ATLANTA – Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank said his team had only preliminary interest in dealing for Deshaun Watson before the quarterback accepted a trade to the Cleveland Browns earlier this month.
Blank said more investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations made by nearly two dozen women against Watson while he was with the Houston Texans would have been necessary before Atlanta’s interest could have become more serious.
The Falcons were seen as a final contender for Watson before his trade to the Browns on March 18.
“I think we had an obligation, felt an obligation, we ought to at least have a conversation with him,” Blank said Tuesday during a video news conference with Atlanta reporters from the NFL team owners’ meetings in Palm Beach, Florida. “Where it would have gone from there, I really don’t know.”
Watson, a three-time Pro Bowl selection since being drafted 12th overall in 2017, did not play last season and is facing a possible NFL suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy after massage therapists accused him of sexual assault and harassment.