News & Info/Headlines

Deshaun Watson was introduced as the Browns quarterback during a news conference on Friday, answering questions alongside general manager Andrew Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski.

As NFL.com reported, it was Berry and Stefanski's first time speaking with the media since the Browns acquired the quarterback in a trade with the Texans and Watson's first time addressing reporters since he was traded. Team owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, who said they were out of the country, held a separate video press conference later on Friday.

Berry acknowledged that trading for and signing Watson to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract while the QB still faces 22 civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault and misconduct comes with scrutiny.

"We as an organization know that this transaction has been very difficult for many people, particularly women in our community," Berry said. "We realize that it has triggered a range of emotions. And that, as well as the nature of the allegations, weighed heavily on all of us.

"It was because of the weight of the anticipated reaction and the nature of the allegations that really pushed us to do as much work as possible, both internally and externally, in terms of understanding the cases and who Deshaun was as a person. It was through this, really, five-month odyssey and the information that we were able to amass, the reference work and obviously working through due process and the legal process, that got us comfortable pursuing a trade for Deshaun."

Jimmy Haslam said that while Cleveland was evaluating its entire roster as early as five months ago, the Browns did not "begin earnestly looking at what our options were, including Deshaun," until after the season. Haslam added that the decision to acquire Watson was "widely vetted throughout our organization, including ownership, but it was conceived by football operations."

This month, two Texas grand juries declined to file criminal charges against Watson. On March 11, a Harris County grand jury determined there was not enough evidence to charge Watson with a crime on nine allegations of sexual misconduct. On Thursday, a Brazoria County grand jury also declined to charge Watson on a separate criminal accusation.

Watson remains under investigation by the NFL and could face a league suspension, but there is no timeline for a decision, with the 22 civil suits still pending.

Throughout Friday's 40-minute press conference, Watson reiterated his innocence.

"I know these allegations [are] very, very serious," Watson said. "But I've never assaulted any woman. I never disrespected any woman."

Watson said Friday that it's "not my intent" to settle any of the 22 civil cases. Watson has two more depositions scheduled for next week, the attorney for the plaintiffs, Tony Buzbee told ESPN's Jake Trotter.

The 26-year-old was asked how he can convince Browns fans he's not the person detailed in the lawsuits.

"I understand the whole circumstances is very difficult," he said. "Especially for the women's side of the fans in this community. I'm not naïve to that. I know these allegations is very, very serious, but like I mentioned before, I've never assaulted any woman. I never disrespected any woman. I was raised by a single-parent mom who has two aunties who is her sister. That's who raised me. I was raised to be genuine and to respect everyone and everything around me. So I've always defended that and I will continue to stand on that.

"I just want the opportunity to be able to show who I really am in the community and be hands on and help people and serve other people."

Watson acknowledged that he had upward of 40 massage therapists during his five years in Houston.

Watson said multiple factors went into that strikingly high figure.

"I can't go too far into detail because there's an ongoing investigation still, but I can say that with this new day and age, especially with my age group, social media is a big business part that goes into it," he said. "So that's a factor into it. As far as the details, I can't get too far into it because there's an investigation going on. But hopefully, once everything is resolved, I can speak freely on it."

Buzbee, told Trotter that the Browns never reached out to him or spoke to any of his clients during their investigation, which the Browns have called "extensive."

Berry explained that the Browns conducted an extensive investigation into the quarterback and his legal situation, and that, upon advice from legal counsel, the team did not reach out directly to the 22 women who have filed civil suits against Watson. "We were advised by our attorneys, we were advised against reaching out directly to the 22 women out of concern that it would be considered interfering with a criminal investigation," Berry said.

The QB said he intends to fight each allegation to prove his innocence and does not plan on settling the suits.

"That's the main focus that I want to do," Watson said, "is continue to show people who I really am and get my story out eventually."

Meanwhile, even before the Browns traded for Watson, it became clear that they wanted to move on from Baker Mayfield when anonymous sources in Cleveland began floating comments critical of Mayfield in the media, including saying that the Browns “want an adult” at quarterback. But Jimmy Haslam denies that he said that.

Haslam said today that he has nothing against Mayfield and hopes he has a good career elsewhere.

“Contrary to what is out there in the press, we think highly of Baker and did not get down on him,” Haslam said. “I know there was a statement that we needed an adult in the room, and Baker thought that came from ownership. That’s not true. Baker gave it everything he had while he was here. Nobody can question his effort this past year, and nobody can question the four years he gave to the city of Cleveland, and we wish him nothing but the best of luck.”

Mayfield requested a trade after initial reports of the Browns' interest in Watson surfaced. The Browns said at the time they didn't intend to accommodate the request.

That has obviously changed as Haslam talked about Mayfield’s time in Cleveland in the past tense, and it’s clear that Mayfield won’t be back.

But Mayfield, as Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio notes, has an $18.858 million guaranteed salary this season, so if the Browns can’t find another team willing to take on that salary, Haslam will be paying Mayfield not to play.