Quarterback Deshaun Watson showed up to his new workplace Tuesday just like the Browns expected he would.
After coming to Cleveland on March 18 in a controversial trade, Watson attended the first day of the Browns’ voluntary offseason workout program. The team tweeted a photograph of his arrival.
The Browns dealt three first-round draft picks and three other selections to the Houston Texans for Watson, who faces 22 active lawsuits from women accusing him of sexual misconduct or sexual assault during massage appointments and a likely NFL suspension.
Watson, who has denied all wrongdoing and had two Texas grand juries decline to indict him on 10 criminal complaints, received a record-setting five-year contract from Cleveland worth $230 million fully guaranteed.
Last month at the NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach, Florida, coach Kevin Stefanski and owner Jimmy Haslam said they expected Watson to report Tuesday to Browns headquarters in Berea for the start of the program.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, center, takes questions from local media during his introductory press conference at the Cleveland Browns Training Facility on Friday.
Hired as head coach in January 2020, Stefanski pointed out he hasn’t had a typical offseason with players yet.
“Year one was COVID,” Stefanski said. “Year two, as we know, was a little bit different, so looking forward to having a normal offseason.
“I think there’s great value in being around your teammates and around your coaches in Berea, and Deshaun will be a part of that.”
Quarterback Baker Mayfield and virtually the entire starting Browns offense stayed away from in-person voluntary workouts last year while center JC Tretter led the movement as the president of NFL Players Association. Citing COVID-19 concerns and injury data from 2020, Tretter encouraged players throughout the league to refrain from showing up until mandatory minicamps in June.
The Browns…