Deshaun Watson Shedeur Sanders Browns quarterbacks fans
Deshaun Watson Shedeur Sanders Browns quarterbacks fans
For better or worse, Deshaun Watson is the Browns’ starting quarterback, and given the alternative, worse is a legitimate option. At least as far as actual football playing goes, because Shedeur Sanders certainly wouldn’t start on 31 other rosters. But as they say, the Browns is the Browns, and here they are—and here we are.
And here Deshaun Watson is, already issuing an apology on the day we learn he is the starter. Days earlier, after the Browns’ second preseason game, he gave an emotional response to fans booing him. Initially claiming to have no reaction, he quickly added that “the whole world knows it has nothing to do with performance”, that it’s personal, and that it’s “a disrespectful thing”.
Not that he was entirely wrong, because it’s certainly true that many, many people have very little respect, if any, for Deshaun Watson. Before the Browns even traded for him in 2022, he faced literally dozens of civil lawsuits filed by massage therapists accusing him of sexual misconduct. In at least some case, he acknowledged that sexual interactions occurred, instead claiming they were consensual.
On top of all that, Watson also played poorly and could not stay on the field. Even before he played his first snap in a Browns uniform, he had to serve a lengthy suspension due to his conduct stemming from the lawsuits. He has missed the majority of Cleveland’s game since then, losing more than half of them, and playing poorly in an even larger percentage. And now he is their starter again, because Shedeur Sanders has been deemed an even worse quarterback. So he is sorry for lashing out at those who booed him.
“I thought I was going to get a little different response”, Watson said, which is shocking given that the last time he was on a football field in Cleveland, fans cheered for him tearing his Achilles. “I think my emotions got the best of me, and my comments weren’t intended to go at any of the fans around the city”.
Watson went on to say that he is human and takes “full responsibility” for his comments, adding that he wants to put his “best foot forward” on and off the field and wants to bring a championship to the city. Noting that the Browns’ first two regular season games are on the road, he added, “I just want to make sure that I can give the city something to think about in the first two games, and when we come back home, that we have something to cheer about”.
I’m sure many Browns fans would cheer if Deshaun Watson were to actually help them win games. They are hard up enough for them that they might be willing to embrace anybody who can produce them. Given his recent history, however, there is no compelling reason that will be the end result of this run.
Many believed all along that the Browns were strongly likely to name Deshaun Watson the initial starter over Shedeur Sanders for one simple reason. It would be easier to start with Watson and bench him for Sanders than going the other way. Sanders is, at least, popular among many fans. For Watson defenders, you might have to go dumpster diving to find them.
One thing that Watson is absolutely right about is that fans’ response to him isn’t just about football. A lot of it is, and I’m sure for many, it is almost entirely. But sports fandom can be very forgiving of misdeeds in the name of winning. The Steelers are not above this, having employed the likes of Mike Vick and Cameron Sutton. The Lions are playing musical chairs with Terrion Arnold. NFL-level talent is such a scarce commodity that much can be forgiven to acquire it. Unfortunately for Browns fans, they don’t get that, either.
terrible-podcast-2026-august-24-episode-3144
terrible-podcast-2026-august-24-episode-3144