The Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback is trying to hit the reset button with the fan base. Deshaun Watson, who was officially named the starter Monday morning, issued a public apology later that day for his sharp criticism of Browns fans who booed him during Sunday's preseason game.
Watson's frustration boiled over after the game when he told reporters that the negative reaction felt personal. "I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance," he said. "It's a little bit [more] personal than that. So I think it's a disrespectful thing."
But by Monday, Watson had shifted his tone. In a statement to the media, he acknowledged that his emotions got the better of him in the heat of the moment.
"Saturday after the game, you know, I think just human nature, myself being very emotional, putting a lot of time these past two years to get back and spend time in this facility, in this city, meeting a lot of different people in the community, I thought I was going to get a little different response," Watson said. "I think my emotions got the best of me."
He was careful to clarify that his comments were not aimed at the entire city. "My comments wasn't intending to go at any of the fans around in the city. There's been a lot of great fans that have been supporting me," he explained.
Watson also acknowledged the broader context: the organization invested heavily to bring him to Cleveland in 2022, but injuries and inconsistent play have kept him from delivering the results everyone hoped for. "I know the frustration, the organization has put a lot of investment in getting me in '22. Things haven't been going the right direction that we thought it was. A lot of injuries, a lot of time off. Not playing the best football," he said.
Now, he's ready to move forward. "Moving forward, I just want to focus on football," Watson said, adding that he wants to win for the fans.
Head coach Todd Monken came to Watson's defense on Sunday, suggesting the quarterback's outburst was out of character. "He emptied his heart a little bit, and I don't think that says who he is," Monken said. "I see the competitor in him. I see the every-day work he puts in, and he wants to be back. He wants to get back to where he was as best he can, and that's hard. And again, I think the moment just got him after the game, and it can get all of us."
The apology comes amid a tense atmosphere in Cleveland, where fans have voiced their frustration with Watson's performance and the team's decision to stick with him. Some have even called for a change at quarterback, with backup options like Shedeur Sanders becoming a topic of debate. But for now, Watson remains the man under center.
The Browns open the regular season on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, giving Watson a chance to let his play do the talking. Whether the apology is enough to mend fences with the fan base remains to be seen, but Watson is clearly hoping to turn the page.
