Jadeveon Clowney Reveals Why he Returned to Cleveland

Jadeveon Clowney is back in Cleveland for a second consecutive season. Though his reason for returning may not come to fruition.

‘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,’ he told reporters Thursday. ‘Then my boy came here, Deshaun.’

Clowney and newly minted Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson were teammates for two seasons in Houston and formed a bond strong enough to sway Clowney to join him amidst Watson’s off-field issues.

The quarterback is currently facing 24 civil lawsuits over accusations of inappropriate sexual conduct during massages. The Browns gave Watson the keys to their franchise in the form of a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million deal after arriving via trade in the spring.

It may be a while before the quarterback can suit up for Cleveland; he was cleared of criminal charges, though the NFL is investigating the allegations made against him.

In spite of the questions surrounding Watson’s status and character, Clowney was fully focused on joining the former Clemson star wherever he landed.

‘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.’

‘I told him if he goes [to Cleveland], then I will follow him over here. That’s what it came down to.’

It remains to be seen when Deshaun Watson will be able to suit up for the Browns.

Clowney performed strongly alongside All-Pro pass rusher Myles Garrett, amassing 9 sacks in 14 games with the Browns last season, resulting in a new one-year, $10 million deal.

If Watson is made unavailable to Cleveland this season, Clowney still believes the Browns will be a force to be reckoned with.

‘We’ve got a good defense, we can hold it together,’ Clowney said. ‘We did good last year, and we were banged up on offense all over the place and our defense played well for what we had going on. … We’re going to be all right.’