“I can’t wait to get to work with him,” Dorsey stated on Monday, February 5. “Because, again, he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the game, and from what I’ve heard, he’s a great person. So I’m simply delighted for the opportunity.”
The Browns’ purchase of Watson was fraught with controversy from the start. More than two dozen women accused Watson of sexual assault. Watson received an 11-game suspension and a $5 million fine during the 2022 season.
ESPN’s Sarah Spain was among those who criticized Dorsey’s depiction of Watson.
“I’d like an honest response from [Dorsey’s] wife and two daughters about how they feel seeing this. (This is rhetorical; they should not be asked, as this is not their profession and they are not public personalities. (You understand my position.)” Spain tweeted.
Others expressed similar sentiments about Dorsey’s use of words to describe his quarterback.
“Come on, Ken Dorsey, you cannot be serious. ‘Quality human being’ and Deshaun Watson do not belong in the same sentence. Chetan Rakieten wrote, “This is a bad look for Dorsey.”
Browns Feel Deshaun. Watson Has Come ‘Long Way’
The Browns received considerable criticism for chasing and signing Watson. What fueled the anger was the team’s record fully guaranteed $230 million contract for Watson upon his arrival.
The franchise has publicly supported Watson during his off-field difficulties. Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam hailed Watson’s development in July 2023.
“He has come a long way in the last year and has worked extremely hard on being a better person, a better man, and a better teammate,” Haslam said in a statement. “I believe he has learnt a lot about himself, including what he can and cannot achieve. I believe he’s learnt who you can and cannot trust.
Watson has dodged any new controversy since joining the Browns.
Ken Dorsey Believes Deshaun Watson Can Be Among NFL’s ‘Elite’
Watson has appeared in only 12 games for the Browns since the deal. He missed 11 games due to suspension in 2022 and only appeared in six games last year owing to injuries.
Watson is 8-4 in his starts, passing for 2,217 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. Watson hasn’t been an outstanding quarterback, but Dorsey believes he can return to the league’s top ranks.
“I’m extremely excited to work with this offence, especially Deshaun and him being one of the top quarterbacks in this league, the opportunity to really go out there this season and help him prove that he really is that — a top quarterback in this league that can operate and help us win a bunch of football games,” Dorsey said in a statement. “So, I’m super excited about that opportunity and really looking forward to this challenge.”
Last season, the Browns secured a playoff berth despite Watson’s absence. If he returns healthy and looks like the Pro Bowl quarterback he was with the Houston Texans, Dorsey and the Browns will be in business.
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