It was impossible to watch Thursday Night Football without being brought down by veiled references to Deshaun Watson’s past. In what became one of the most disgusting rehab campaigns in recent memory, Kirk Herbstreit, in particular, slobbered on Watson for most of the game, calling the alleged sexual assaults against 27 women “past issues” and turning the Browns’ recent success into a story of overcoming adversity.
Media coverage began Thursday night with reporter Taylor Rooks having an interview with Watson, who never directly mentioned the women he abused, instead vaguely referring to criticism as “Deshaun Watson the person,” as if his greatest crime was putting pineapple on pizza. We had to listen to Watson babble in platitudes about the struggles he’s been through, how he wants to be special, why he disagrees with people who criticize his character, and on several occasions he dropped jaw-dropping mentions about HIS need to forgive others. Yes, the man who allegedly abused 27 women really needs to focus on forgiving the people who boo him, that’s what he would take away.
He is quick to whitewash athletes’ past indiscretions, particularly when it comes to violence against women. It’s a predictable cycle of silence, followed by rehabilitation, then back to business as usual. What makes Watson’s situation unique is the way announcers attempt to diminish his off-field actions and change the narrative to be focused on on-field performance. Herbstreit’s actions on Thursday Night Football were just vile, as he was referring to fans booing Watson, his early struggles as the Browns’ quarterback, and now overcoming all of that to lead them to victory.
No mention of Watson’s suspension, the grueling contract the team signed him the woman paid to ensure their silence. If you had watched a Browns game for the first time on Thursday, you would have thought Watson was a victim of fans’ irrational expectations, not that he exploited the two-tiered justice system to pay off the women he assaulted, rather than face real punishment. This is brass tacks: if Watson was not a multi-millionaire, with the funds to pay his accusers to the tune of $50 million, he should have at least conducted a preliminary investigation, which could have led to the emergence of evidence that could have restarted the criminal proceedings. Fortunately for Watson, the system we have is not equal and he was able to escape charges thanks to his NFL contracts.
During the critical final phase of the rulemaking, Herbstreit called Watson “much maligned,” with Al Michaels interjecting “in all caps,” as if to make light of the situation. This wasn’t just a story of a quarterback playing bad football; He was a serial abuser who alienated Cleveland Browns fans when the organization decided to support and isolate him, rather than cut him off, take the hit and move on. It’s a perfect storm of incompetence that has led us to this moment. If the Browns hadn’t given Watson the worst quarterback contract in NFL history that fully guaranteed his money, then he would have been fired for playing like an asshole two years ago, that’s all. Instead, he lingered on the back of the roster like a malignant tumor and was given the opportunity to start over in the NFL simply because he was slightly better than two other trash options. It’s a bit like choosing to have meningitis, because the alternatives are hepatitis and rabies.
The Browns win football games. Watson is playing decent enough that the defense is able to carry the team. Sit back and watch him play quarterback, and it’s not like Cleveland is blessed with individual genius. In fact, overall, Watson is mediocre, misses wide open throws, and can’t actually drive to win a game. They beat the Buccaneers because Baker Mayfield became a potato, the Panthers because they were missing five starters, and now the Steelers because Aaron Rodgers is washed up. Kudos to them for winning the games in front of them, because that’s every team’s job — and the Browns’ defense is legitimately fantastic, but Watson isn’t the reason this team wins; he simply takes advantage of the hard work of others.
In this world of identity diffusion, it is not obligatory to tell the real story. It’s not tempting to focus on defense, interviewing middle linebacker Carson Schwesinger or a passer like Jared Verse. Quarterbacks have reigned supreme forever, but Deshaun Watson deserves no praise, no attention, and he never will. Shame on everyone involved Thursday Night Football for turning their show into an opportunity to try to rehabilitate the image of a serial abuser.
Gn sports
