- The Washington Times - Monday, March 28, 2022

Many Cleveland fans aren’t happy about the Deshaun Watson trade, and they’re hitting the Browns where it hurts the most.

Some Browns fans have expressed their displeasure on social media, while others have gone as far as canceling their season tickets following the team’s controversial trade for the quarterback who’s been accused by 22 women of sexual assault and sexual misconduct. 

One fan who announced she’s canceling her season tickets is Andrea Thome, the wife of former Cleveland baseball star and Hall of Famer Jim Thome. She tweeted on Friday after the team introduced Watson during a press conference that the acquisition was her “line in the sand.”

“Officially cancelled our Browns season tickets today and asked for a refund as they were paid in full,” Andrea Thome wrote on Twitter. “Very sad after 40 years as a fan, but this is my line in the sand. I believe women. Especially when there are 22 of them. That press conference did nothing to change my mind.

“They may not give us a refund. But I sent the letter today. If @Browns won’t refund — I will auction off every single game and publicly donate every cent to different women’s crisis charities in N.E. Ohio, raising awareness week by week during the season.”

The team’s press conference to introduce Watson came one day after a second Texas grand jury declined to indict the former Texans quarterback. The 26-year-old, who sat out the entire 2021 season, still faces suits by the 22 women in civil court.

Watson and his lawyers have denied the allegations, and the quarterback continued his defense at his press conferences. 

“I don’t have any regrets,” Watson said. “The things are off the field right now caught me by surprise because I never did anything that these people are alleging.”

After the first grand jury declined to indict Watson earlier this month, teams started making their pitches to the Texans for the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback who is considered one of the top young quarterbacks in the NFL, alongside Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.

The Browns, Panthers, Saints and Falcons all expressed interest in trading for Watson, and he chose Cleveland as his new home. After the trade, the Browns signed Watson to a five-year, $230 million contract that is fully guaranteed.

The contract broke the record for most guaranteed money in an NFL deal — an aspect that shocked many in the NFL world considering the risk the Browns are taking on with the embattled quarterback as well as for the way it will alter the quarterback contract landscape for years to come.

One NFL executive anonymously told writer Peter King for his “Football Morning in America” column that the contract “stinks to high heaven.” 
 
 
 

• Jacob Calvin Meyer can be reached at jmeyer@washingtontimes.com.

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