Report: Deshaun Watson has shown “signs of progress” during treatment - NBC Sports

When he met with reporters on Thursday, Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson refused to answer questions unrelated to football.

Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports that NFL and NFLPA experts believe Watson has shown “signs of progress” during mandatory treatment sessions.

Watson was required to submit to treatment as part of the negotiated settlement of his league-imposed suspension.

As of August 18, after Watson agreed to accept an 11-game suspension and to pay a $5 million fine, he maintained his innocence as to the allegations of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions.

A little cynicism is justified here, given the very real belief in some league circles that certain owners wanted Watson to be suspended for less than a full year, so that the Browns wouldn’t see Watson’s contract tolled for an entire season.

If Watson didn’t return at all in 2022, his five-year contract would start in 2023 and run through 2027.

By returning during the season, the Browns have Watson under contract only through 2026 — and they will be compelled to pay the full value of his deal during that time frame.

Indeed, don’t expect to hear any more about that until some future Sunday morning when some reporter reports that Watson is privately showing the contrition he refused to show in August and declined to even begin to address on Thursday.

Hopefully Watson takes advantage of the resources that are available to him to help him deal with the issues at hand.

After today things should settle down ,and that’s a good thing, but It’ll probably start up again next season when the Browns are in the Super Bowl.