'Houston This, Houston That!' Texans Ex Deshaun Watson: 'I've Evolved' with Browns

As he prepares for his first full season since 2020, former Houston Texans' quarterback Deshaun Watson seems committed to "starting something new" with the Cleveland Browns.

Deshaun Watson is not making negative references to his up-and-down days with the Houston Texans when the now-Cleveland Browns quarterback says he's done "getting caught up in 'Hey, Houston this. Houston that'.''

Said Watson as he prepared for Sunday's Week 1 duel with the Cincinnati Bengals: "I had a lot of fun, a lot of success in Houston. But I want to have that success and start something new in Cleveland.”

Once upon a time, he was everything to the Texans as he led the NFL in passing and helped make Houston a a playoffs-worthy franchise. But now, after his tumultuous 2021-to-2022 period that saw him demand a trade, sit out in Houston, deal with sexual assault allegations, absorb an 11-game suspension and then finish last year on a mediocre level in Cleveland?

Despite falling from QB1 with the Texans to Public Enemy No. 1 in Houston, Watson believes he’s a better person. But he also stated this week that he is a substantially better player than he's ever been ... no small feat if true.

“I’m not the same guy,” Watson said this week. ”I feel like I’ve improved. I’ve evolved to a new level. And I’m ready to be able to show that.”

Watson showed little at the end of last year with the Browns, going 3-3 in six starts and raising concerns about Cleveland’s $230 million investment via his new contract.

“Last year was a tricky time where I was learning everything,” he said, vowing to again become a fixture on that highest level.

“I know I can be,” Watson said.