1:37pm: The Browns have officially added Watson to their active roster, per a team announcement. To make room, Joshua Dobbs was waived, though Tom Pelissero of NFL Network tweets that the Browns have expressed an interest in keeping him in the fold on their practice squad should he go unclaimed.
10:00am: During the first 12 weeks of the season, the dominant storyline relating to the Browns has not been the team’s play on the field, but rather the status of their long-term starting quarterback. Deshaun Watson has complied with all conditions of his suspension and now, as expected, has been officially reinstated by the NFL (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport). 
The news clears the way for Watson to make his Browns debut this Sunday, in what will be his first game action since the end of the 2020 regular season. Cleveland’s next opponent – Houston – was the location of the first five years of the former first-rounder’s career, although he didn’t see the field in 2021 amidst his ongoing trade request.
The Texans were unable to make good on that until Watson’s legal situation became clearer. The 27-year-old was not charged with a criminal offense in the wake of dozens of sexual misconduct and sexual assault allegations, leading to a bidding war to acquire him via a trade and sizable extension. The Browns eventually won out, sending a trade package including three first-round picks to the Texans, and signing Watson to a five-year, $230MM deal which is fully guaranteed.
The fact that that move came with civil suits pending – all but one of which, with respect to those in place at the time of Watson’s acquisition, have since been settled – made it one of the most controversial in NFL history. A six-game suspension was initially handed down following a lengthy league investigation and arbitration procedure, but that was met with widespread criticism. The NFL and NFLPA later agreed to an 11-game ban which was coupled with a $5MM fine and mandatory counseling.
Per the terms of that agreement, Watson’s involvement in team activities was restricted to begin the year. It was two weeks ago that he was permitted to practice in full for the first time, which he did. That left the Browns in a situation where splitting first-team reps between he and bridge starter Jacoby Brissett became necessary.
The latter has guided Cleveland to a 4-7 record, though regardless of the team’s success, Watson was always expected to take the field immediately. With the door slightly ajar for a run to an AFC Wild Card spot, the maligned passer will take the field as Cleveland’s No. 1 for the stretch run, beginning in Week 13.
Watson: “Bring on those Cleveland masseuses!”
I hope he plays like Russ!
Seattle version of the 2010s or Denver version of 2022?
The Denver version. I hope he bombs and the Browns look like fools.
Worse even
I never do this except on special occasions but I hope the first snap he takes he rolls out missteps and tears his ACL UCL UCLA LSU VAG and when he falls hits his head and gets a concussion. Other than that I wish he would get caught in a sting with Kraft trying to pick up farm animals.
Really I hope he has a good season even better than Russ. The fans do not have much patience with him. Could it be they see we crushed the draft and the players they sent us are playing great. Now this next draft if we have as a successful draft and he stinks again. The fans will Let him Ride. I digress though. I hope Watson plays worse than let’s brokeback Mt Rider. Good luck Daaah Shawn.
I don’t hope he gets a concussion…want to make sure his head is clear so he can fully experience the suffering of all those other injuries
Lol
All that just for paying a few extra bucks for sexual services?
No all that for sexual assault. Don’t be as ignorant as Brownsbacker is/was. Just because he didn’t do anything physical to them does not make it assault. There are different kinds and degrees of assault.
Browns Texans should be on prime time.
No …. No, it should not. Houston has not played on the field to warrant a prime time game.
The only thing Deshaun Watson should star in on prime time is the public punishment of a pillory. They could sell sex toys and encourage the use of used prophylactics to throw instead of tomatoes and other fruit.
That is where. The F word started it was not a swear word it told the people why the person was in the shackles. It was for being unfaithful with a lady of the night. Not for years did it become a swear word. People would call them a Fer in the streets. There is your history lesson for today. Imagine sitting in class and the teacher writes that on the chalkboard. Oops dating myself. There was quit the conversation.
compassrose
You sir I could sit down and have a cold mug of suds with.
I could go for that. Most guys on this site I could do that with. Even on the baseball side even some of the Yankee fans.
There’s going to be epic signage at each away game. Too bad tv will probably not show it.
Seeing as the league wants their games to be PG I don’t blame them.
Then they shouldn’t be enabling a porn star to be the face of the show if they want it PG.
Hey Hammer haven’t seen you around. Have you been on and I missed you or did you spend a few months where there is no internet? OK just kidding have you been gone?
