INSTANT REACTION to The Athletic's EYE-OPENING report on Deshaun Watson & the Cleveland Browns
To grasp how the Cleveland Browns spiraled into one of the worst teams in the NFL, it’s important to first return to the end of last season.
The Browns dismantled their offense this year and rebuilt an inferior version in an attempt to appease Deshaun Watson. All of the changes failed miserably. The Browns bottomed out as one of the worst teams in the league and plummeted to a 3-14 finish. They hold the second pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. | https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6054794/2025/01/15/cleveland-browns-deshaun-watson-contract-injury/
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I love how it took an article to point out what even I foresaw happening before he played his first down for the Browns.
Plus, I actually appreciate Stefanski getting into Winston. It shows that Kevin actually cared and knew Jameis would listen and try to be coached. Kevin knew Watson was a lost cause already. Don’t waste your breath on him.
Hey Jay Crawford smh
, Jason just explained it to you. He said at some point Andrew Berry said enough is enough. Then he said he thinks Jimmy Haslam stepped in and told them to go for it. The only thing that Jason left out is Stefanski was as onboard as Berry was. Jason said that he thinks they decided not to go any further or that the Browns shouldn’t go any further after they had gone so far. Then Jimmy Haslam tell them to go full steam ahead basically.
All of this story for us as fans knew already… it’s just being regurgitated for clicks.
Stefanski probably didn’t criticize him in front of the team because he’s a head case .
This team has major holes all over.
The panel is funny. They are still blind to the moral destruction that Deshawn caused. You can’t switch of the damaged morality.
There’s no way!!! This is the most professional and successful franchise in sports, history!
Bull needs to cut down on the Bull chow !
If the Browns stink it up next year .The coach and front office will be gone . Trade down get more picks . Look at Detroit Washington Houston doing good ! Go Browns
I thought Arod took steroids due to the pressure of the contract…by his own admission
Jason Jason Jason. Come on
If Watson is that fragile that he can’t take a bit of criticism, then he doesn’t belong in the NFL, USFL, or even in the IFL since coaches are supposed to be hard on players to help push them to get better. Sounds like Watson was an entitled kid growing up and never was told no or got punished for what he did.
Also super bad coaching growing up that if the system isn’t simplified for him, that he’ll struggle and won’t comprehend to the point that he was having issues for two years in the same system while Flacco came on board in December, off the couch, and learned the system within 30 days. Watson got lucky that he did well with the Texans and got lucky he got the retirement contract from the Browns cause he ain’t QB’ing anywhere.
I agree it was the player acquisition Berry guy that initiated the interest/ pursuit of Watson. Haslam entered later with his ego, and finished the chase by offering a guaranteed contract.
Every excuse for Stefanki. He’s a WEAK leader. Even if people are telling you to manage a certain way. You have to ask the question: Would a real leader (Vrabel, Dan Campbell, Tomlin, etc.) let others dictate how they lead?
Watson is a miserable human being.
Haslam likes miserable souls.
Come on you guys HE hired 40 different women in two years and phone records showed that he contacted 60 that’s not normal in any way shape or form.No body is picking on little Watson the dude brought this on himself,I don’t feel sorry for him in the slightest.
But you’re not the first kind. He got a little more for a few months. If that’s how it was recorded that’s on you
Great article, Jay. You and Joe V are my favorite writers. Great style. Great integrity.
Watson never wanted to be here lol. He just took the bread. Mentally he’s not there anymore and I think he scared of that shoulder injury that’s why he don’t wanna throw deep
When they made that offer, I did not want him. I told him it was a mistake when they made that I told that everybody don’t do it run as fast as you can away from Watson and I’ll keep saying that a huge mistake by paying that guy, too many distractions for one person to get over.
It was the offense line
Excellent discussion, several notches above your usual show.
If deshaun didn’t ask for that trade from Houston, none of this would come out, this was a character assassination I’m not a fan but, the whole scenario just feels wrong
I agree with all of this. But why are we acting like G Bush was on any level to relate to this? Just stop
No more berry, no more Haslem, I feel bad for Kevin
Keep the receipts of this video I promise the middle of next year they all be blaming Kevin. Jason hate Watson because Watson told him he a
bag to his face.
