Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson played his first NFL game in nearly two years Sunday, returning to action after an 11-game suspension for repeated sexual misconduct with more than two dozen Houston-area massage therapists. Sunday morning, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter released a story that, according to anonymous sources, Watson had showed “signs of progress” during his treatment program.
Many in sports media took issue with the fact that Schefter’s report was anonymously sourced, with many pointing out the fallacy that Watson couldn’t show “signs of progress” if he hadn’t done anything wrong, which he has maintained throughout the entire ordeal.
I will believe Deshaun Watson has made progress when he admits what he did. So far he is standing by his story that every single one of the dozens of women who accused him of sexual assault are all lying. https://t.co/pHleFzvAG0
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) December 4, 2022
Is the source Deshaun Watson's agent David Mulugheta? Because all of your "reporting" regarding the entire case has been incredibly one-sided in favor of Watson https://t.co/IiBH8SA4ki
— Curtis Rogers (@AKidFromKent) December 4, 2022
This is embarrassing journalism.
— Julie O'Donoghue (@JSODonoghue) December 4, 2022
Why allow anonymous sources on this? What are NFL and NFLPA experts?
What do they mean by progress???
Spinning the return of a player who faces dozens of allegations of sexual assault as a positive story for the NFL is quite a feat. https://t.co/B4gIyiuLrf
The first step has to be admitting what you did. He didn’t do that. Progress doesn’t exist here https://t.co/isQrFRdA6g
— B.W. Carlin (@BaileyCarlin) December 4, 2022
Schefter is such a pathetic embarrassment to journalism https://t.co/5zzo4sUvKu
— Isaac Chotiner (@IChotiner) December 4, 2022
NFL to Schefter https://t.co/ztfwY36x3D pic.twitter.com/zdODDiZWVe
— Brian Drake (@DrakeFantasy) December 4, 2022
There is absolutely no evidence presented here if any kind of “signs of progress” and Watson has consistently declined to so much as acknowledge that he has done anything wrong, but hey https://t.co/5IcqeXRbgm
— Chris Towers is the Riley Greene Preservation Soc (@CTowersCBS) December 4, 2022
what the heck does any of this mean https://t.co/mlk3Wy6faR
— Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) December 4, 2022
ah yes, I’m sure his highly confidential treatment is a) real and b) ~helping~ https://t.co/j0Fib8qrAd
— Kayla Pace (@KP_on_TV) December 4, 2022
Can we just not with this, Adam? JFC. https://t.co/OmVdt0ahKC
— Amie Just (@Amie_Just) December 4, 2022
Does getting a massage without committing sexual assault count as a “sign of progress”? Asking for at least 66 women. https://t.co/1quWq9IF6w
— David P. Samson (@DavidPSamson) December 4, 2022
“Confidential program” and “signs of progress” when the accused has “claimed innocence” the entire time is so incredibly scummy across the board https://t.co/msZv6nW8JZ
— Tyler Forness (@TheRealForno) December 4, 2022
What does `signs of progress' even mean? That he thinks he won't abuse any more massage therapists but isn't sure yet? https://t.co/jKn2R7q62h
— Jerry McDonald (@Jerrymcd) December 4, 2022
What does "signs of progress" even mean and should it actually be praised? https://t.co/ehzvMc9sc8
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) December 4, 2022
Schefter show some spine. You don't have to tweet this. Really.
— Alex Rikleen (@Rikleen) December 4, 2022
His agent will still funnel news to you.
ESPN will keep paying you.
You can turn down this thing one (1) time and I promise you'll be ok. https://t.co/31YtRPGDp8
“he hasn’t tried to cum on anyone in more than 2 months and we’re super proud of him! :)” https://t.co/45iOcDjQMI
— zach jacobson (@zacobson) December 4, 2022
I don’t know what value a story like this brings to readers. An anonymous source just says Deshaun Watson feels as though treatment is helping him — but it doesn’t describe how https://t.co/kUcVSmE4bT
— David Gardner (@byDavidGardner) December 4, 2022
How does the league gauge this? Like, hey guys, Deshaun hasn’t pounded off on an masseuse in months. It’s official https://t.co/438qPjshHM
— Josh Innes (@JoshInnesShow) December 4, 2022
According to insiders, Watson visited a local massage parlor and was able to endure a 30-min session w/o once asking the masseuse to fondle his penis. Schefter says Watson got erect only 6 times, a marked improvement.
— Roy White III (@RDubThree) December 4, 2022
A true bounceback story for the ages! https://t.co/zWy64SMoNr
"NFL and NFLPA experts" WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN? https://t.co/2q5nGbeEe4
— priyadesai (@priyadesai) December 4, 2022
Watson has refused to admit he even did anything wrong, so what exactly has he made progress on? https://t.co/amcYmkxkjx
— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin9) December 4, 2022
Investigative journalism at its finest. ???? https://t.co/IUbV0r3tkH
— Melissa Jacobs ???? (@thefootballgirl) December 4, 2022
Schefter’s got a history of tweeting this kind of stuff. Gotta quit letting him off the hook. https://t.co/HgHg0nUPM4
— Mike McDaniel (@MikeMcDanielSI) December 4, 2022
One of the conditions of Watson’s league discipline barred him from seeking massage therapy from anyone but team personnel, which makes this redemption narrative even more nauseating https://t.co/t2qopIaP6t
— Jeanna Kelley (@jeannathomas) December 4, 2022
Everything is definitely fine and good, don’t look over here! https://t.co/xpYyJeyR8N pic.twitter.com/1Ea0vLThdy
— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) December 4, 2022
lol of course this gets laundered through Schefter. https://t.co/jSawZiNaG5
— Adam Herman (@AdamZHerman) December 4, 2022
Since I know most people aren’t going to actually read this article, I’ll point out there’s no description of what his program is, what he’s doing in the program, or one example of how he’s made progress. Also, the sourcing is vague. https://t.co/AFYf6f9PgU
— Kalyn Kahler (@kalynkahler) December 4, 2022
Well this framing is pretty gross https://t.co/qAhkqY8X4G
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) December 4, 2022
I thought this was supposed to be a confidential process? https://t.co/a1ygnAnzT8
— Jeremie Poplin (@jeremiepoplin) December 4, 2022
this is a tweet everyone should screenshot for use later https://t.co/RaF4BkZg2Q
— mike taddow (@MikeTaddow) December 4, 2022
Deshaun Watson has "said people haven't been interested in hearing his side of the story. He declined to go into any questions outside of football this past week."
— Michael McCann (@McCannSportsLaw) December 4, 2022
Watson faces ongoing litigation–that's a reason not to talk–but tough to criticize others if you don't answer Qs. https://t.co/gZODvQReIf
Nice to see BSM fall back on one of the laziest type of article: The “such and such” reacts to “story of the week” formula: Boring and uninsightful.