The Cleveland Browns quarterback decision is coming on Monday, and it arrives days after a turbulent situation involving Deshaun Watson after a poor performance in the second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. Watson completed just 5-of-12 passes for 36 yards against the Bills and threw an interception while playing only the third quarter against Buffalo. 

Browns fans booed him off the field multiple times, and Watson made his feelings about the reception clear after the game.

“I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance,” Watson said. “It’s a little bit personal in that, so I think that it’s a disrespectful thing. So yeah, I mean, I’m gonna keep whatever I feel with me and my family internally on how I feel about that.”

That same fan base that cheered when I got hurt. So what does that have to do with anything about performance when a person gets hurt.”

Deshaun Watson says he doesn’t regret coming to Cleveland

Watson was then asked whether he regretted coming to Cleveland. His answer reflected a mix of acceptance and faith toward the situation. 

“I don’t regret anything in my life,” Watson said of coming to Cleveland. “You know, I think the Lord put me through situations for a reason, so I don’t, I don’t regret anything at all. But you know, I had different thoughts on how it was going to be, but you know, it is what it is. You know, sometimes you know the tables turn, and I’m patient enough because I’m a child of God to you know wait for that time to change.”

The comments from Watson paint a picture of a quarterback who feels the frustration from the fan base is rooted in something beyond football. That’s a significant stance to take publicly, and it added fuel to what was already a difficult situation for the Browns organization, really over the last few years. 

Todd Monken backs the fan base with strong comment

Browns head coach Todd Monken was asked on Sunday if he understood why fans were upset, and he made it clear that he did.

The business we’re in is a performance-based business. It is what it is. When we expect a service, we’re going to be disappointed when we don’t get that service. If you go to a restaurant and your soup comes out cold, you’re going to be upset. If you order from the grocery store and six of your eggs are broken, you’re going to be pissed. So, I get it, that’s what we’re in. That’s why we’re paid what we are, to perform at a high level, and when we don’t, there are repercussions. We’ve run to this smoke. This is the job we’ve chosen, so this is part of it.”

Those are strong comments from Monken, comments that essentially validate the fan base and make their frustration feel warranted. Cleveland gave Watson a fully guaranteed five-year contract when the Browns traded for him from the Houston Texans, and the expectation was always near elite-level play in return. That level of play hasn’t materialized, and the fan base has made its displeasure known over time. 

The whole situation has been difficult to watch unfold, and the comments from both Watson and Monken over the weekend represent one of the lowest points in the Watson and Browns relationship. With the quarterback decision looming Monday, the coming days will be telling for where things go from here.