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The Cleveland Browns stunned the NFL world earlier this month when they acquired Dashon Watson from Texas Houston for several drafts after one grand jury refused to charge him with sexual assault, and while he still faces 22 civil lawsuits on the same charges.
Watson and Brown then agreed to a five-year, $ 230 million contract that gives him a base salary of just over $ 1 million in 2022 along with a $ 8.9 million signing bonus, as the NFL may at some point suffer from discipline. this season.
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Apartmentback Dashon Watson of the Cleveland Browns speaks at a news conference introducing his team to the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus mortgage campus on March 25, 2022 in Beria, Ohio.
(Nick Kammet / Getty Images)
After 2022, Watson is reported to be earning $ 46 million each season until 2026.
At least one NFL leader was baffled by the contract Watson received. The anonymous leader told NFL writer Peter King “Football Morning in America” column on Monday that the contract “stinks to heaven”.
Watson made his media debut on Friday. He again denied any allegations of sexual assault against himself and said he was looking forward to clearing his name “as soon as everything is resolved”.
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefansky is speaking at a news conference representing defender Deshan Watson at the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus mortgage campus on March 25, 2022 in Beria, Ohio.
(Nick Kammet / Getty Images)
“I understand that this circumstance is very difficult, especially for the female side – the fans in this community. I’m not naive about it,” – he said of the criticism caused by his trend. “I know these allegations are very, very serious, but as I mentioned earlier, I have never attacked any woman. I never respected any woman. I was raised by a single mother …
He continued: “I was raised to be real and respect everyone and everything around me. So I have always defended this and will continue to stand for it and I just want to be able to really show who I am in the community and be practical and help people and serve other people. ”
Watson was asked about the number of charges against him and whether they were all wrong.
“I can’t talk about people’s opinions because everyone has their own opinion,” he replied, “but what I can continue to do is tell the truth, and that means I have never attacked, respected or persecuted women. into my life. As I said before, I was brought up differently. It’s not in my DNA, it’s not my culture. It’s not me as a person, and I’m not so educated. “
Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry, left, new quarterback Dashon Watson, in the center, and head coach Kevin Stefansky pose for a photo during a press conference at the NFL football team’s training base on Friday, March 25, 2022, in Bera, Ohio.
(AP Photo / Ron Schwane)
Another Texas grand jury also last week refused to charge Watson on another complaint.
22 civil lawsuits are still pending.
Pauline Deday of Fox News contributed to this report.
