Henry McKenna
NFL reporter
When he got here to Deshaun Watson’s protection after Sunday’s Bengals-Browns sport in Cleveland, Jameis Winston overpassed what actually issues.
Winston appeared to have utterly forgotten that there’s extra to Watson’s life than soccer, specifically the 24 lawsuits and 30 accusers who alleged sexual misconduct on Watson’s half. The embattled quarterback has settled greater than 20 of these lawsuits.
Winston, a Cleveland backup, spoke passionately about Watson after he went down with a torn Achilles and Browns followers cheered in celebration to see the injured QB.
“The manner I used to be raised, I used to be taught to like regardless of the circumstances, particularly with individuals who do proper by you,” Winston mentioned. “I’m grateful to have the chance to serve Deshaun. But I’m very troubled by the response to a person who has had the world towards him for the final 4 years. And he has put his physique and his life on the road for this metropolis. Every holy day.”
Watson isn’t a sufferer. I do not care that Winston was upset concerning the Browns followers cheering. (That was flawed too. But not comparable.) Winston should see the forest for the timber.
The purpose Watson “has had the world towards him for the final 4 years” is straightforward: He’s dealing with lawsuits for allegedly sexually assaulting ladies. To make issues much more sophisticated, Winston confronted allegations of rape of a woman in 2012.
Winston’s sympathy for Watson would not simply fall on deaf ears. It’s out of tune. It’s offensive.
It’s the error that the world of soccer typically makes: forgetting that that is only a sport.
Watson can do his job on the highest stage. He could be a nice teammate. He might be an excellent quarterback. And it won’t absolve him of the fees introduced towards him.
Brown defensive finish Myles Garrett solely made issues worse when requested concerning the followers’ cheering.
“No one deserves this,” Garrett said, via Awful Annunciatingput up sport. “I’ve seen him work laborious to come back again right here and put a smile on his face and attempt to go away behind all the pieces that is outdoors the power. Death threats, (folks) coming to his home. People coming after his household. Like I mentioned, nobody deserves it. I hate utilizing the phrase deserve it. I’m often constant in saying he did not earn it and would not deserve it.
“The man does nearly all the pieces effectively. A mannequin citizen by way of faculty and even the professionals. Plays as laborious as anybody I’ve ever seen. Puts all the pieces on the road, prepared to throw his physique on the market. Plays 100 miles an hour, and there’s a danger of damage, and he took that danger. We need to be there for him as a staff and as a company. We can not look down on a man due to any errors on the pitch or something off the pitch morality to despise that boy.”
It’s simply as tone-deaf.
Should fan reactions to Deshaun Watson’s damage be highlighted?
It all goes downhill to: “The man does just about all the pieces effectively.” Because at that time you’ve gotten misplaced all credibility. According to 30 completely different ladies, Watson broke the legislation. This replaces the issues the man did proper on the follow fields of the Texans and Browns. He cannot be a “mannequin citizen” if these 30 ladies are telling the reality.
Ultimately, Watson possible will not be an issue for the Browns anymore.
Cleveland wants to consider eliminating him. And when it occurs, it will not be due to the Browns. They acquired him in a commerce that included three first-round picks. They assured him $230 million. They determined to construct their franchise round Watson. And due to how deeply they invested in Watson — the worst and (by many measures) largest commerce in NFL historical past — they let the entire thing drag on so lengthy that the gamers clearly do not know the right way to do it. make sense of all of it.
Before becoming a member of FOX Sports as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years masking the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.
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