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When meeting with reporters Thursday, Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson declined to answer non-football questions. With neither the NFL nor the NFL Players Association saying anything about the situation on record, the only option left is to leak a self-serving version of the situation to a reporter in the hopes that the reporter will pass it on without asking questions or pushing back.
ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports that NFL and NFLPA experts believe Watson has shown “signs of progress” during mandatory treatment sessions. Watson had to undergo treatment as part of the negotiated settlement of his league-imposed suspension.
Schefter states the situation is confidential before of course facilitating a breach of confidentiality to make Watson look better.
“He’s making good progress and wants to continue with that and they feel it’s helping him,” said an unnamed source “connected to” Watson’s treatment program. “It just continues as needed, and it continues until it’s no longer needed. And I think it gave him a lot of help and support. But that can take time.”
Two important questions remain unanswered (and will not be addressed) in this new report: (1) how much progress did he have to make to be reinstated; and (2) how much progress has he actually made?
On August 18, after agreeing to accept an 11-game ban and pay a $5 million fine, Watson pleaded innocent to allegations of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions. At the time, League sources downplayed the importance of his refusal to publicly acknowledge wrongdoing, stating he would realize what things he shouldn’t have done and why, through treatment, he shouldn’t have done them.
Does the term “progress” mean that it is not ready yet? Has he really done enough to justify his reinstatement under the requirements set in August?
A little cynicism is warranted here given the very real belief in some league circles that certain owners wanted Watson suspended for less than a full year lest the Browns see Watson’s contract terminated for a full season. If Watson didn’t return at all in 2022, his five-year deal would begin in 2023 and run through 2027. The mid-season return means the Browns only have Watson under contract until 2026 – and they will be forced to pay the full value of his deal over that period.
Many questions will be answered today about how he will be received in Houston and how he will play after such a long time. After the game, don’t expect to hear more about whether he really has any regrets for the events that led to his suspension.
In fact, don’t expect to hear more about it until sometime Sunday morning when a reporter reports that Watson is privately showing the regret he refused to show in August and didn’t even refuse to address on Thursday.