By STEVE KING
As we continue to build the list of egregious aspects of the Browns trading with the Houston Texans to get quarterback Deshaun Watson, let’s add another one.
It’s that the Browns’ top people have no idea — no clue at all — of the serious nature of Watson’s alleged transgressions.
This was evident — that is, even more so — after reading the statement released by the club the other day containing remarks attributed to Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, General Manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski.
To read those comments, you would think that Watson jaywalked a bunch of times, stole a pack of gum from a convenient store, driven 36 miles an hour in a 35 zone, tore the tag off his mattress that warns that removal is punishable by law, pilfered cable TV by hooking into his neighbor’s line, or parked his car illegally.
All of those are misdeeds — humorously so in a few cases — but they obviously do not even remotely approach the seriousness of the accusations of sexual assault by at least 24 women against Watson.
These are the types of crimes that get — and keep — the attention of everyone, anywhere, anytime, no matter their age, gender or ethnicity. It makes all people — or at least almost all of them — irate. Accuse someone of this and you’ve cut into their soul. And if they’ve done it, then they’ve cut into the victim’s soul, scarring them for life.
All teams — not just in the NFL but in all sports — try to correct the poor behaviors of players, especially the best ones, for getting them straightened around is a win for everyone.
The Browns tried so hard with Josh Gordon but failed.
They tried so hard with Kevin Mack and succeeded.
They tried so hard with Chip Banks but failed.
They tried so hard with members of the Inner Circle and succeeded in almost every instance.
It’s a good investment. It’s worth the effort.
These were all cases of players abusing drugs. They were hurting only themselves and their loved ones. They weren’t hurting innocent people.
But it’s different — much, much, much different — with the accusations against Watson. These are crimes that can inflict great harm — physically, emotionally and mentally — to the victims and even ruin their lives.
That the Browns’ execs — particularly a woman in Dee Haslam, who, you would think, would want nothing to do with someone like this on her football team — are so laissez-faire with what’s actually going on here, is startlingly eye-opening, disgusting and — here’s that word again — egregious.
We obviously root for people like Deshaun Watson to get help, but we don’t root — I certainly don’t root, and I think a lot of you don’t root, either — for one of them to be not just the quarterback of your football team, but the face of the franchise.
Come on, Browns, is that what you want to stand for?
