Deshaun Watson did *not* hold back after getting booed by Cleveland Browns fans during Saturday’s preseason game, flat-out calling their reaction “disrespectful” following a bad interception. He might have said earlier this week that he didn’t care about the boos, but his post-game comments tell a completely different story.
Cleveland Fans Let Watson Hear It
The boos started subtly when Watson first entered the preseason game in the second half. It was a small group, sure, but those boos definitely ramped up and became noticeable after he tossed a bad interception. You could feel the tension, and it became clear this wasn’t just about a play on the field. This isn’t exactly the kind of early season “form” you want to see from a guy who is supposed to be your franchise quarterback.
It’s ‘Personal,’ Watson Says, and There’s a Whole Lot of History
Watson came out swinging after the game, calling the boos “disrespectful” to Cleveland media. “I think the whole world knows, it has nothing to do about performance, It’s a little bit [more] personal than that,” Watson stated. “It’s a disrespectful thing. I’m going to keep whatever I feel between me and my family.” That “personal” angle is huge. We all remember when Watson arrived in Cleveland, facing multiple lawsuits for sexual misconduct, which led to an NFL suspension for six games.
But it is not just the off-field issues. Fans have also been mad about his on-field performance since the Browns made one of the biggest trades in NFL history to get him, then gave him a fully-guaranteed $230 million extension. Since 2022, he has only thrown 19 touchdowns. Owner Jimmy Haslam even called the trade a “big swing and miss” back in March 2025. Yeah, that’s not exactly a ringing endorsement for a guy who’s supposed to be the face of your franchise.
No Regrets, But a Fanbase That Cheered an Injury? Rough.
Watson even brought up his past injuries and what he felt was fan cruelty. He tore his Achilles in 2024 during a game in Cleveland, and he says some Browns fans cheered. “Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles. That same fanbase cheered when I got hurt,” Watson said Saturday. “What does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially in their own city, and they cheer.” That’s a pretty heavy accusation.
When asked if he regretted coming to Cleveland, Watson was defiant. “I don’t regret anything in my life,” he claimed. “I think the Lord puts me in these situations for a reason. I don’t regret anything at all. I had different throughts on how it was going to be, but it is what it is.” His comments suggest a deep rift with the fanbase, especially since he said earlier this offseason he had no ill will towards Cleveland. That clearly isn’t accurate anymore.
With the regular season fast approaching, Watson is still competing for a starting job. It’s clear that this relationship with the Cleveland fanbase is strained, and how that plays out on the regular season field will be a major storyline to watch as he tries to prove his owner and these frustrated fans wrong.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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