Overview
- Watson drew boos at a preseason game and then criticized the crowd as “personal” and “disrespectful,” saying some fans had cheered when he was injured.
- He returned to the microphone two days later to apologize, saying his emotions got the best of him and that he did not intend to attack city fans.
- This week head coach Todd Monken formally named Watson the team’s Week 1 starter over Shedeur Sanders, keeping Watson in the top role despite clear public opposition.
- Anger from some supporters escalated to protests that included taped signs on Jim Brown’s statue outside the stadium, an action publicly condemned by former players such as James Harrison.
- Watson’s roster status is tied to a multi-year, high-value guaranteed deal plus a history of suspension, major injuries and settled civil suits, which together shape the Browns’ limited options and the franchise’s PR challenges.