This upcoming Sunday marks Week 12 in the National Football League, and that means quarterback Deshaun Watson is eligible to return following an 11-game suspension, which was handed down after a settlement was reached by the NFL and the league’s Players Association.
Over the past year, two dozen women came out alleging that Watson committed sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions. Watson reached settlements with 23 of the 24 women, and after doing so, he didn’t shy away from proclaiming his innocence to anyone who would listen.
Now, the next step in the saga is upon us, as Watson is slated to start for the Cleveland Browns against his old team, the Houston Texans, on the road. There’s no telling what the reaction will be from Houston fans when he finally takes the field, but I hope they make him fully aware that no one has forgotten the situation that landed him here in the first place.
Cleveland, for its part, looks like it has moved on from questions of how they could possibly trade for Watson. They made abundantly clear when they signed him to a five-year, $230 million, fully-guaranteed deal earlier this offseason. Now, it’s time for everyone else to play their part.
I would challenge Texans fans to be the loudest they’ve ever been this Sunday. They need to let Watson know the damage he has caused the team, the city and the league, let alone the 24 women whose lives have changed from his alleged misconduct.
I hope the Houston faithful lets Watson have it. And I hope he feels the walls closing in around him. I hope he gets sacked, a lot. I hope he throws interceptions. I hope he plays so bad the Browns are forced to turn things back over to Jacoby Brissett.
But Sunday won’t be the final step in this saga, regardless of performance. And as the days and weeks progress, it will be the job of fans, players and media to make sure Watson isn’t allowed to slide back into any sense of normalcy.
Reporters should hound the quarterback with questions in his availability after Sunday’s game. They should also offer him a chance to make a real apology — not that I’m holding my breath. Failing to push Watson on this could create a chilling effect for other women who have been victims of sexual misconduct, as many will have to decide whether its worth it given the lack of accountability the quarterback has faced so far these past several months.
They should continue asking questions until they’re cut off, and return to their inquiries at practice next week. But arguably the biggest step of all will come when Watson finally suits up at home — on Dec. 18 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Cleveland, as a franchise, seems content with moving on from the Watson situation and heading into the future like nothing ever happened. But Browns fans, I implore you not to let that slide.
When the time comes, you need to pile into FirstEnergy Stadium. Fill it up. Then you need to come together as a fanbase and boo the living hell out of this man.
He’s shown nothing but a lack of contrition for the women his alleged actions affected. Now it’s time for Cleveland fans to show him the same mercy.
Sports Editor Jeremy Vernon can be reached at jeremy@chathamnr.com or on Twitter at @jbo_vernon.