Deshaun Watson remains one of the most polarizing figures in the NFL, and he did himself no favors during the preseason. After getting booed by Cleveland Browns fans during the team's second preseason game against Buffalo, Watson didn't just brush it off, like most quarterbacks would. Instead, he pushed back hard, calling their reaction "disrespectful" and insisting it had nothing to do with how he'd actually played.
That may be true, but it's still a bold stance to take against your own fanbase — potentially the last group of people who actually want to see you succeed. Given his rocky track record between injuries, inconsistencies, and off-the-field controversies, calling it a tone-deaf response would be putting it lightly. Head coach Todd Monken addressed Watson's preseason comments on Tuesday with 92.3 The Fan's Ken Carman and Anthony Lima.
"I mean, after that game — I'll just say during the game and then after the game, certainly Deshaun was not in a great headspace. Let's be real honest about it," Monken said. "He said it after the game, he was frustrated, and didn't particularly play well.
And we don't coach well and call it well around him. So, we certainly all have to own that. I looked at it more along the lines of a speed bump and just a blip on the radar more than the norm of what I had seen over the course of the five months being here, in terms of his confidence, how hard he's worked to get back to where he's at today." More news: Puka Nacua Gets Major Suspension Update Ahead of Rams Season Opener More news: Browns Fans Fuming Over Todd Monken’s Latest Deshaun Watson Announcement For now, Watson is the Browns' starting quarterback, and Monken has made it clear he believes in him.
But he's on a short leash. Fans in Cleveland aren't afraid to voice their opinions, and they're frustrated with how the organization has handled the situation under center. Some still believe Shedeur Sanders should be starting Week 1.
The Browns kick off the regular season against the Jaguars in Jacksonville on Sunday, followed by matchups against the Bucs, Panthers, and Steelers. Those will be prime opportunities for Watson to put any doubt to rest and leave the controversy in the past. More news: Latest Chiefs Injury News is the Last Thing Patrick Mahomes Wants to Hear
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