Deshaun Watson had too much already working against him, so he could not afford to also play poorly as the quarterback of the Cleveland Browns. Then, when he did so and started to get injured on top of that, there was virtually no way for him to win back the fan base.
Watson already had baggage that included sexual assault allegations, a trade that cost the Browns three first-round draft picks, a $230 million guaranteed contract, and a run of play that ranked among the worst quarterbacks in the NFL. But instead of quietly accepting the boos that greeted him during a home preseason game, he publicly turned against the fans instead and made the situation exponentially worse.
None of this seems to bother head coach Todd Monken in the slightest. He not only named Watson his starting quarterback, but he also tabbed him as one of Cleveland’s captains for the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
During a recent appearance on 92.3 The Fan, Monken tried to address the frustration of Browns fans when it comes to Watson, seeming to believe that as long as the team wins games, nothing else will matter.
“No, [I didn’t consider the fan reaction when I made the call on the starting QB]. The fans just want us to win and play good football. I do understand some of the frustration. I do think that, unfortunately, it’s viewed a little bit like hate and hope. The fans really just want hope. Deshaun, over the years that he’s been here, has frustrated the fans and, certainly, himself in terms of wanting to play better for the Cleveland fans and the organization. I get where they’re coming from, but ultimately, any great fan base like ours wants to win, wants to see a great product on the field, and that’s what we’re aiming to do starting this week and as long as I’m the head coach,” Monken said.
"The fans just want us to win and play good football. I do understand some of the frustration. I do think that, unfortunately, it's viewed a little bit like hate and hope…Deshaun, over the years that he's been here, has frustrated the fans and, certainly, himself in terms of… pic.twitter.com/Hcf34WdFY4
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) September 8, 2026
It may be true that some fans focus on the ugly parts of Watson’s character because he’s been a very disappointing player for them, and it further justifies their disdain. For a franchise still searching for its first Super Bowl appearance, if Watson had been able to deliver that, all may have been forgiven. But that has not been the case, and it is almost impossible to happen this season, no matter how well he plays.
Now, this year, Watson has also been chosen over Shedeur Sanders, who is blindly beloved by a good portion of the fan base. So, it is slightly dismissive of Monken to claim that all the fans want are victories when there is so much more at play than that.
The 60-year-old seems very, very sure of himself, and if he is proven right and Watson does deliver the wins the fans are longing for, they’ll both be able to win them back.
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