'Houston This, Houston That!' Texans Ex Deshaun Watson: 'I've Evolved' with Browns
Deshaun Watson is not making negative references to his up-and-down days with the Houston Texans when the now-Cleveland Browns quarterback says he's done "getting caught up in 'Hey, Houston this. Houston that'.''
Said Watson as he prepared for Sunday's Week 1 duel with the Cincinnati Bengals: "I had a lot of fun, a lot of success in Houston. But I want to have that success and start something new in Cleveland.”
Once upon a time, he was everything to the Texans as he led the NFL in passing and helped make Houston a a playoffs-worthy franchise. But now, after his tumultuous 2021-to-2022 period that saw him demand a trade, sit out in Houston, deal with sexual assault allegations, absorb an 11-game suspension and then finish last year on a mediocre level in Cleveland?
Despite falling from QB1 with the Texans to Public Enemy No. 1 in Houston, Watson believes he’s a better person. But he also stated this week that he is a substantially better player than he's ever been ... no small feat if true.
“I’m not the same guy,” Watson said this week. ”I feel like I’ve improved. I’ve evolved to a new level. And I’m ready to be able to show that.”
Watson showed little at the end of last year with the Browns, going 3-3 in six starts and raising concerns about Cleveland’s $230 million investment via his new contract.
“Last year was a tricky time where I was learning everything,” he said, vowing to again become a fixture on that highest level.
“I know I can be,” Watson said.
