The Cleveland Browns had a battle for the starting quarterback job in training camp and the preseason, as Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson battled for the reins of the offense. The preseason results were rather erratic for both players, and head coach Todd Monken settled on a starter with his announcement on Monday.
The first-year head coach has settled upon Watson to lead the team out of the tunnel in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on Sunday, September 13. There may be more at play than Monken simply being enamored with what he saw on the field.
Deshaun Watson Will Have one Final Chance
The Browns signed Watson to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract back in March 2022 despite off-field allegations piling up like Cleveland football losses. Watson was believed to be an upgrade over fan favorite Baker Mayfield, who bled orange and brown, and seemingly was a perfect fit for the lunchbox crowd in the rust-belt city.
Watson has never fit in. His Cleveland career started with off-field controversies, splitting the fanbase immediately. However, the thinking was that when he finally was able to play, winning football would win over even the biggest detractors. Those days never came, and the disdain grew, and the boos got a lot louder. Injuries and poor stat lines became the norm, and the wins were few and far between, like they usually are in The Land.
In October 2024, in a game at Huntington Bank Field against the Cincinnati Bengals, Watson suffered a torn Achilles, and a decent chunk of fans actually cheered when he crumpled to the ground with an injury. I’d never condone that, as Cleveland isn’t Philadelphia, or another place with ignorant, abusive fans. But, if anybody deserved boos when healthy, it is Watson. The quarterback doesn’t care about the boos, though.
Watson has done absolutely nothing to earn $2.3 million in his five years in Cleveland, let alone $230 million. Now, he is the starting quarterback again.
Plenty of Guessing as to why he is Back
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
There was a lot of talk that Monken’s hands were tied, seemingly being forced to turn back to Watson so that ownership could get some return on the money they’re foolishly paying Watson. Jimmy Haslem wants something, anything. It has been a disaster for four-plus years, but maybe in Year 5, especially with Watson heading into free agency after 2026, it will be different.
As Beck once said: “Things are gonna change. I can feel it!” I think that song was named after Watson. If you know, you know.
There are others who feel that Watson will be given a chance to start because he is on the road for two games to open the season. The thinking is that things will be less stressful on the road, away from the home fans who hate him. Wow. Give Watson one more chance to build momentum before the Week 3 home opener, where he’ll be showered with cheers and adulation after two Pro Bowl caliber performances in Tampa and Jacksonville.
Yeah, right. Welcome to Browns football. It’s like Groundhog Day with Bill Murray. Nothing. Ever. Changes.
