Deshaun Watson, fresh off being named the Browns’ starting quarterback, tried to smooth things over Monday after his wild comments following a home preseason game on Saturday. The guy got booed by his own crowd, and he didn’t hold back, calling it “disrespectful” and saying it felt personal, not a reaction to his on-field performance.
“More Love on Road Games”
Watson was clearly fed up on Saturday. He even threw out a shocking claim, citing fans cheering when he tore his Achilles as an example of how bad the reception can get. Seriously? That’s a pretty wild accusation to level at your own fanbase. He wasn’t shy about it either, saying he feels “like I get more love on road games” and that dealing with the reception at the team’s stadium is a “mental battle every day.” You gotta wonder what kind of headspace a starting QB is in when he’s talking like that just before the regular season kicks off. That’s a tough way to start building momentum, no matter how much talent you have.
The Monday Morning Quarterback Session
Fast forward to Monday, and Watson was singing a slightly different tune. He explained that he’s human, and his fiery Saturday comments were just an “emotional response” to a situation that totally blindsided him. “I thought I was going to get a different response,” Watson admitted, owning up to the fact that “My emotions got the best of me.” He tried to clarify, saying his comments “weren’t intending to go at any of the fans around in the city,” and he acknowledged that “There’s been a lot of great fans that have supported me.” He even seemed to get why fans might be frustrated, pointing out that “Things haven’t been going in the right direction that we thought it was. A lot of injuries, a lot of time off and not the best football. I understand the frustration, I understand everything that goes into that.”
This whole thing is a total roller coaster for a quarterback whose team is about to kick off the regular season. He’s got a big job ahead, and this mental battle with the home crowd looks like it’s far from over. Getting your head right, especially with that kind of pressure, is gonna be key.
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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