The QB drama in Cleveland hit a whole new level Saturday. Browns fans flat-out let Deshaun Watson have it, booing him relentlessly after a brutal performance against the Chicago Bears. But get this: it was his rival for the starting job, second-year phenom Shedeur Sanders, who dropped a bombshell, telling reporters he doesn’t “like or respect” the crowd’s reaction. Seriously, who saw that coming?!
Watson’s Woes Ignite a Fan Rebellion
Cleveland’s head coach, first-year leader Todd Monken, has these two signal-callers going head-to-head for the starting gig. Watson took the first game, apparently showing a “steady veteran presence” against the Chicago Bears. But his second start? Yikes. Against the Bears again on Saturday, Watson was flat-out miserable. He managed only 35 yards passing and tossed an interception, completing a sad 5-for-12 through the air. And to make things even worse, after sitting through a thunderstorm delay, the Browns faithful still had enough energy to boo Watson non-stop.
This fan frustration wasn’t just some scattered grumbles, either. Front Office Sports’ Ben Axelrod hit X asking why this active fan rebellion wasn’t a bigger story. Axelrod didn’t pull any punches, posting, “Deshaun Watson is getting booed after nearly every play in Cleveland. He’s probably going to be named the starter in a few days. Other than the Luka trade, I’ve never seen a franchise actively rebel against its own fanbase like this. Why isn’t this a bigger story?” That’s a strong take on what’s going down in the Dawg Pound!
Sanders Takes The High Road, But The Stakes Are Sky-High
As bad as things got for Watson with the boo birds, his main competition, Shedeur Sanders, completely took the high road. Cleveland.com’s Ashley Bastock reported after the game that Sanders said he doesn’t “like or respect” the fans booing Watson on the game broadcast. Talk about a surprising move! You’d think a guy fighting for the starting job would let his competitor just flounder. This makes the whole situation even more complex.
Coach Monken is trying to play it cool, saying it’s “still a competition” and they’ll “assess it every week.” He talked about watching guys practice and seeing them both next week against Buffalo. But let’s be real, the picture is getting clearer. The fans’ outright disdain for Watson, combined with his absolutely terrible showing on Saturday, has to weigh heavily. It just might be the push that leads to Sanders winning the starting job. What happens next with this QB battle is gonna be must-watch.
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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