For better or worse, the Cleveland Browns are going to be one of the most interesting teams in the NFL in the 2022 season. As the Deshaun Watson controversy and Baker Mayfield drama play out, they also have assembled a roster that has the potential to make some waves.
One of the biggest moves they made this offseason was re-signing Jadeveon Clowney, who had a stellar 2021 in his first season with the squad. While Clowney had the opportunity to look elsewhere as a free agent, he says now that he ultimately decided to stay in Cleveland because they acquired Watson as their new quarterback.
Jadeveon Clowney admitted today he’s here because Watson is here. Added he’d probably be a Falcon if Deshaun ended up in Atlanta pic.twitter.com/ntKddX3RE9
— Anthony Lima (@SportsBoyTony) June 16, 2022
“I thought I played well here last year, and I feel like I can get better and pick off from what I did last year,” the defensive end said Thursday. “Then my boy came here, Deshaun.”
In fact, Clowney says that he would have signed with whatever team traded for Watson, whom he played with in Houston, in spite of his off-field concerns.
“I was all about where my boy Deshaun was going,” Clowney said. “I just wanted to go play with him and see what I can do with him again.”
ESPN says that Clowney spoke to Watson the week that he was traded by the Houston Texans and was looking at potential landing spots. Clowney says that he made the hard sell for Watson to consider Cleveland and that may have played a role.
“I told him if he goes [to Cleveland], then I will follow him over here,” Clowney said. “That’s what it came down to.”
Of course, with the mounting allegations against him, it’s pretty likely that Watson won’t see the field during the regular season for quite some time, so Jadeveon might need to wait a bit longer for the on-field reunion.
[ESPN]