He was a character issue and I have no empathy after hearing this. He is selfish and lazy
One of your better shows, guys. You NAILED IT regarding Watson’s struggles. A better analysis than I’ve seen from any one pundit.
@ johndobbswhatever you are!! You are hater and probably a pittspuk Squeallers fan!!!
Did you guys seriously have a regular member write an article to comment on, that he could have talked about before, in your show? Talk about a self-licking ice cream cone of clickbait hottake garbage.
This was a horrible risk to begin with. Harlem was trying to cheat the process and instead of building the right way, he wanted to skip ahead. Great organizations would never have made this trade
Keep Kevin lol
browns will never get to the superbowl
The lack of accountability starts with Jimmy Haslam who has structured the organization where the OC is only the OC in name only, the HC is the HC in name only.
Micro-managing & overstepping his staff, starting with the HC & most likely the GM creates massive dysfunction.
Until Haslam and his thought partner, Paul DePodesta (nonfootball people) remove themselves from day-to-day operations, the Browns will continue to be an ultimate failure under Jimmy Haslam’s ownership.
Thank you Jason, for admitting how disgusting it was to make a death threat to DeShaun Watson or to threaten burning his house down. For the most part I think the Cleveland Browns fans are the best, but there are also some
Stefanski could have done a better job coaching Baker Mayfield also. Mayfield would have still been in Cleveland if Stefanski had helped protect him on the field and he could have helped Mayfield be more mature. Instead Mayfield has gained maturity with the help of other coaches.
Gotta call a spade a spade there’s one group of ppl that doesn’t behave in this manner and then there’s a group of ppl that will go 2 lengths like this when certain athletes don’t perform to their liking….
And it wouldn’t be a show unless Jay somehow turned it all around and put himself in the spotlight somehow. His Narcissism is at its best.
Mary Kay Cabot already told us that both Stefanski and Berry agreed to pursue Watson. Watson turned the Browns down. Then the Haslams stepped in and made an offer that Watson didn’t refuse. This hurt Baker’s feelings and he asked to be traded.
The Organization has been run by fools for over. 50 years. I wish it would fold or go out of business like any other crappy business
I wouldn’t burn Stephanski yet. He’s been coaching Watson for years now. Watson never seemed to focus on playing football. I’m sure the owner told management to do everything to get Watson going and Stephanski not pushing Watson was a last grasp attempt. Let’s see what Stephanski does this year.
Dide baker dirty in the film room remember that one report about him being put on the spot on his way out the organization
Competent QB play lifts everyone up, even on the D. Once these guys believe they can go out on the field and win on any given day, a lot of the yip will disappear in all positions, including special teams.
Too many issues for the team, from Browns attempts to "quickly" alter offense to Mobile QB who had Not played in 2 years, personal issues, Shoulder Surgery to Throwing Arm, team injuries, coaching deficiencies, O-line issues,, lack of self confidence, etc. A Lot of variables to overcome in a short time period, due in large part of the pressures put on #4 because of the allegations, his contract, and the fans expectations that the Browns and Watson could adjust and the Browns coaching could acclimate #4 to quickly Regain his all-star form and the team to become immediate Champions. Big Ask from the beginning, especially with a Coach who was not equipped for Watson system/style ( Mobile QB),etc.
I want to know the name of the person in the FO that forced watson to be played after game 4 this year. Say the name. Jason lloyd knows.
Browns QB’s stats 2024:
3879 yds.
59.6 comp.%
19 td’s
23 ints
Fragile.. we would’ve loved u if u were a winner. Ppl tend to put their pride aside for a highly competitive Browns Team. Simple as that! but Watson pooped his pants then suffered injury after injury while soaking up our salary cap. But no worries Watson, we have the same disdain for the organization as well
#Brownsfan
Watson’s legal team probably told him to take the biggest guarenteed money he could get, even if it was from a team he didn’t want to play for, because he was going to need that cash to make all the off the field crap go away. In other words, payola.
Get Zappes air raid coach and Zappe Zappe Zappe!
Appeasing a QB in this manor and the results of it is a classic cluster. One of the most memorable in 50 years.
AROD crumbling under the weight of the Texas contract is the worst take I’ve heard in a while. In his first three years in Texas, he finished 6th, 2nd, and 1st in MVP voting.