“I’m going to be respectful of the investigation, of the legal proceedings and let that play out,” Stefanski stated.
Watson was current at Wednesday’s low season exercise, finishing passes to teammates in an orange jersey and shorts, however was not made accessible to the information media. That day, he set his Twitter account to non-public, limiting his posts to his 1.4 million followers.
What motion may the Browns take subsequent?
The Browns’ choices look like restricted in the event that they need to get out of their cope with Watson.
An individual with direct data of the deal stated the contract had protecting wording, much like that in different gamers’ contracts, that allowed the franchise to void facets of it for detrimental conduct that the staff was unaware of when the settlement was signed. The individual, who requested anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to talk publicly on the matter, stated the Browns have been unlikely to take motion until Watson was charged criminally.
Watson, 26, requested a commerce from the Texans after the 2020 season, months after signing a four-year contract extension in Houston value almost $111 million assured. Shortly thereafter, the first allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced. He was on the Texans roster in 2021 however didn’t play a snap.
Berry stated in March that the Browns determined to pursue Watson after third-party counsel accomplished an unbiased investigation that included interviewing references and regulation enforcement officers. When a Harris County, Texas, grand jury declined to cost Watson in reference to 9 prison complaints, the Browns, the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints entered the bidding for him. Cleveland introduced the Watson commerce quickly after.
But it wasn’t till after Watson was signed {that a} second grand jury, in Brazoria County, Texas, declined to press expenses in opposition to him. The Browns haven’t defined why they signed him when there was nonetheless a risk he could be charged criminally.
The affect of the new lawsuits on Watson’s standing with the staff can also be unknown. Hardin stated that his authorized staff had by no means heard of the twenty fourth plaintiff till Monday, and it’s unclear whether or not Watson disclosed the potential of latest authorized actions to the Browns earlier than signing.
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