The Cleveland Browns officially acquired Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans on Sunday, landing the controversial quarterback for a bunch of draft picks.
OFFICIAL: We have acquired 3-time Pro Bowl QB Deshaun Watson in a trade with the Texans
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) March 20, 2022
Team ownership also released a statement explaining its thought process — justifying? — the decision to land Watson, who will not face criminal charges but has 22 civil lawsuits in front of him.
“We spent a tremendous amount of time exploring and investigating the opportunity to trade for Deshaun Watson,’’ owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in the release. “We are acutely aware and empathetic to the highly personal sentiments expressed about this decision. Our team’s comprehensive evaluation process was of utmost importance due to the sensitive nature of his situation and the complex factors involved. We also understand there are still some legal proceedings that are ongoing and we will respect due process.
“Those in-depth conversations, the extensive evaluation process, his dedication to being a great teammate and devotion to helping others within the NFL, within the community, and through his charitable initiatives provided the foundation for us to pursue Deshaun. We are confident in Deshaun and excited about moving forward with him as our quarterback and supporting his genuine and determined efforts.”
The statement from Dee and Jimmy Haslam:
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) March 20, 2022
Watson is not quoted in the statement.
Cleveland also traded backup QB Case Keenum on Sunday.
🚨 TRADE ALERT 🚨
We’ve acquired QB Case Keenum from the @Browns for a 2022 7th round draft pick. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/I8LXmJo4Ev
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) March 20, 2022
