Watson won’t give ground on innocence

‘Never assaulted anyone,’ Browns QB maintains

The new lawsuits — and potential for more — against Deshaun Watson may have further damaged his image and swayed opinion about him.

However, they’ve only deepened his resolve.

The Cleveland Browns quarterback reiterated Tuesday that he never committed sexual misconduct alleged by two dozen women in Texas, adding he plans to keep fighting to clear his name.

“I never assaulted anyone,” Watson said following practice as the Browns held their mandatory minicamp in Berea, Ohio. “I never harassed anyone or I never disrespected anyone. I never forced anyone to do anything.”

Watson, who faces civil lawsuits from 24 massage therapists accusing him of sexual assault and harassment during private sessions when he played for Houston, stood by previous comments proclaiming his innocence.

While acknowledging his actions have impacted others, Watson maintained he’s not done anything wrong.

“I just want to clear my name,” he said.

Watson’s comments were his first public ones since March 25, when he was introduced by the Browns after they persuaded him to waive his no-trade clause and signed him to a fully guaranteed, fiveyear, $230 million contract.

Bills

Team co-owner Kim Pegula is in the intensive care unit of a Florida hospital receiving medical care for what her family described as “some unexpected health issues.” The statement from the Pegula family said they are grateful for the progress she has made over the past few days, adding she has “an exceptional team of medical experts at her side.” But the statement didn’t specify the type of medical issues and asked to respect the family’s need for privacy. The Pegulas also own the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.

Commanders

Assistant Jack Del Rio addressed the team to apologize for his comments about protests in the summer of 2020 and the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, coach Ron Rivera said. Rivera said Del Rio also met individually with some players to discuss his remarks last week, which drew a $100,000 fine from the team. “He was very open, very forthright, very contrite and apologized and opened himself up to questions or opportunities for any players to come in and meet with him,” Rivera told reporters before the team’s first minicamp practice. “He’s already met with some of our players and talked to some of them about what was said. I’ve been told those meetings went very, very well.”

Lions

Detroit signed Devin Funchess as a tight end to add depth to a position group led by T.J. Hockenson. Funchess has not played in the league since 2019. Carolina drafted him in the second round in 2015 as a wide receiver. He had 21 touchdown receptions over four seasons with the Panthers.

Elsewhere

Golden Tate, the former wide receiver for Seattle, Detroit, Philadelphia and the New York Giants, signed with the Port Angeles Lefties baseball team of the West Coast League, a summer league for college players. Tate, who played baseball for two years at Notre Dame, was drafted in 2007 by MLB’s Arizona in the 42nd round, and in 2010 by San Francisco in the 50th. As a sophomore at Notre Dame, Tate batted .329 in 55 games.