Deshaun Watson Off the Field Thread

[Sebastian]

This will serve as the non-football related Deshaun Watson thread.

Take note as @chrisrich91 will rigorously enforce the rules in this thread:

DO NOT use this thread to attack other posters.

DO NOT attempt to police Browns fandom.

DO NOT accuse other posters of _______ because they do not agree with you.

DO NOT come in to the thread to call people names, troll or otherwise drive-by post.

 

[buzzdog]

Thanks Sebastian.

 

[Coyote]

Good decision to make a separate thread but keep it in the main Browns forum instead of Politics. Check-plus.

 

[Lee]

Good decision to make a separate thread but keep it in the main Browns forum instead of Politics. Check-plus.

Agreed, its hard to seperate the player from the issues on this one. I dont blame people who dont like it because of his personal issues. I felt like I had to talk to my daughter about it because i just dont know i like how i feel about this one. Maybe the first time I have felt like that about a Cleveland athlete that I can remember.

We will see, I do believe in 2nd chances, I hope he realizes his wrongs and makes up for it.

 

[Sebastian]

Good decision to make a separate thread but keep it in the main Browns forum instead of Politics. Check-plus.

We wanted to try it out here first.

If it gets out of hand we may have to revisit it.

But it is an important part of the equation and we don't want to give the impression that we are trying to discourage or sideline discussion.

 

[Coyote]

Agreed, its hard to seperate the player from the issues on this one. I dont blame people who dont like it because of his personal issues. I felt like I had to talk to my daughter about it because i just dont know i like how i feel about this one. Maybe the first time I have felt like that about a Cleveland athlete that I can remember.

We will see, I do believe in 2nd chances, I hope he realizes his wrongs and makes up for it.

For as critical as I am of the situation, of course I hope Watson actually learns from this, takes accountability, and does better in the future.

And kudos to you for talking your daughter. I don't have kids, but I can imagine that's not an easy convo. But it's an important one.

 

[Lee]

For as critical as I am of the situation, of course I hope Watson actually learns from this, takes accountability, and does better in the future.

And kudos to you for talking your daughter. I don't have kids, but I can imagine that's not an easy convo. But it's an important one.

She is a senior in high school, so not a kid by any means. I told her about it because she took woman studies this year and is very much a feminist in a very positive way. So although she isnt a sport fan, she knew of his situation.

And the Browns are my favorite sports team ever, so I felt i owed to her to talk to her about it. Her response was "The Browns traded for that guy?" and i was like, I know. But the issue is he is really good and got cleared by the Grand Jury of any criminal charges. And just because it isnt illegal, doesnt make it moral.

She understands, and on this one if you hate the move, you love the move or you dont know how to feel like me, no matter you stance I can understand it. Its a very narrow needle we are trying to thread on this one as a team, and as fans its tough to know how to feel.

Typically i believe the bottom line is the bottom line. But on this one, i dont know.

 

[bushwick_bill]

Anyone want that feels strongly against this move I would hope are not Donald Trump or The Ohio State University supporters. I guess I can put this in here since it is Watson related. I would hope their sentiment applies to outside of football decisions that are made by the Cleveland Browns.

 

[Lee]

Anyone want that feel strongly against this move I would hope are not Donald Trump or The Ohio State University supporters. I guess I can put this in here since it is Watson related.

I am not either, but if you went to OSU, its hard to seperate thier ills from being a suporter. Everyone is different with different motivations. I dont know how i would feel if it was revealed that Purdue had some major scandal. I wuldnt just stop rooting for Purdue, just be very, very disapointesd with my alma matter.

 

[bushwick_bill]

I am not either, but if you went to OSU, its hard to seperate thier ills from being a suporter. Everyone is different with different motivations. I dont know how i would feel if it was revealed that Purdue had some major scandal. I wuldnt just stop rooting for Purdue, just be very, very disapointesd with my alma matter.

I went to OSU, I lived on campus for 6 years and it was a great experience, I had a lot of fun lol lol lol.
I moved to NYC right after I left campus 18 years ago and I went back to OSU a few times, Vince Young game, and for a few music events my friends were involved in etc. I love Columbus, actually like the city of Columbus more than Cleveland. I got a great education from OSU, have been pretty successful from it in NYC. And I absolutely cannot stand Urban Myer, I cannot believe he is back at OSU, he is a total scum bag and his presence there makes me disgusted. And yes there are way worse things that have happened than Urb being there... Will I be rooting for my alma matter tomorrow, absolutely and you bet come this fall. OSU scandals (plural) have been WAY WAY WAY worse than what the Browns just did.

