Now that I’ve all had time to let that latest Monday night loss to Pittsburgh settle, I’ll attempt to be rational about the Cleveland Browns. Deshaun Watson stinks! We’ll get to him shortly; first, let’s take a moment to dedicate some praise to the career of Nick Chubb. Chubb has been nothing short of spectacular since joining Cleveland. He has been arguably the best player that has worn a Browns jersey in the last 30 years. Even after that devastating injury, Deshaun Watson still had an opportunity to prove he could win the game.
So far, Watson has not looked any better than Baker Mayfield. That’s not my issue. My problem lies within the philosophy of this organization. We coddle players at the first sign of competence. Mayfield, from the day he became the starter until he requested a trade, the front office obliged to his demands. The hiring of Freddy Kitchens comes to mind. That hire was a failed attempt at placating potential rather than encouraging player development. Unfortunately, the saga continues.
Watson was outstanding in Houston. Pro Bowl quarterbacks are in high demand. Nevertheless, I do not blame Andrew Berry and the gang for identifying a perceived team need and paying a steep price to get their guy. The problem is coming off a tumultuous year of legal woes and then playing like horse shit for six consecutive games; the Browns opted to enter the season with no real plan to ensure Watson was in the right mental state to lead this desperate franchise. Look, I understand that predicting if Watson can manage his self-inflicted sabotage is impossible, but to assume that anyone could turn that amount of public vitriol into success is asinine.
The Browns could have gotten a savvy veteran to mentor Deshaun Watson. Someone like…I don’t know—Jacoby Brissett. Naming every backup quarterback is pointless in this instance. Instead, their decision to enter the season with an inexperienced rookie who has zero experience with dealing with the day-to-day preparation needed to perform in the NFL is more valuable than giving my opinion on which players they chose to fill their roster. Plainly put, by choosing a rookie as Watson’s primary competitor, they’ve neglected to invest in their young star quarterback’s psyche. As Cleveland fans, we should understand the importance of building up our young talent instead of catering to their childish demands. LeBron should come to mind.
LeBron’s first stint in Cleveland ended because of a lack of structure. He learned what it took to fulfill expectations from respected and admired individuals. Another example was Bill Belichick’s constant motivation for Tom Brady. Brady battled every snap while in New England with other proven veterans. Guys like Jimmy Garoppolo, Brian Hoyer, and Jacoby Brissett shared a locker room and a practice field throughout his tenure. Another qualifying factor all three individuals shared is quality playing time at different career points.
The Browns have been playing a dangerous game with Watson’s long-term stability. He has shown remarkable playmaking ability in the past. But, the Browns are falling for the belief that Watson has the capability to recapture his prowess without an experienced mentor.
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