Entering Week 2, there were conversations about how the Cleveland Browns would have to bench Deshaun Watson if he didn’t play a good game on Sunday. Fortunately for him, he did, helping the Browns defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-19.
Watson completed 24-of-30 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding 22 yards on the ground. It’s safe to say he has put to bed any conversation about a possible quarterback change for now. However, Browns fans did see one thing on Sunday that has them talking about how Cleveland decided who will be under center.
After the Buccaneers turned the ball over on downs with 18 seconds left, securing the victory for Cleveland, the broadcast camera immediately cut to Watson. The veteran quarterback was seen celebrating with JW Johnson, the Managing Partner of the Haslam Sports Group, and the son-in-law of Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam.
With many people already convinced that starting Watson was a call made by ownership, the three-second clip of Watson’s first celebration being a hug with Johnson will only fuel that argument.
Deshaun Watson’s celebration with JW Johnson has Browns fans rehashing quarterback decision
What’s most important for Cleveland is that it won the game. The Browns will now play their home opener with a 1-1 record and Deshaun Watson looking like a competent quarterback. Fans are certainly enjoying that reality, but it wouldn’t be Cleveland if fans weren’t interrogating the franchise’s possible shortcomings.
To be fair to anyone arguing that the celebration between Watson and Johnson is proof that ownership wanted him to start, it was a bit odd that Watson’s first celebration was with a member of the ownership group — not teammates or his first-year head coach getting his first win.
Additionally, this clip isn’t being viewed independently. It comes after Johnson spent time on Cleveland radio in April, talking up Watson and arguing that fans need to support him if he’s named the starter. It comes after Watson said he never doubted that he would have another chance to start in Cleveland, due to “internal conversations.” It also didn't help that when the Browns’ quarterback battle was taking place, Watson always made it a point to note that the starter will be decided by the coaching staff, front office, and ownership.
Grouping all of these things with the fact that Watson didn’t decisively outplay Shedeur Sanders in the quarterback battle, it’s easy to see how one could arrive at the belief that the decision to start Watson came from above Monken.
Ultimately, if Watson and the Browns keep playing the way they did on Sunday, fans won’t really care who made the decision for Watson to start. Cleveland would be having a successful season, and winning helps everyone move past any issues. The conversation will only get loud if Watson starts to play poorly.
Play well and win games, and Deshaun Watson will be able to celebrate with whoever he wants without fans saying a word.
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