Oh and obviously I cannot stand Donald Trump and I will leave it with that...

 

[bushwick_bill]

She is a senior in high school, so not a kid by any means. I told her about it because she took woman studies this year and is very much a feminist in a very positive way. So although she isnt a sport fan, she knew of his situation.

And the Browns are my favorite sports team ever, so I felt i owed to her to talk to her about it. Her response was "The Browns traded for that guy?" and i was like, I know. But the issue is he is really good and got cleared by the Grand Jury of any criminal charges. And just because it isnt illegal, doesnt make it moral.

She understands, and on this one if you hate the move, you love the move or you dont know how to feel like me, no matter you stance I can understand it. Its a very narrow needle we are trying to thread on this one as a team, and as fans its tough to know how to feel.

Typically i believe the bottom line is the bottom line. But on this one, i dont know.

I am conflicted with this. My daughter is 3.5 years old and has a Baker jersey and a Browns jersey with her name on the back etc.

My wife is not a big sports fan (Boston Red Sox fan, from New England) but would root for the Browns. I was born in Cleveland (during a Browns Bengals game actually), I lived in Cleveland until I went to OSU. Some of my best memories with my Dad was going to the old municipal stadium. I can remember wearing his binocular case filled with cans of beer around my neck for him into the stadium or him lifting me up to the horse trough to pee Our family had season tickets for 40 plus years. I was raised a die-hard Browns fan. My Mom is from Pittsburgh and became a Browns fan LOL.


And my daughter is just starting to enjoy watching sports with me. My wife is a teacher, I work for a group of Charter Schools etc and we both have very strong and similar beliefs. When I told her about the move, she was adamant that our daughter will not wear any Cleveland Browns gear this Fall and does not want our daughter being raised to be a Browns fan as long as Watson is the face of the franchise. I am thankful my daughter is not old enough to know who the QB is and I don’t have to have this conversation with her. My wife does understand I will continue to support the Browns, because my insane fandom. She has always questioned WHY but she also understands I am conflicted with this move as well. No matter how big of a fan you may be this move puts any Browns fan in a tricky position. It is going to be really interesting how this plays out. Especially his introduction to the media etc.

 

[adam81king]

@Sebastian - if you haven't already, you can close the "Deshaun Watson: SVU" thread I started to discuss the legal aspect of Watsons acquisition.

 

[Douglar]

I have not followed the Watson situation very closely. Reading through wikipedia today, seems like the bulk of the allegations involve him trying to turn his PT sessions into truck stop massages, a couple of unwanted kisses, and a lot of “just touch it” strangeness. Seems like one accuser says she felt forced to do do oral.

Did I interpret the accusations correctly or am I missing big parts of this story?

 

[Mr. Orange]

I don’t think you need to have a daughter to not be ok with this move. I don’t get that as some sort of gate keeping to understanding sexual harassment.

Society is messy as hell. I’m not ok with factory farming so I rarely eat meat anymore and only buy free range eggs. Most people don’t care about the suffering of certain animals and gorge on wings and steaks and bacon without any thought. We are pretty actively destroying the planet through climate change but most don’t change their behaviors. Systemic racism is rampant in America but Kaep was blackballed for taking a righteous stance.

Some people won’t be ok with DW on the Browns, just like some are not ok with factory farming. And that’s ok. You have to choose what feels right or not. But we are all turning a blind eye to something.

As of now, I think I am in a wait and see. After sleeping on it a few days, I’m not ok with this move at this time. It just does not feel right. A lot will depend on DWs actions off the field going forward. I do believe in second chances, but he will need to be apologetic, sincere, and over the top supportive of women's causes for me. I hate to punish the other 52 who deserve our support but this guy needs to do some serious and genuine things to make right. Though he can never fully make right, but the last perfect person they nailed to the cross.

 

[Mr. Orange]

I have not followed the Watson situation very closely. Reading through wikipedia today, seems like the bulk of the allegations involve him trying to turn his PT sessions into truck stop massages, a couple of unwanted kisses, and a lot of “just touch it” strangeness. Seems like one accuser says she felt forced to do do oral.

Did I interpret the accusations correctly or am I missing big parts of this story?

I did the same thing. And yes, it seems like only one is accusing him of forcing anything. Mostly it’s sexual harassment BUT, as we have learned in the MeToo movement, often men in power coerce women into sex acts with the implicit threat of ruining their careers or lives.

He is a predator and scumbag. Or at least he was. I still believe in due process and that’s why I am a bit wait and see, but it is important to believe the victims. These weren’t Snapchat girls selling sex from what I can tell. These were professional massage therapists.