Browns' Jacoby Brissett not worrying about possible Deshaun Watson suspension

BEREA — New Browns backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett insisted Wednesday he isn't on the edge of his seat awaiting word from the NFL on a potential suspension for Deshaun Watson.

A day after the Browns traded for Watson on March 18 despite the 22 lawsuits he faces from women accusing him of sexual misconduct or sexual assault during massage appointments, the team reached an agreement with Brissett on a one-year, $4.65 million contract.

“It presented a good opportunity,” Brissett said Wednesday at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. “That’s really what it was.”

Watson will likely be suspended by the NFL under its personal conduct policy. Whether Watson misses eight, six, four or another amount of games, Brissett said it's not his place to make predictions about discipline.

“I wouldn’t be in the position that I am in today if I worried about things like that,” Brissett said during the second day of the Browns' voluntary offseason workout program. “I’ve always prepared myself like a starter. I carry myself like a starter because when those opportunities present themselves, I want to show that I am that.”

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The next starting quarterback of the Browns will be the franchise's 33rd since its rebirth in 1999. It would be Brissett in the event Watson were suspended to begin next season.

Brissett has gone 14-23 as an NFL starter, including 2-3 last season with the Miami Dolphins. In 60 career games, he has completed 727-of-1,208 passes (60.2%) for 7,742 yards and 36 touchdowns with 17 interceptions for a rating of 83. He has added 653 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.

“Whatever the circumstance is you’re always one play away,” Brissett said. “So when those opportunities present themselves, I make sure I go in to prove myself right.”

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A No. 2 quarterback is usually summoned because of an injury to the starter or poor performance. A suspension is rarely a factor, but it is expected to become one for the Browns.

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“When I speak about opportunities,” Brissett said, “obviously getting to play in the National Football League is a very unique opportunity that I don't take lightly.

“I can't predict whatever the case may be with the outside the field stuff, but what I know is true is that you're always one play away.”

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Brissett, 29, agreed his skill set is akin in some ways to that of Watson, a three-time Pro Bowl selection whom the Houston Texans drafted 12th overall in 2017.

“I think we do a lot of the same things,” Brissett said. “Obviously, he’s way faster than me. I’m not afraid to say that. But I think this offense suits us well in that room, and it sounds like and it looks like, obviously from watching film and stuff like that, that the coaches tried to put us in the best position possible and play to the strengths of whoever is playing.”

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So what will the offense look like as the Browns transition from a quarterback room of Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum and Nick Mullens to Watson, Brissett and Josh Dobbs?

Last month at the NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach, Florida, Kevin Stefanski didn't rule out wholesale changes to the Gary Kubiak-inspired system he ran the past two seasons as head coach of the Browns.

With Watson, Brissett and Dobbs, Stefanski said the Browns have size — none of them is shorter than 6 feet, 2 inches — and mobility at the game's most vital position.

“We definitely have to adapt to our players, and certainly the quarterback is so important in what we do, so we will make we that we do what Deshaun does best and what the quarterback room does best,” Stefanski said Wednesday. “Those are the things that we are working through as we study and have studied Deshaun, Jacoby and Josh, understand what those guys do best and make sure that we can do that come September. To get there, though, there are a lot of meetings, there is a lot of install and there is a lot of practice that has to occur to ultimately tell you how much we will change.”

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Watson, who received a five-year contract from the Browns worth an NFL-record $230 million fully guaranteed, will take the lead on influencing what form the offense takes.

“With the quarterback, you do want this to be a collaboration,” Stefanski said. “All quarterbacks are different, and you want to make sure that you meet them where they are. Deshaun is very open minded to trying different things that he has not done. Similarly, we are very open minded to putting in schemes that he has a lot of success in that we have not done.

“Just spending time with him yesterday and today, he wants to certainly grow as a player, and he wants to try different concepts. … Ultimately, it's what our quarterback is most comfortable doing.”

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Watson has played primarily out of the shotgun during his NFL career. He'll probably ask Stefanski to spread the offense out more and increase the use of run-pass options.

Still, Brissett said it's too early to know precisely how the offense will evolve. Staples of Stefanski's system have been play-action passing and a running game fueled by zone blocking. Brissett spoke as if some facets of the system will remain intact.

“It's only been like a month, but I'm learning it, so that's good,” Brissett said. “But we talk every day in the meetings, and we've talked on the phone. We're going to do what the strength of the team is. Obviously, you look at the Browns, it's no shock. I mean, we have two of the best running backs in the NFL — [Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt] — and teams understand that as well. So it's going to be run and play action, and then everything else that comes with that.”

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Brissett has familiarity with different systems. A 2016 third-round draft pick of the New England Patriots, Brissett also played for the Indianapolis Colts from 2017-20 before spending last season with the Dolphins.

“He understands how to win. He has really been in some different systems that have allowed him to grow in his football intelligence,” Stefanski said. “A really quality person. Very intelligent. Just felt like his skill set was something that would match up really well with our offense.”

Despite Brissett's experiences with different teams and a variety of offenses, he has never previously been part of an all-Black quarterback room, something he pointed out unsolicited. The Browns have never had an all-Black quarterback room, either. They will with Watson, Brissett and Dobbs, who agreed April 8 to join the Browns.

“That's pretty unique and that's pretty cool,” Brissett said.

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Brissett emphasized he will support his fellow quarterbacks, other teammates and coaches. His experience is coveted by Stefanski.

“He understands how to play the position,” Stefanski said. “He understands how to take care of the ball and how to lead. He understands how to win without getting any reps in a given week.

“He has been a starter and a backup. I just think there is value with that position understanding his role and understanding that his role can change in a moment’s notice.”

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Wide receiver Amari Cooper said he hadn't thought about the importance of developing chemistry with Brissett, given Watson's situation.

“One thing I do know now that you forced me to [think about it], I think the personnel department here is great just like everywhere else,” Cooper said. “I’m supremely confident in all the guys the department has brought in, so we’ll be ready.”

The sooner the Browns know Watson's status with the league, the better for their planning.

“Everybody has to be ready to play, and then as more information becomes available, then we can adjust how we structure practice, how we structure rotations and those type of things,” Stefanski said. “Absent that information, I can’t really speculate just yet. But certainly as more information comes out, we will be ready to adjust.”

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Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jacoby Brissett not worrying about Deshaun Watson suspension