The signs will be removed asap. Why would a fan risk violating the season ticket policy and losing them for Watson? He’s not worth it
Must have been weird for him to wait for consent like that.
Flush it down
Meanwhile, here’s a virtual toast to Jacoby Brissett. He played pretty well overall; I usually thought Cleveland’s offensive struggles had as much to do with the play-calling as it did with anything Brissett did or didn’t do. And Brissett handled this whole situation with about as much class and humility as one could hope for.
Won’t see the words “class” and “Cleveland” together in the same post ever again!
Agreed, MonkeysUncle. No BS out of the guy. That said, I’m betting this team finishes at .500 or better. That is, if Watson is anything near what we once was
If Monkey’s Uncle doesn’t mind me borrowing some of his champagne, I’d like to virtually toast Adam La Rose who kept the comments section opened here. Frankly, I wasn’t expecting that given how strong feelings are concerning Watson.
I hope they lose every game from here on.
Hope he gets Alex Smithed on his first drop back.
They doing just fine without him.
God I would love for us to go 6-0 with Watson back, just to see all you weirdos cry lmao. It’s soooo funny how many grown men spend their time trolling other teams lol
Seethe and cope sweaty your qb is a raper
You’re a grown man, at least that’s what I assume, defending a human pile of trash on a public forum. I think it’s pretty clear who the weirdo is here
You cared enough 2 do the same thing tho?
You guys are funny to me not one lady ever accused him of Rape but y’all have accused him of everything under the sun. The only thing he should have been accused of was prostitution because everyone of the ladies received payment for what they did and not one of them said they refused the money NOT ONE
Excusing Watson’s actions is a very weird stance to take. Do better
Right never take the position against the comments mob who will show how virtuous they are by attacking everyone who doesn’t agree with them. This guy is bad let me show you how much I hate bad people with all the hate I can muster. Somehow that makes these trolls “good” people.
Just curious…what does excusing and defending bad people make you?
________?
A person with common sense. And not Judge, Jury and Executioner
Defending bad people is just “common sense.”
K.
That’s certainly a viewpoint.
FWIW, you had no issue judging the “virtuous comment mob”.
Sometimes the “comments mob” is actually in the right and this is one those times. Defending Watson in an effort to take the less popular stance is wild to say the least
It’s not about accusing his actions I’m just calling it what it is (PROSECUTION) he paid for a SEXUAL SERVICE and at the time they accepted the MONEY so I’m not accusing anything
Watson got a slap on the wrist suspension and a contract extension that will pay him obscene money. The horror
PROSECUTION? Brilliant, might be PROSTITUTION as well except none of his victims were in that business, they’re professional masseuses and just wanted to be paid for that service. Having your way with people and then throwing some dollars at them when you’re done with them doesn’t make it legal and doesn’t justify your criminal acts.
If he would have done any of the things y’all are trying to convict him of the GRAND JURY would have charged him and football wouldn’t have been in the plans for the rest of his life. And I don’t know if you have ever had a Massage but under clothes is optional you have PROFESSIONAL MASSAGE THERAPIST out here that do a great job at saying NO and meaning it not letting somebody talk them into doing SEXUAL THINGS. So like I said PROSTITUTION where you have a SEXUAL SERVICE done and you pay for it afterwards
Would you want your son/daughter wearing a Watson jersey because he is only a john??? There is no excusing his actions. Trying makes you gross.
No, he paid for a massage and turned in into a sexual service.
Okay like I said if the Professional Massage Therapist would have said no and KEPT SAYING NO not let him talk them into Sexual Services it would have been just a Massage but sense he did talk them into Sexual Services and he paid for it afterwards it’s PROSTITUTION
No rape but putting his penis in one’s hand. Rubbing it against her. Making them massage the groin. The list goes on. As for refusing some did. Doesn’t change what he did. You also have no idea what their past was. There could be any kind of abuse and they would freeze up. They could have legitimately be frightened. I will take the side of the woman you defend the perv. Trolling other teams is what this is for. To start convos with other fans You are free to leave and never comeback.
My girlfriend just made a perfect statement for you she said 45yrs of life nobody has never made her open her hand and put a penis in it. And if you say something about somebody’s sports team just aspect them to say something back
Must be nice.
I am not sure what the words they used maybe touched not sure. He brought them in for a massage not for sex. I am sure some where happy to have sex with him. Heck I played semi pro ball and we had groupies with that. Some women would count that as a positive to have sex with him some maybe hoped they would get pregnant. I am done talking about the perv.
