While it appeared that Deshaun Watson’s postgame comments all but ended his chance at winning his position battle over Shedeur Sanders, Browns coach Todd Monken mentioned that they will not be factored into his decision. Monken added that he plans to announce who will be the team’s starting quarterback on Monday.
Watson followed up his poor performance during Saturday’s loss to the Bills by taking aim at fans who booed him during the game. Saturday was Watson’s first game in front of Cleveland’s home fans since his tore his Achilles in Week 7 of the 2024 season. Watson went 5 of 12 for 36 yards and an interception during Cleveland’s eventual 31-7 loss.
“I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance,” Watson mentioned. “It’s a little bit more personal than that. So, I think it’s a disrespectful thing.”
To make his point, Watson noted that Saturday wasn’t the first time that he felt the ire of Browns fans. He added that he gets treated better by opposing fans.
“Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles. That same fan base, they cheered when I got hurt,” he mentioned. “What does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially in your home stadium, and they cheer.”
Watson mentioned that his experiences with Browns fans are usually only negative on either social media or during home games. He was hoping that the situation regarding the fans’ treatment of him would be better given his involvement in the city and after he worked to get himself back in position to compete to be the Browns’ starting quarterback.
“I thought being away for two years and working myself back from two Achilles injuries and putting the time in and being around the facility, being around the city, doing charity work in the city, supporting the Cleveland Browns, hanging out with fans whenever I do see them, being honest, being the type of person that I know I am and the character would help,” he mentioned. “And I guess it hasn’t. So that’s why I say it’s personal. So it is what it is. People have their own opinions. There’s only so much you can do to change that. So at the end of the day, I just have to continue to just work on it and strive to be better mentally moving forward.”
Saturday was a continuation of the downward spiral that has been Watson’s career, especially since he arrived in Cleveland in 2022. A three-time Pro Bowler with the Texans, injuries and inconsistent play have plagued Watson throughout his time with the Browns. He is 9-10 as the Browns’ starting quarterback with just 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a mediocre 61.2% completion percentage.
Adding to the frustration that has been Watson’s story in Cleveland is the amount of capital the Browns spent to get him. They sent Houston six draft picks that included three consecutive first-round picks in addition to signing Watson to a record-setting, five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract. It’s undeniably one of — if not the — worst transactions in the history of sports.
There’s also the fact that the Browns traded for Watson despite the fact that he had already been sued by over two dozen female massage therapists for sexual harassment and sexual assault (in 2022, it was revealed that 20 of the 24 women who sued Watson had reached confidential settlements). Watson’s time in Cleveland began with him serving an 11-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
In addition to Watson’s plight, the fact that he’s competing against the immensely popular Sanders doesn’t help his cause. Sanders, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, went 9 of 11 for 74 yards with a touchdown and an interception against the Bills. Sanders also shone during his postgame press conference when he was asked about the fans’ treatment of Watson.
“I think we all need to understand that we’re all human,” he mentioned. “I don’t really do things to humans I wouldn’t want done to me. … Just for our fans, I appreciate y’all showing up and everything. However y’all feel about the situation, about Deshaun, I think it’s more about a bigger purpose than just respect. The respect thing that I feel like should be there. Because we’re out trying to do our best and trying to serve the franchise the best way possible. We’re going out there every game and doing everything we can do. I don’t really appreciate that.”
As noted above, Watson didn’t do himself any favors both during and after Saturday’s game. And while Monken mentioned that his postgame comments won’t impact his decision, Watson’s response when asked if he can play through more boos from Browns fans if he wins the starting job should be cause for concern.
“I don’t know,” he mentioned. “It’s a mental battle every day. I feel like I get more love on road games than I do home games. If it is my spot and he does makes me the [starter], maybe it’s 17 away games then. I don’t know.”
