On Monday, just a day after Deshaun Watson began his third season as the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback, the controversial 28-year-old former Heisman trophy was hit with yet another sexual assault lawsuit, adding to the over 20 he’s already faced in recent years.
When asked about the new allegations earlier this week, Deshaun Watson — who the Cleveland Browns gave a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract to despite the litany of allegations and controversies that surrounded him — acted as if he was confused by this latest lawsuit and unsure why this keeps happening.
“I’m in the same boat as you, boss man,” Watson replied to a reporter on Wednesday, implying that he, too, was confused by the litany of allegations.
#Browns QB Deshaun Watson asked why he thinks this keeps happening, the numerous lawsuits filed against him, implies he doesn't know:
"I'm in the same boat as you, boss man."
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) September 11, 2024
Needless to say, the football world was stunned by the tone-deafness of Watson’s comments.
“Gotta love it. A serial abuser in the NFL is wondering why he was targeted for another r— lawsuit (he already settled 41). Like same people, 0% accountability. And they always acting dumb like they innocent,” one reply to Watson’s comments says.
“There is no way this can be a real quote… is this really real?” wondered NFL analyst Warren Sharp.
https://t.co/Tp6w0C2DNY pic.twitter.com/1xRBoFrw4y
— 𝚘𝚑𝚒𝚘’𝚜 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚠𝚗 (@OHsVeryOwn) September 11, 2024
Deshaun Watson https://t.co/87W8BlMBsV pic.twitter.com/lYbksZDgwF
— Alex Chauvancy (@AlexC_NJD) September 11, 2024
Despite these latest allegations, the Cleveland Browns will continue to start Watson, saying that they “will respect the due process our legal system affords regarding the recently filed civil suit and follow the NFL’s guidelines on this matter.”
The new lawsuit against Watson has led to renewed calls for the Browns to cut him and/or for the NFL to ban him from the league. While Watson, as mentioned above, has already been accused and/or sued for sexual assault/misconduct over 20 times, this is the first instance since the Cleveland Browns traded for him in March 2022.