08/22/26 07:20:00
Printable Page
08/22 19:18 CDT Deshaun Watson calls booing by Browns fans 'disrespectful' and
'personal,' but QB feels love on road
Deshaun Watson calls booing by Browns fans 'disrespectful' and 'personal,' but
QB feels love on road
By TOM WITHERS
Associated Press
CLEVELAND (AP) --- Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson fired back at his
detractors, calling the booing he heard from some Cleveland fans during
Saturday's home preseason loss against Buffalo "disrespectful" and "personal."
Watson, who has a complicated relationship with Cleveland fans because of
injuries, off-field issues --- including an NFL suspension in 2022 --- and a
massive, $230 million contract, was booed repeatedly during the second half of
a 31-7 loss to the Bills.
Watson was just 5 of 12 passing for 36 yards and threw an interception. He came
off the bench because the Browns started Shedeur Sanders, who is competing with
Watson for the starting job. Coach Todd Monken has yet to decide which QB will
start the season opener in Jacksonville on Sept. 13.
Watson didn't appreciate the reaction from the sparse crowd at Huntington Bank
Field. It was his first home game since tearing his Achilles tendon on Oct. 20,
2024, when fans cheered him sustaining a potential career-ending injury.
"It has nothing to do about the performance," Watson said of the boos. "It's a
little bit personal. I think that's a disrespectful thing. I'm going to keep
whatever I feel with me and my family internally on how I feel about that. Just
move on."
Watson has started just 19 games since the Browns acquired him in a blockbuster
trade from Houston four years ago and signed him to a fully guaranteed
contract. They traded three first-round draft picks for the three-time Pro Bowl
pick, who came to Cleveland embroiled in controversy.
He served an 11-game league suspension in his first season after two dozen
women accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage
therapy sessions. He also paid a $5 million fine and completed a treatment
program.
Watson struggled with rustiness upon his return and was just beginning to play
like a Pro Bowl QB again when he suffered a season-ending shoulder surgery in
2023 and had surgery. This season, he's coming back from twice rupturing his
Achilles tendon.
When Watson first injured his Achilles tendon in 2024 in a home game against
Cincinnati, some fans cheered. He hasn't forgotten.
"Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles and that same fan base,
they cheered when I got hurt," Watson said. "So what does that have to do with
anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially for your own
city and they cheer."
Watson said he's not sure if he can win back any fans. He's frustrated that the
only time he feels animosity from Cleveland fans is when he's on the field.
"When I'm in public, no one's mentioned anything," he said. "Because this is
social media, players can't respond back. And then in the stadium, players
can't respond back. So I get it. I understand it. So it is what it is.
"It's a mental battle every day. I feel like I get more love in road games than
I do home games. So if it is my spot and he (Monken) does make me the
(starter), maybe it's 17 away games then."
Although he's competing with Watson, Sanders said the booing directed at one of
his teammates was bothersome.
"I don't appreciate that at all," Sanders said. "Regardless of competition,
we're all human beings. I think we all need to understand that. In this room,
too, we're all humans. I don't do things to humans that I wouldn't want done to
me.
"For all the fans, we appreciate you showing up, and however you feel about the
situation with Deshaun and everything, I think it's more about a bigger purpose
and it's respect. It's a respect thing that I feel should be there, because
we're all out there trying to do our best and serve the franchise the best way
possible."
As he nears a decision on his starting QB, Monken may now have to factor in
whether Watson is mentally strong enough to handle the challenge.
Before Watson spoke, Monken said he believed Watson could win back fans with
his play.
"I know you asked (Watson) ?Hey, how does it feel to get booed?' It's a pretty
easy question --- it sucks," Monken said. "I don't want to get booed. It comes
with the territory. You don't want to get booed? Let's play good football.
Let's play good at quarterback. Let's play good on offense. Let's play good as
a team. And then you don't have to worry about all that because it can turn
just like that.
"Win, play good football, and everybody will be fine. That's just part of it."
___
See AP's full NFL coverage here
|
