterback for the Cleveland Browns so I can execute the sport plan to attempt to get a win this Sunday.”
Watson’s return towards his former crew, the Houston Texans, will mark precisely 700 days since he final performed in a regular-season recreation (with the Texans on Jan. 3, 2021).
The Browns traded for Watson in March, sending the Texans three first-round draft picks. Cleveland then signed Watson to a five-year deal value $230 million assured, the richest contract in NFL historical past.
Earlier this week, Houston legal professional Tony Buzbee, who represented 25 of the ladies who filed lawsuits towards Watson, stated about 10 of his purchasers had been planning to attend Sunday’s recreation with him.
“They thought it essential to clarify that they’re nonetheless right here and that they matter,” Buzbee stated.
Watson stated he is “not frightened” concerning the environment he’ll encounter in Houston.
“Like I stated, I am specializing in simply being the beginning quarterback and executing the sport plan,” he stated. “That is my predominant focus.”
