Cleveland fans didn’t hold back today. Deshaun Watson had said this week he didn’t care about his reception, but he certainly got one during today’s preseason game, and it was decidedly negative. The boos started loud when he took the field and kept coming through the third quarter as Watson struggled mightily. Even with Huntington Bank Field mostly empty, the fans there made their feelings abundantly clear: they are not happy with Watson under center.
Three-and-Out, Interception, Disaster
Watson played poorly. That’s the cold, hard truth. His performance on the field was just as dismal as the crowd’s reaction was loud. The Browns’ offense went three-and-out on Watson’s first two drives, setting a terrible tone right from the start. Then, on his third drive, he threw an interception. Yeah, you read that right. An interception. To cap it all off, he threw a fourth-down incompletion to end his fourth drive. This wasn’t just struggling, this was a complete collapse under pressure. How do you instill any confidence in the team, or the fans, with that kind of output in a preseason showing?
That $230 Million Deal Looks Like a Horror Show
Let’s be real, trading for Watson was a disaster for the Browns from the jump, and his play isn’t doing anything to change that narrative. They shelled out a king’s ransom: three first-round picks, a second-round pick, a third-round pick, and a fourth-round pick to get him. Then, they slapped a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract on him. For that kind of investment, Watson has played a grand total of 19 games in four seasons. Even worse, he’s been one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL in those 19 games. It’s a staggering bill for such a low return, especially when you remember the Browns made this move despite knowing he had been accused of sexually assaulting some two dozen massage therapists.
The Browns are facing a huge problem with this entire situation. With Watson’s performance looking this rough so early, the heat on that team, and on their quarterback, is only going to intensify. It’s going to be a long season if this is the standard.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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