BEREA, OHIO – MAY 22: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns talks with head coach Kevin Stefanski during an OTA offseason workout at their CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 22, 2024 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
When quarterback Deshaun Watson was traded to the Cleveland Browns back in the spring of 2022, it caused a big stir amongst fans of the team. At the time, Watson was facing a lot of off-the-field attention for what some considered reckless and inappropriate behaviors. Regardless of those things, his new team spent a lot of money on him, a player who hadn’t even played on the football field in the 2021 season.
Contract
The Browns guaranteed Watson $230 million on a five-year deal. These factors leave many Cleveland fans being divided and either not cheering at all for their once beloved team or being a lot more cautious with their fandom.
More questions
Now, we are entering year three of the Watson era and there are still many questions surrounding Watson’s time here and what the remaining time will look like as a Cleveland Brown. Recently, Watson was talking with the local media at the opening days of training camp.. In that conversation, he spoke about the many situations he’s been managing over the last two years. He stated that some of what he’d been dealing with was “bullsh.t.”
Watson said it’s been tough to “block out the bullshit” the last two years. pic.twitter.com/VCsdcejKEP
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) July 26, 2024
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That statement struck a chord with many fans on both sides of the Watson saga. While calling what he thought was “BS” to him is fine on one hand as we are all welcome to our opinion, many ant-Watson supporters looked at these statements as ridiculous, considering the issues Watson was dealing with to begin with had to do with his own immature behaviors off the field.
Barriers
BEREA, OHIO – MAY 22: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns runs a drill during an OTA offseason workout at their CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 22, 2024 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
At the end of the 2022 season, I discussed Watson’s first year in Cleveland in a different sports article and shared how there were several roadblocks in front of him if he wanted to have long-term success with the team.
Those barriers included his guaranteed $230 million contract and playing up to expectations, being compared to former Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and needing to bring home the Vince Lombardi Trophy after a Super Bowl win.
The guaranteed contract or the comparisons to Mayfield have subsided over time. Yet, the goal of winning a Super Bowl is still front and center in the minds of most fans.
The biggest obstacle to obtaining that for Watson and the Browns is probably Watson’s health. He’s played in 12 games over the past two seasons. If he can stay on the field this season that will give this talented Cleveland team its best chance at bringing home a championship.
BEREA, OHIO – MAY 22: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns looks on during an OTA offseason workout at their CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 22, 2024 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Fans will continue to dissect every word that comes out of Watson’s mouth as his time with the Browns continues, and that’s a big roadblock in itself. We’ll also see how he manages the “BS” moving forward.
Featured image courtesy of Nick Cammett.
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