Facing a barrage of criticism for their blockbuster acquisition of Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam issued a statement Sunday in an attempt to quell worries about the character of their new franchise quarterback.
Watson is facing 22 civil lawsuits from women who accuse him of sexual misconduct and he could be disciplined by the NFL. A grand jury in Harris County, Texas, declined to indict him in connection with any of the cases, but countless fans have taken to social media since Friday's trade to say they're jumping off the Browns' bandwagon.
The Haslams said in their statement they did their due diligence before making the trade that sent five draft picks — including three in the first round — to Houston for Watson and a 2024 fifth-round pick.