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Henry McKenna
NFL Reporter
When he stuck up for Deshaun Watson after Sunday’s Bengals-Browns game in Cleveland, Jameis Winston lost sight of what really matters.
Winston appeared to completely forget that there is more to Watson’s life than football, namely the 24 lawsuits and 30 accusers who have alleged sexual misconduct by Watson. The embattled quarterback has settled more than 20 of those lawsuits.
Winston, a Cleveland backup, spoke passionately about Watson after he went down with a torn Achilles and Browns fans cheered in celebration at seeing the QB injured.
“The way I was raised, I was taught to love no matter the circumstances, especially with people who do right by you,” Winston said. “I’m grateful to have the chance to serve Deshaun. But I am very upset with the reaction to a man that has had the world against him for the past four years. And he put his body and life on the line for this city every single day.”
Watson is not a victim. I don’t care that Winston was upset over Browns fans cheering. (That, too, was wrong. But not comparable.) Winston has to see the forest for the trees.
The reason Watson “has had the world against him for the past four years” is simple: He is facing lawsuits for allegedly sexually assaulting women. To make matters more complicated, Winston faced accusations of raping a woman in 2012.
Winston’s sympathy for Watson doesn’t just fall on deaf ears. It’s tone-deaf. It’s offensive.
It’s the mistake that the football world so often makes: forgetting this is just a game.
Watson can do his job at the highest level. He can be a great teammate. He could be a great quarterback. And it won’t absolve him from the accusations levied against him.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett only made things worse when asked about fans cheering.
“No one deserves that,” Garrett said, via Awful Announcing, postgame. “I’ve seen him work his ass off to get back here and put a smile on his face and try to…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/jameis-winston-myles-garrett-provide-tone-deaf-defense-deshaun-watson
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Publish date : 2024-10-21 19:15:19
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