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BEREA, Ohio — In Deshaun Watson’s first interview in almost 4 months, the Cleveland Browns quarterback refused to reply any non-football questions.
“I perceive that you simply guys have plenty of questions,” Watson stated Thursday. “However with my authorized staff and my scientific staff, there’s solely soccer questions I can actually handle presently.”
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 girls of sexual assault and different sexual misconduct throughout therapeutic massage classes.
Two civil lawsuits stay excellent, together with one filed on Oct. 13. Earlier this 12 months, Watson settled 23 of the opposite civil lawsuits that had been filed towards him.
As a part of a settlement between the NFL and NFLPA, Watson additionally needed to pay a $5 million high-quality and bear a compulsory remedy program.
“I used to be simply attempting no matter I may do to play soccer in 2022,” when requested why he agreed to the 11-game suspension. “Many of the settlement stuff with the NFL was principally my company and authorized staff. I had no management. My major focus was doing the whole lot I wanted to do to play this 12 months.”
Two grand juries in Texas declined to pursue prison expenses towards Watson earlier this 12 months.
In his final interview in August, Watson once more denied any wrongdoing and stated individuals hadn’t been interested by listening to his facet of the story. When requested Thursday if he is nonetheless interested by telling his story sooner or later, Watson stated, “who is aware of what the long run holds.”
Watson additionally declined to say what if something he’d realized from the league-mandated counseling.
“That is extra in that part of scientific and authorized stuff,” he stated. “I have been suggested to avoid that and hold that private. … I am specializing in soccer. That is my major 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 staff, 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 civil lawsuits towards Watson, stated about 10 of his purchasers have 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 fearful” in regards to 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 major focus.”
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