Deshaun Watson Evaluation by New Browns Coach Ripped By Critics
LAS VEGAS - For the sake of this particular story, we won't use this space to sit in judgment of Deshaun Watson, who before his trade from the Houston Texans was accused by more than two dozen women of sexual misconduct, all resulting in an 11-game suspension and a $5 million fine for Watson during the 2022 season.
But we will provide a forum to critics of the Cleveland Browns new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, who offered praise for the talents of Watson during his introductory press conference ... but who probably should've stayed away from offering his evaluation of the QB as "a really quality human being.''
Before Watson's scandal, he was indeed seen that way in Houston. Leadership. Character. Talent. It seemed he had it all ...
And now Dorsey has him.
“I can’t wait to get to work with him,” Dorsey said this week. “Because, again, he’s one of the premier quarterbacks in this league and from everything I’ve heard about him, a really quality human being. So I’m just excited about that opportunity.”
ESPN’s Sarah Spain was among those to cite Dorsey’s description of Watson as troublesome.
“Would love an honest answer from (Dorsey’s) wife and two daughters about how they feel watching this. (This is rhetorical – they shouldn’t be asked, this isn’t their job, they aren’t public figures. You get my point.)” Spain tweeted.
Others delivered a similar sentiment on Dorsey’s choice of words to describe his QB.
The Browns are locked in with Watson, having handed him an unprecedented fully guaranteed $230 million contract upon his arrival while giving Houston a treasure chest full of picks that the Texans have used to help them quickly rebuild into a C.J. Stroud-led playoff team. The franchise therefore has understandably voiced support for Watson and his supposed growth through his off-field issues.
Said Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam at the start of last season: “He has come a long way in the last year and has worked extremely hard on being a better person, a better man, and a better teammate. I think he has learned a lot about himself and what he can and can’t do. I think he’s learned who you can trust and who you can’t trust.”
But even that comment suggests, in a subtle way, that Watson's problems with woman were somehow about other people being "untrustworthy.''
Watson has played in just 12 games in the two seasons with the Browns since the trade. Nevertheless, Dorsey has ever reason to state his belief that Watson is "elite'' ... and every reason to end his evaluation of the player and person right there.