You need to read more a lot of these women was texting him after the encounters happened this all came out because one woman wanted a relationship and he didn’t want any of that. You just need to stop and think he’s a young millionaire if I can’t get him now I’m going to say something so I can get paid. Not one of these ladies are trying to get him sent to prison
I hope he breaks his ankle in his 1st game
Guy has not played in 2 years. No practice time with Any of his current teammates. I dont expect him to show much of anything for at least the first few weeks, if he does not get injured before then. And yes I will laugh because Cle deserves what they get. I dont expect it will be good.
The article says He’s been practicing for weeks with the team. You got some bad information
The Rape City Browns fans in Rape City, OH must be so excited.
Like…Watson about to drop his towel to an unsuspecting woman excited.
You’re deranged.
Oh, how deranged?
Like 66 accusations of sexual assault, 24 of which are willing to go public about it, deranged?
Or more like being so inept and desperate as to guarantee $230 million to a rapist who never won a thing deranged?
It’s not your vitriol towards Watson. It’s how you convey that every Browns fan is happy Watson playing for their team and how you seem to believe all of them defend his actions. Put the paintbrush away.
It’s still “their team” now, then?
They have free will, right?
To be accurate, these took place in Texas, as a Texan. So I guess it’s Rape City Houston. Abbott was supposed to eliminate that
Texas has the highest rape per capita in the US. Abbott is off to a slow start, I guess. No doubt his comment was a sincere statement and not at all a disingenuous and stupid deflection from one of his other terrible positions.
Texas is The State of Rape.
But to fair to the Texans, he never played another snap for them after they found out. To the detriment of their team.
The Rape City Browns said “we want him. He’s our guy.”
Fair enough. I would assume that Pittsburgh is also Rape City Steelers and LA is also Rape City Lakers? I mean…just to be consistent. Both cities extended contracts of their accused
Been calling Ben a rapist for years.
But, there is a difference between drafting or signing a player and finding out later they are scum vs. knowingly and intentionally acquiring a rapist to make the face of your franchise.
The Rape City Browns are the only team to do that.
They made the choice.
Nobody forced them to resign him multiple times. Rewarding a rapist is what both teams are doing.
Feel free to go back in time before the one guy retired and the other guy died and call them what you like.
It’s irrelevant to the choice that Rape City made.
I just don’t see how you can separate the 3. I know you want to be fair. I give Houston credit, they wanted nothing to do with Watson. Pittsburgh and LA still embraced their guys. It seems like I remember the Pirates having an all star pitcher that did some hideous acts. That’s Pittsburgh Rape City for you
Houston enabled him and it was Watson that wanted anything to do with Houston anymore, refusing to play for them because he had no input on new hires. That Houston was able to get such a haul for him given the circumstances is miraculous.
Then why did Houston pay him his full salary? If a guy refuses to play, then no pay. Houston could have forced him to play or sit out. They chose to make him a healthy scratch. I admit that originally Watson demanded the trade and vowed not to play, but he really didn’t have a choice. Houston decided they didn’t want him around the team while this was being investigated. He may have been on the commissioner exempt list. I don’t know that
Vasquez is in the Westmoreland County Prison.
Where’s Watson?
Under center for the Rape City Browns.
Hint- No whataboutism will stop this label. FYI.
I think both players are where they are supposed to be. Watson should have received the whole year. He’s definitely a predator but I don’t know if he did anything that deserved prison. Apparently neither did law enforcement. Definitely a creep and predator. How much time did Kobe and Ben do?
Browns fans desperately want to NOT be reminded of their Faustian Bargain.
I shall not comply.
Rape City made their bed.
Distraction and deflection will not alter that.
Ben being a POS changes none of it. And the other guy is dead.
I agree with you that Pittsburgh should also be referred to as Rape City. We have made a breakthrough. Go Eagles
No.
Rape City Browns.
They made the “bargain”.
Nope. Pittsburgh has more
Asked and answered.
Rape City Browns.
Go Eagles.
Got no beef with the Eagles.
On the contrary, will always appreciate them taking that ring from BB and Avacado Ice Cream Boy.
Kinda just hope his career from here mirrors David Carr… 70 something sacks a year.
Well he doesn’t have to worry about that the Browns have a offense line and David never had a line so you can keep hoping
Joe Burrow was sacked 72 times and made the Super Bowl