Cleveland Rape Crisis Center has raised over $120k since Browns acquired Deshaun Watson

Some fans saw the Cleveland Browns acquiring star quarterback Deshaun Watson as a reason to donate to a local organization. 

For a piece published on Monday afternoon, ESPN's Jake Trotter explained that Donisha Greene, the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center director of community engagement, says that organization has raised "more than $120,000 since March from people who said they were donating because of Watson." 

The Browns traded with the Houston Texans for Watson in March and then awarded him with a five-year contract reportedly worth $230 million in fully guaranteed money after it was learned he would not be criminally charged regarding numerous allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. Watson made his Browns regular-season debut at the Texans on Sunday after he served an 11-game suspension. Cleveland defeated Houston 27-14. 

"It was really heartbreaking at times because you got your lifelong fans writing their notes and saying, 'I've been a Browns fan for 29 years, and this is the first season that I won't be participating in,' so they'd donate the cost of a season ticket," Greene told Trotter. "It was a pretty powerful response, for sure."

Greene also said that the average number of calls received by the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center from survivors "tripled" across the weekend after the Browns landed Watson on March 18. 

"Sometimes they were just folks saying that, 'Hey, I've never reported my sexual assault, but I am triggered by this story, and I just wanted to call in and talk about it. I'm very disturbed. I'm very angry,'" Greene added. "Some survivors can hear this story and be triggered, and be angry, and it makes them relive their trauma. For other folks, it may make them feel empowered and want to take control of their healing in a way that they may have not been able to do before. That's probably why you [saw] the number of survivors going to the game. That's them standing up for themselves and taking control over what they can control, essentially."

Watson has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and two grand juries declined to indict him. His legal team has thus far settled 23 civil lawsuits, while two lawsuits remain active. Trotter pointed out that "around 10" of the women who accused Watson of sexual misconduct attended Sunday's game with Tony Buzbee, their attorney. 

Per Sky Sports News, Watson elected against expressing feelings of remorse while speaking with reporters after Sunday's victory. 

"That's something that, legal and clinical, we've answered before. And they don't want me to address anything like that," Watson said. "Of course, it was a tough situation. The suspension was tough. But at the same time, my main focus is just trying to be 1-0 as a football player today.

"I was just excited to be back on the field today. I did everything that I was asked and was required to do. I did all that. And I was able to play and be on the field today."

Watson didn't play for the Texans last season after a trade request and looked rusty against his former club. He completed 12-of-22 pass attempts for 131 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. 

The 5-7 Browns remain alive in the playoff race as they prepare to play at the 8-4 Cincinnati Bengals this coming Sunday.