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Tag: Browns

  • Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson Denies Sexually Assaulting 22 Ladies

    BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Deshaun Watson maintained his innocence and strongly denied committing any sexual misconduct in spite of allegations made through 22 girls in opposition to the Cleveland Browns’ new beginning quarterback.

    Dressed in a dismal pinstriped go well with and orange tie at his introductory information convention on Friday, Watson confirmed little emotion whilst announcing he’s performed not anything unlawful.

    “I’ve by no means assaulted or disrespected or pressured a girl in my lifestyles,” Watson stated, flanked on the dais throughout the workforce’s headquarters through Browns common supervisor Andrew Berry and trainer Kevin Stefanski. “That’s now not how I used to be raised. I’ve by no means performed these items persons are alleging.”

    It was once the primary time Watson has spoke back direct questions in regards to the allegations, which first surfaced in March 2021. Watson didn’t play final season for the Houston Texans because the instances fastened.

    For just about 40 mins, Watson was once requested about his personality, the costs in opposition to him and the way he’ll try to rebuild his symbol. He is aware of there are individuals who won’t ever consider him.

    “I do know that there’s going to be a stain that almost definitely goes to stay with me for awhile, however all I will be able to do is stay shifting ahead and to proceed to turn the individual that I’m, the actual personality, the actual individual, the actual human being I’m,” the 26-year-old stated.

    “I by no means performed the issues that those persons are alleging and I’m going to proceed to combat for my title and transparent my title and prefer I’ve been doing, simply cooperate with the whole lot that incorporates it.”

    Berry defended the workforce’s arguable determination to commerce for Watson, who has been accused through two dozen therapeutic massage therapists of quite a lot of undesirable sexual job all over personal periods. He has at all times claimed any intercourse was once consensual.

    “We as a company know that this transaction has been very tricky for many of us, in particular girls in our group,” Berry stated. “We understand that it has prompted a variety of feelings. And that, in addition to the character of the allegations, weighed closely on all folks.

    “It was once as a result of the burden of the expected response and the character of the allegations that in reality driven us to do as a lot paintings as conceivable internally and externally with regards to figuring out the instances and who Deshaun was once as an individual.

    “We do have religion and self belief in Deshaun as an individual.”

    Watson pushed aside wanting counseling as a result of he feels he’s been falsely accused.

    “I don’t have an issue,” he stated. “I don’t have a subject matter.”

    Whilst Watson hasn’t been indicted through two grand juries in Texas on legal fees, he’s nonetheless dealing with civil court cases. He has no aim of settling the court cases and that his best objective “is to transparent my title.”

    Berry described the Browns’ unbiased investigation as “a five-month odyssey” that resulted within the workforce feeling relaxed sufficient with Watson as an individual to commerce for him — and in extension make him the face in their franchise.

    Given the intense accusations and ongoing prison issues, the Browns had been criticized for his or her pursuit and signing of Watson. Berry stated the workforce was once recommended through its legal professionals now not to achieve out to any of the 22 girls as a result of it might intrude with the legal investigation.

    Berry paused for a number of seconds sooner than addressing the troubles of a few enthusiasts, who’ve stated they’ll not reinforce the Browns as a result of Watson.

    “We completely recognize and we completely empathize with the ones sentiments at this time and completely remember that there are individuals who don’t seem to be happy with the transaction at this time,” he stated. “However once more, we adopted our data, we be ok with Deshaun as an individual and we predict that he’s going to do a large number of certain in the neighborhood.”

    The Browns lured Watson to Cleveland with a record-setting $230 million, absolutely assured contract, which incorporates a $1 million base wage within the first season within the match he’s suspended through the NFL.

    The league has an ongoing investigation into his conduct and whether or not he violated the private behavior coverage.

    Watson stated the Browns’ contract had not anything to do with him waiving his no-trade clause to come back to Cleveland.

    The Browns traded 3 first-round draft alternatives and 6 alternatives general to Houston for Watson.

    On Thursday, a 2d grand jury in Texas made up our minds to not indict Watson on one of the vital unique legal court cases of sexual misconduct. Watson being cleared through any other grand jury had prompted his pursuit through the Browns and several other different groups hoping to signal the three-time Professional Bowler.

    Extra AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

  • Ben Roethlisberger Retiring From NFL

    PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger’s NFL profession is over.

    The longtime Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback introduced his retirement on Thursday, pronouncing it used to be “time to wash out my locker, hold up my cleats” after 18 years, two Tremendous Bowls, numerous workforce data and a place within the Corridor of Popularity all however protected.

    “I don’t know the way to place into phrases what the sport of soccer has supposed to me and what a blessing it’s been,” Roethlisberger, 39, mentioned in a video message. “However I do know with self assurance I’ve given my all to the sport, I’m beaten with gratitude for what it has given me.”

    The much-anticipated choice got here not up to two weeks after Pittsburgh’s lopsided loss to Kansas Town within the first spherical of the postseason, the twelfth time in Roethlisberger’s profession the Steelers reached the playoffs.

    He hinted ahead of his ultimate recreation at Heinz Box that it used to be time for him to transport on and spend extra time along with his spouse, Ashley, and their 3 kids and made it some extent to embody the instant following a Monday night time win over the Browns on Jan. 3, doing a victory lap of varieties ahead of disappearing down the tunnel surrounded by way of his circle of relatives.

    Roethlisberger known as the adventure from a child rising up in Ohio to the eleventh total select within the 2004 draft to a most probably long term Corridor of Famer “exhilarating,” however he added he’s retiring “a really thankful guy.”

    Person who leaves in the back of a legacy of successful. The Steelers by no means persisted a shedding season throughout Roethlisberger’s tenure and captured Tremendous Bowls 40 and 46 — the latter approaching a now-iconic landing move over the outstretched palms of 3 Arizona defenders to Santonio Holmes within the again nook of the top zone.

    “Striking that jersey on each and every Sunday with my brothers, will all the time be one of the vital biggest joys of my existence,” he mentioned.

    Roethlisberger’s non-public adventure, not like his skilled one, used to be extra sophisticated. He wasn’t dressed in a helmet when broke his jaw and his nostril i n a bike crash in 2006 in a while after changing into the youngest quarterback ever to win a Tremendous Bowl.

    He used to be two times accused of sexual attack, as soon as in 2009 and once more in 2010. A civil case filed in opposition to him stemming from an alleged incident at Lake Tahoe in 2009 used to be settled out of courtroom. A girl in Georgia alleged he assaulted her at a bar in March 2010 however prosecutors didn’t officially price him.

    The NFL suspended him for the beginning of the 2010 season for violating the league’s non-public behavior coverage. He returned to steer the Steelers to the Tremendous Bowl, a loss to Inexperienced Bay.

    The second one part of his profession hinted at his evolution each as a participant and as an individual. Recognized extra for his rugged “Ben being Ben” method to the sport throughout his 20s, he morphed into one of the vital league’s premier passes in his 30s. He two times led the league in yards passing and retires within the all-time most sensible 10 in yards passing and landing passes.