(Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports)
We’ve avoided talking about Deshaun Watson since he was reinstated by the NFL after serving an 11-game suspension for a number of sexual assault allegations, but after two games with the Browns, it’s time to deal with Watson on the field. In a 27-14 win over the Texans, and a 23-10 loss to the Bengals, Watson has completed 38 of 64 passes for 407 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 70.3.
This is in comparison to Jacoby Brissett, who completed 236 of 369 passes as the Browns’ starter for 2,608 yards, 12 touchdowns, six interceptions, and a passer rating of 88.9. Not that Brissett is a top-level quarterback, but if Watson doesn’t get it back together before the season ends… we’re not even talking about the off-field stuff. Is this the most catastrophic trade/signing in pro football history? Sports history, even?
Doug: Imagine that you traded a bevy of draft picks and a few good players for Russell Wilson, signed Wilson to a massive contract, and then saw it all fall apart. Then, add in the multiple accusation of sexual assault, and the fact that you have to devote a certain percentage of organizational resources to making sure everything doesn’t fall apart OFF the field. I have no doubt that Watson will eventually regain some of the skills that made him such a great quarterback in 2020, but to what end? Who cares? We avoided talking about him at all in his first two weeks back, and that was a conscious choice. We do tape on everything over at Touchdown Wire, and we haven’t covered Watson at all. Again, a conscious choice. That’s how toxic he is.
Even if he’s able to become an MVP-level quarterback again – and I have my doubts there – the well has been so poisoned, it almost doesn’t matter. Let’s say he takes the Browns to the Super Bowl next season. So what? What does it mean? I don’t think Watson will ever shake this, nor should he, and it’s always going to be the worst thing the Browns have ever done, maybe outside of moving to Baltimore in 1996.
Luke: This was a terrible trade before Watson ever took a snap, and like you said, I think it’ll still be a terrible trade even if he wins a Super Bowl in Cleveland. I’ve seen so many Browns fans, lifelong fans, who have had their passion for their team ruined by this move, and it has nothing to do with football. Obviously, the on-field results since he’s returned have also been bad, but it still…
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