The Cleveland Browns have once again done the unthinkable, and the fan base is letting them hear it. On Monday, the team officially named Deshaun Watson its starting quarterback for the season opener against Jacksonville in September—a decision that flies in the face of a disastrous preseason performance, a chorus of boos from the home crowd, and Watson's own postgame comments that came across as anything but apologetic.
Four years into a fully guaranteed $230 million contract, Watson's tenure in Cleveland has been a nightmare. He has more sexual misconduct allegations and settlements than games played, touchdowns, or wins in a Browns uniform. Yet the franchise continues to double down on him, ignoring the mounting evidence that he's not the answer on or off the field.
Fans Unleash Fury on Social Media
The announcement, first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, triggered an immediate backlash. Barstool Sports' Big Cat responded with a simple, emphatic "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO," while writer Rodger Sherman didn't hold back: "Look, Deshaun Watson is a terrible person, and he's actively antagonizing the loyal Browns fans still willing to pay money to see this team, and he's not a part of the future of the franchise, and he's untradeable. But you've gotta admit: He's also absolutely awful at football."
The sentiment was echoed across the platform. NFL Memes joked that the Browns are "playing 17 straight away games this season," a nod to the hostile receptions Watson can expect. One exasperated fan wrote, "Hahahahahahahahha That's my Cleveland Browns!!! AN ABSOLUTE F---KING DUMPSTER FIRE MY ENTIRE LIFE."
Ari Wasserman, a national college football writer, summed up the despair: "The Cleveland Browns franchise is rotten to its core. It doesn't matter who is coaching or who they bring in to play, it's a natural vortex of incompetence and mediocrity. It's a disease. And the people of Cleveland deserve better."
A Baffling Decision
Head coach Todd Monken may see something in Watson that the rest of us don't, but the move is a tough sell for a team that hasn't started a season 2-0 since the first year of the Clinton administration. With promising rookie Shedeur Sanders waiting in the wings, many fans are questioning why the Browns are so committed to a player who has delivered nothing but controversy and underperformance.
The decision comes on the heels of a brutal preseason showing that had fans already calling for a change. Watson's disrespectful response to the boos only added fuel to the fire, with many believing he's actively alienating the fan base. Some have even suggested that the media circus surrounding Sanders is a distraction, but the rookie's supporters argue he deserves a chance to lead.
As the Browns prepare for Week 1, the question remains: Is this a two-week audition for Watson, or is the franchise simply too stubborn to admit its mistake? Either way, the fans have made their feelings clear—they're tired of the same old Browns, and they deserve better than this.
