(Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Deshaun Watson has become a polarizing figure over the last year or two.
He has faced dozens of lawsuits stemming from sexual misconduct allegations, and the details of those allegations have been lurid and disturbing.
At the same time, the Houston Texans traded him to the Cleveland Browns last season, and the Browns rewarded him with a five-year, $230 million contract, which led to lots of criticism.
According to the pundits, the Browns had acquired someone who was a bad role model, especially for young fans.
But after serving an 11-game suspension last season, Watson is set to kick off the preseason on Thursday in the annual Hall of Fame Game, and he received a courteous greeting from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, as noted by reporter Hayden Grove.
Deshaun Watson gets a nice greeting from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. #Browns pic.twitter.com/4dIMvseP4R
— Hayden Grove (@H_Grove) August 3, 2023
It’s easy to forget that Watson is one of the game’s best quarterbacks, especially since he sat out the entire 2021 season after demanding a trade.
In 2020, he led everyone with 4,823 passing yards while also throwing 33 touchdown passes and achieving a 112.4 passer rating.
He will add some much-needed oomph to a Browns offense that had almost none last season.
Watson will team up with four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper, emerging wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones, speed threat Elijah Moore, and standout tight end David Njoku.
But it is Cleveland’s defense that has fans feeling hopeful, as they added defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson and defensive end Za’Darius Smith to a unit that was often porous last season.
Together, everyone will be looking to earn the Browns some much-needed respectability this fall and winter.
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