MLS fans turned out in huge numbers for Sunday's game at Lower.com Field in Columbus, attending the Crew’s first home contest since early March. During the 22nd minute, fans, in a choreographed protest, held up 22 signs, each reading, “We believe Jane Doe.” The number 22 is an obvious reference to Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who faces 22 civil lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct.
Watson won’t face criminal charges after being cleared by a Texas grand jury last month, though fans were still disgusted to see the Browns not only trade for an alleged sexual predator, but reward him with one of the richest contracts in NFL history. Backlash to the trade has been swift with many (former MLB slugger Jim Thome among them) rushing to cancel their season tickets.
While some have defended Watson’s right to due process, seeing the disgraced quarterback land on his feet with a new team and a monster $230-million extension (which comes fully guaranteed) has been triggering for others, including veteran Browns reporter Marla Ridenour, who recently shared her own experience as a sexual assault victim in a column for the Akron Beacon Journal.
The Columbus Crew are owned by Jimmy Haslam, who, along with his wife Dee, has served as majority owner of the Browns since 2012. The Haslams were conspicuously absent during Watson’s introductory press conference, owing to a “previous engagement” outside the country, though they did address the media virtually in a brief Zoom meeting.
Watson’s Browns debut could be delayed by a suspension with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell confirming at last week’s Owners Meetings the league is still completing its investigation. Cleveland’s Rape Crisis Center has received thousands of donations since the Browns acquired Watson from Houston in exchange for six draft picks including first-rounders in each of the next three drafts.
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