Browns QB Deshaun Watson feeling confident, less burdened a year after NFL suspension
Deshaun Watson’s looking more like an elite quarterback than he did a year ago.
Watson, who was suspended 11 games in 2022 for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, has been impressive during the Cleveland Browns’ mandatory minicamp this week.
Firing passes to a variety of receivers, Watson said he’s regained his confidence and is having fun again. Watson was accused of sexual misconduct by two dozen women who said he acted inappropriately during massage therapy sessions while he played for Houston.
The Browns signed Watson to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract despite his legal issues.
Extra points
SOCCER: Lionel Messi is set to become part of the next chapter of men’s soccer in North America. Messi’s announcement that he will join Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami is another landmark moment for the league and the sport in the United States. But he’s only the latest big-name international player to bring his talents to the U.S. It started with Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cryuff in the NASL, and since the MLS was launched other stars like David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimović have raised the profile of the game in North America. PHILLIES: Philadelphia’s series finale against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night was postponed due to poor air quality caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires. The game was rescheduled for 5:05 p.m. on Thursday, originally an off day for both teams. Philadelphia won 1-0 Tuesday in haze and with the smell of smoke in the air. Phillies players and manager Rob Thomson said the conditions did not affect them, though a strong wind blowing in from center field halted three would-be home runs short of the fence. About a half-hour before the postponement was announced by Major League Baseball, Thomson said he thought Wednesday night’s game would be played. The Philadelphia skyline could not be seen from the ballpark due to haze and a smoky smell remained.
RAYS: Tampa Bay slugger Brandon Lowe won’t participate in baseball activities for two to three weeks because of another back injury. Lowe went on the 10-day injured list with a lower-back issue on Monday and is hitting .199 with nine homers and 29 RBIs in 50 games. He struck out 63 times in 176 at-bats. Lowe was limited to 65 games last season by injuries, including a stress reaction in his lower back. He hit 39 homers and drove in 99 runs in 2021 but went deep just eight times and had 25 RBIs last year, Manager Kevin Cash said the current injury is different from the back problem last season.
FRENCH OPEN: In the women’s quarterfinals, Swiatek beat No. 6 Coco Gauff, and Haddad Maia defeated No. 7 Ons Jabeur. In the men’s, No. 4 Casper Ruud eliminated No. 6 Holger Rune, and No. 22 Alexander Zverev got past unseeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
NASCAR: NASCAR has issued another set of penalties for illegal modifications to its second-year Next Gen car, this time against Legacy Motor Club and driver Eric Jones. NASCAR said the team modified the greenhouse on the No. 43 Chevrolet and fined crew chief Dave Elenz $75,000 and suspended him one race. Both Legacy and Jones were also docked 60 points and five NASCAR playoff points. NASCAR has taken a zero tolerance stance on modifications to its new car, which debuted last year and is largely a spec vehicle with singlesource vendor parts. It was designed to both cut costs and even the playing field.
OKC DODGERS: El Paso scored 10 unanswered runs between the third and seventh innings as part of an offensive barrage during a 15-5 win over the Oklahoma City Dodgers Tuesday night at Southwest University Park. The Dodgers (41-17) trailed, 4-0, in the third inning but rallied to tie the game. Michael Busch hit a bases-clearing double, and Jahmai Jones followed with a game-tying RBI single. But from that point on, the Chihuahuas (27-31) took command of the game. El Paso scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning to regain the lead before adding four more runs in the fourth inning. The score stayed at 10-4 until a five-run bottom of the seventh inning, with four runs scoring with two outs. Drew Avans homered in the ninth inning for the Dodgers’ final run of the night.
—