Those of us who can critically think about this knew it was coming. After an offseason full of delusional arguments pointing to one second half, a record that included a total of six games (one of which should not count), and nonsensical Instagram hype videos, the curtain was pulled back on Sunday as the Browns attempted to play the Cowboys in Cleveland on National TV.
The Browns did about one thing right on Sunday afternoon, which was look classy in the clean white facemasks harkening back to the Real Browns of the 1980s under Art Modell. Sadly, the organization is a shell of that former glory. The Real Browns were pushed out by the politicians in Cleveland and never came back. Now, noted fraudster Jimmy Haslam and his crooked family are masquerading the current attempt at a football organization as the “Browns,” while finding new lows to sink to in the process.
Perhaps the lowest of lows thus far, as evidenced by Sunday, was trading for QB Deshaun Watson in 2022 and then inexplicably signing him to $230 million guaranteed (!). Watson had gone 1-2 in playoff games, hadn’t played in a year due to severe off-the-field issues, and went 4-12 in the last full season he finished with the Texans.
Every single excuse used by so-called “journalists” leading up to the season had been wiped clean. Watson had a full offseason, he has a new coordinator whose scheme fits his style of play, and he had a new weapon added in Jerry Jeudy.
The offensive line “struggles” against Dallas were also overblown. Joe Flacco produced behind the same exact line without tackles Jack Conklin or Jedrick Wills. According to Jason Lloyd of The Athletic, Watson ranked in the top 10 in time to throw under pressure. Watson still found time to hold onto the ball, run around like a rodeo clown, fail to see any opportunities down the field and throw the ball 15 yards into the sidelines or into a defender’s hands for an interception.
This isn’t even a debate for those of us who haven’t been lobotomized. Media hacks in Cleveland – they know who they are – have been keeping the Watson pump flowing for a couple of years claiming he’s “back” to his former self from four years ago. Just remember: they are promoters, not reporters. Like so many posing as professionals in the media landscape of 2024; they have no insight, or even perspective, on anything. They have no critical thinking skills, no sense of humor, and no ability to discern anything real.
The average person can watch the performance for themselves, and they can see that this guy is toast. He lives in a bubble, and surrounds himself with yes men like Quincy Avery who tell him how good he is no matter what, he doesn’t care, and he’s already cashed a check for a quarter of a billion dollars.
The dead money cap hit if the Browns were to cut Watson is reportedly $92 million. The most ethical option would be to cut their losses and move on, but that’s not necessarily the most practical option. However, the Browns can simply bench him, and make him inactive every week much like they did with Rashard Higgins in years past. They may get the occasional awkward question every now and then, but they’ll be free of the dark cloud that the Predator has brought upon the franchise from the very moment he became a Brown. Sure, it’ll be a waste of money, but it already is. Particularly when you’re wasting the prime years of Nick Chubb, Denzel Ward, Wyatt Teller and others.
In fact, the Browns may have a way out and into the light created for them. Watson was sued again on Monday in Houston, this time specifically for sexual assault, in which a Jane Doe asserted that Watson aggressively assaulted her genitalia while on a date. Aside from the obviously-disgusting nature of the claims, the landscape could be changed significantly if Watson is punished again under the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy. A possible suspension could pave the way for the Browns to finally void the remaining salary owed and send him packing.
20 years of losing has not disconnected a fan base from its team like the Watson deal has. Acknowledge he’s a washed-up loser, make him go away by deeming him “Inactive” every week, and play Jameis Winston at QB with DTR behind him.
The post The Jig Is Up: Watson Is Toast, Should Be Inactive Every Week appeared first on Cleveland Sports Talk.